Voluntary Blood Donors Club is an initiative by the NSS unit of KCT in 2010 with a view to save lives by voluntary blood donation. The motto of the club is to create awareness among people to know the importance and advantages of donating blood. The objective is to help people in and around Coimbatore round the clock for 365 days and we abide by the policy of ANY GROUP, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME.

UTHIRAM is a bulletin series initiated by the members of NSS RRC VBC of KCT to let everyone know that the demand for blood products (blood, platelets and plasma) is constant, even when the world isn’t in the midst of a global pandemic and to acknowledge them with the facts related to blood and blood related products.

Philia & Phobia

Haemophilia:

Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots. Haemophilia can be diagnosed before, during or after birth if there is a family history of the condition. The worldwide incidence of haemophilia is not well known, but estimated at more than 400,000 people. Approximately 75% of people with haemophilia around the world still 

receive inadequate treatment or have no access to treatment. | haemophilia.org

Homophobia:

A phobia is an excessive and irrational fear reaction. If you have a phobia, you may experience a deep sense of dread or panic when you encounter the source of your fear. The fear can be of a certain place, situation, or object. Hemophobia  the fear of blood and it is unique because it also produces what’s called a vasovagal response. A vasovagal response means you have a drop in your heart rate and blood pressure in response to a trigger, such as the sight of blood. | medicinen’t

Transfusions

Blood Transfusion:

A blood transfusion is a way of adding blood to your body after an illness or injury. If your body is missing one or more of the components that make up healthy blood, a transfusion can help supply what your body is missing. This potentially life-saving procedure can help replace blood lost due to surgery or injury. A blood transfusion also can help if an illness prevents your body from making blood or some of your blood’s components correctly. |medical news today

Autologous blood transfusion:

Autologous blood transfusion is a procedure in which blood is removed from a donor and returned to their own circulation at some later time. The donation and transfusion of autologous blood has arisen as an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion. Autologous blood donations account for approximately 5% of all blood donated in the United States each year. | ncbi

Exchange transfusion:

Exchange transfusion is a potentially life-saving procedure that is done to counteract the effects of serious jaundice or changes in the blood due to diseases such as sickle cell anaemia. During the procedure, your blood will be removed and replaced with blood or plasma from a donor. Exchange transfusion definitively corrects hyperbilirubinemia by physically removing bilirubin, as well as antibodies when present, from the body. The procedure is usually performed via an umbilical catheter. | healthline

Xenotransfusions:

The first blood transfusions in humans were xenotransfusions, carried out by Jean-Baptiste Denis beginning in 1667. Utilizing the unlimited blood supply from animal sources eliminates the risk of transmitting infectious diseases between humans. The IXA has identified three major ethical areas that require adequate attention. | ncbi

Plasma products

Fresh frozen plasma:

Fresh frozen plasma is indicated for the deficiency of coagulation factors with abnormal coagulation tests in the presence of active bleeding. Fresh frozen plasma is the fluid portion of a unit of whole blood frozen in a designated time frame, usually within 8 hours. FFP contains all coagulation factors except platelets. The therapy of FFP is monitored clinically with signs of bleeding and chemically with coagulation studies and fibrinogen levels. The goal of therapy is a cessation of bleeding. |transfusion.com

Cryoprecipitate

To create cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma thawed to 1–6 °C is then centrifuged and the precipitate is collected. The precipitate is resuspended in a small amount of residual plasma (generally 10–15 mL) and is then re-frozen for storage. It is often transfused to adults as two 5-unit pools instead of as a single product. One of the most important constituents is factor VIII (also called antihaemophilic factor or AHF). | redcrossblood.org

Blood substitutes

Erythromer:

Although there has been much interest in developing a blood substitute spanning many decades, development of a successful Oxygen therapeutic agents has not been fruitful to date. This lack of success is perhaps as much attributable to toxicities related to the agents in development as it is to the physiologic nuances of O2 delivery to the tissues. Yet, the future does hold promise as new agents, particularly haemoglobin-based agents, are already in it. Erythromer is envisioned for use when stored red blood cells are unavailable, undesirable or in short supply. | nbcnews

Donations so far:

On an average 300 units of blood is being donated by the KCT community every year and the club strives to increase the number by reaching out to more people with blood donation awareness.

Contributions so far:

450 and 400+ units of blood was donated through the club in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Every year 300 units of blood is being donated by KCTians.

The club gathers donors from outside in the time of need and has sourced more than 50 units of blood so far.

TO MAKE A DONATION:

Contact: +919952810338