This year it is dedicated to increasing the supply of safe blood. A previous study on 4,000 men carried out by the University of Kansas showed that the risk of heart attack, chest pains, and stroke is twice as high among men who smoke and don't donate blood regularly than men who don't give blood regularly and previously smoked or never smoked. That means that 5 percent of the population must be blood donors. Anyone who is healthy, aged 18 to 65, and has no problems in his medical history may donate every three months. Fifty-seven percent of donors are younger than 30, many of them soldiers.
Donors receive a year's blood insurance for themselves and their immediate family.
The primary reasons for this are lack of commitment and support on the part of many governments, resulting in chronic shortages of safe blood donors in developing countries, as well as absence of quality control and testing of blood products. For women who want to be in the know Click here to return to page. The Jerusalem Post - All rights reserved, Click here for feedback and comments. Palm Post Edition sponsored by Davka Corporation .