Blood Donation Feat

Bhubaneswar police have conducted 62 blood donation camps in the twin cities and collected 4628 units of blood as they bid to improve its availability at the height of summer. The police said they were conducting around 15 blood donation camps in Bhubaneswar every month, while four to five camps were being conducted in Cuttack. “We took it up as a mission and the response has been satisfactory. We have collaborated with students, puja committees and other voluntary organizations and also received requests from groups for camps,” said a police officer.

Earlier the police used to conduct four to five major camps each year and collected around 2000 units. “A number of police officers have taken part in the camps and it will encourage others to donate blood. The blood shortfall in the twin cities arises between March and July as college students, the majority donors, are not available because of summer vacation. So, we conducted regular camps this summer,” said a police officer.

Public health experts suggest that there is shortage of donors in summer months as fewer people donate blood because of an illogical fear that donating blood during this time will cause weakness. Sweating during the summer causes fatigue, weakness and dehydration and often results in a mental block among donors as they think that donating blood would weaken them. The police said the collected blood was being given to the blood bank of state-run Capital Hospital. “We will continue to hold the camps throughout the year. We are preparing a list of donors with rare blood groups,” said police commissioner YB Khurania. – Telegraph India