DAMMAM: Members of the public should donate more blood because this saves the lives of thousands of people every year, especially those involved in accidents where there is excessive bleeding.

This call was made recently by Kamel Salama, secretary general of the Saudi Society for Diabetes and Endocrinology (SSDE) and the secretary general of the Saudi Society for Organ Donation, who said 38,000 units are needed every year. Each unit equals 500 ml of whole blood.

The blood is needed for victims of traffic and other accidents, and major surgical operations. This includes transferring organs and open heart operations, as well as cancer, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia patients.

According to recent statistics, about 50 to 80 people donate blood at every event held by the region’s laboratory. He said donors must be in good health and not suffer from any infectious diseases such as hepatitis, genetic blood disorders and malaria, said Salama.

Donors must be between 18 and 65 years of age and not weigh under 50 kg. In addition, donors’ heart rate must be 50 to 100 beats a minute, have normal temperature, and blood pressure not less than 120/80.

He said that the person who is in good health can donate about 450 to 500 ml of blood once every two months, and not more than five times a year without any side effects.

Blood donors get some health benefits after donation, including having their blood pressure and hemoglobin checked regularly, activate bone marrow function to produce new blood platelets, in addition to helpful humanitarian service, said Salama.

He said the SSDE recently launched awareness campaigns in coordination with the regional laboratory and blood bank in Dammam at companies and malls in the region, and would soon do so at universities and schools.