Welcome to Red Drops
Red Drops an initiative by Chennai Social Service (CSS) is a non-profit, non-commercial
interface born out of our social commitment and our desire to use the power of the
Internet to help common people. With the launch of our website on 26th JAN 2009
we aim to sustain and enhance the efforts for structured progress towards obliterating
the gap between demand and supply of blood; thereby shortening the response time
by effective networking of blood banks, donor organizations and hospitals through
our website.
Donation of blood is a sign of kindness and care for fellow human beings. There
is no gift more valuable than a Gift of Blood, as it is actually a Gift of Life
for the person who receives it. We believe ‘Make Safe Blood Available to Anyone,
Anytime, Anywhere.’ We invite you to join us in our mission of connecting, saving
and nurturing lives.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world.Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margret Mead
Why do we need to donate blood?
There is tremendous need for blood in hospitals. Many a patients suffer because
they are not able to compensate their loss of blood with its replacement. Every
minute, every day, someone somewhere, needs a blood transfusion to survive. That
blood can only come from a healthy willing donor; people like YOU who make the choice
to donate. There is no substitute for your service.
Doctors say that out of the 8.5 million units of blood that is required in a year
in India, only 5.5 million units are actually available. Donating blood is a noble
act. Your blood can be used for a needy person and you can contribute to saving
a life.
Uses of Donated Blood
- Replace blood lost during injury as in accidents.
- Replace blood loss during major surgeries.
- Help patients with blood disorders like Hemophilia and Von Willebrand’s disease
survivor.
- Help burns patients receive plasma, that may be critical for their survival.
- Raise hemoglobin levels (through transfusions) in patients with chronic ailments
like kidney diseases, cancer and anemia.
Its quite obvious that blood donation is of prime importance, as it can help save
the life of a person.
International Blood Factoids
- Over 80 million units of blood are donated every year around the world.
- Only 38% is collected in developing countries where 82% of the global populations
live.
- Latest figures collected by WHO show that in a global survey at least 65 countries
did not test all donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis, as
recommended by WHO.
- More than half a million women die every year from complications related to pregnancy
and childbirth worldwide - 99% of them in developing countries. Hemorrhage, accounting
for 25% of the complications, is the most common cause of maternal death.
- Up to 70% of all blood transfusions in Africa are given to children with severe
anemia due to malaria, which accounts for about one in five of all childhood deaths
in Africa.
- HIV-contaminated blood still accounts for approximately 5% of HIV infections in
Africa. Many developing countries don’t test for HIV or hepatitis B and C. Annually,
some six million tests that should be done for infections are not.
Did you know…?
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on 14th June every year and has been unanimously
agreed and accepted at WHO Member states conference in 2005.