Blood donation: an experience report

Introduction: Several major and complex medical procedures, treatments, and interventions require blood transfusion on a daily and continuous basis, such as chronic anemias, emergency surgeries, treatment of cancer-related diseases, and other serious illnesses. Currently, around 3.6 million blood units are collected annually in Brazil, representing only 1.8% of the donating population. Because of this, the altruistic act of blood donation is of utmost importance for the health of the population in need. Thus, the Family and Community Medicine League of the Catanduva Medical School, in partnership with the Nephrology League and the Emergency Surgery and Trauma League has developed a blood donation campaign that will take place in the month of August, encouraging students to make donations. Objectives: As the above data demonstrates low donation numbers, the campaign aims to stimulate blood donation, aiming to increase the available stock in the blood bank for times of need, especially for blood types O and AB-, which are in critical shortage. Methods: To participate in the campaign, students must attend the training – with details provided in the campaign group – as well as share about the event on social media. If a League member cannot donate, a family member or acquaintance can donate on their behalf to count as presence. Additionally, during the donation process, students should take photos to prove their participation in the campaign and submit them through forms, which will count as extension activity hours for the students. As donation criteria, individuals must be feeling well and in good health, provide an official photo ID, be between 16 and 69 years old (minors aged 16-18 accompanied by a legal guardian), weigh more than 50kg, and on the day of donation, not be fasting; have had at least 6 hours of rest the previous night; not consume alcoholic beverages; avoid smoking for at least two hours before and after donation; and not consume fatty foods. Conclusions: Considering that there have been no in-person blood donation campaigns since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a significant number of people and donations are expected due to charity, partnerships, in addition to the extension activity hours benefiting the students themselves. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the habit of donating will be encouraged, spreading this practice to others as well.