In celebration of the World Heart Day, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday, Sept. 29, called on the public to donate blood not only to save other’s lives but for their own benefits as well.
“Habang ang mundo ay tuloy-tuloy na nilalabanan ang COVID-19, nanawagagan ang PRC para panatilihin ang mga donasyon ng dugo (As the world continues to fight COVID-19, the PRC hopes to maintain the enough supply of blood through continued donation),” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon.
“Magbigay ng dugo at tumulong magligtas ng buhay (Donate blood and help save lives),” he added.
Donating blood is good for the heart
As the world celebrates World Heart Day, PRC also emphasized the benefits of donating blood to your heart health.
“Did you know that your heart beats an average of 2.5 billion times in a person's life?” PRC said.
“As your heart beats, is it pushing millions of gallons of blood with oxygen, fuel, hormones, other compounds, and a host of essential cells to every part of your body,” it added.
PRC explained that the heart also quickly removes the waste products of metabolism.
“If your heart stops functioning (such as during cardiac arrest), your body begins systematically shutting down, some almost instantly,” it added.
By donating blood, PRC said that people can lower their risk of heart disease - which means the chances of having a heart attack may decrease as well.
“Constant blood donation also has other perks; lower iron levels, decrease stress and may help in providing some satisfaction knowing that you are helping patients in need,” PRC added.
The World Heart Day is observed annually every Sept. 29 to spread awareness on the importance of keeping the heart, one of the most important organs in the body, fit and healthy.
PRC is calling on the people to keep in touch with all the 104 Red Cross chapters and 98 blood service facilities or contact the hotline 143 for urgent blood concerns.