Blood Donation Drive at Global Village

An initiative under ‘Dami Le Watani’, the blood donation drive was started by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current crown prince of Dubai in collaboration with Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The campaign is aimed at individuals, and also government and business organisations, with the goal of promoting public awareness on the value of blood donation as a community service. The "My Blood for My Country" campaign will be extended to other emirates, as directed by Shaikh Hamdan. Blood donation is the greatest gift a national or an expatriate can give to their beloved nation or country of residence

Global Village is the region's biggest cosmopolitan family attraction for entertainment and leisure. As mentioned earlier, it is hosting a community blood donation campaign in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). "Give from the heart, at the heart of awe," was the message this year. This article highlights how to reach there and tips to follow when donating blood in the UAE.

Diving deeper into the Blood Donation Drive

The donation drive at the Global village is aimed at keeping the supply up-to-date for individuals in need. It is one of the various community programs organised by Global Village Dubai to bring people together for a humanitarian cause. Once you’re at the donation centre, you’ll be greeted by the staff and you’ll be expected to go through the necessary paperwork along with instructional information regarding blood donation. The drive takes place between 4 to 10 p.m. The park adheres to the strictest hygiene, infection prevention and control requirements, with additional steps taken to guarantee the wellbeing of all visitors.

Steps to take for donating blood

Following are the precautions you need to take when planning to donate blood in the UAE:

• Eligibility: A healthy adult person can safely donate one unit of blood, which is 350 millilitres. Men can safely donate blood every three months, while women can do so every four months. However, you must meet specific criteria in order to be deemed a donor. Age, weight, blood pressure, temperature, and haemoglobin are among them. If you have a common illness such a common cold, influenza, throat infection, stomach disease, or any other illness, you will not be able to donate blood. Diabetics can donate blood if their blood sugar levels are under control.
• Carry your Emirates ID if you’re planning to donate blood at the Global Village. You’ll be required to register at the reception and then wait for your turn. 
• Screening: Once you are registered, go to the medical screening zone and answer a questionnaire over a digital tablet. This will help in determining whether you are suited to donate blood or not. 
• Once you pass the screening test, you will be sent to for sample collection. This is another step crucial to decide if you can donate blood or not. 
• If you are suitable for blood donation, you will be asked to go to the blood collection room. This will be a 10-15 minutes’ process where the medical staff will collect your blood. 
• Once you are done donating blood, eat iron rich food. It is also suggested to avoid doing any strenuous activity for the next 24 hours post blood donation. 

The Do’s and Don'ts of Donating Blood 

Precautions to take prior to donating blood are:

• Before donating blood, eat something light and stay hydrated to avoid weakness.
• Avoid consuming alcohol the day before donating blood.
• Before donating blood, stop smoking for a minimum of 2 hours.
• Check to if the professionals present are using fresh separate set of throwaway syringes for each donor.
• Bring at least two forms of identification while donating blood.
• If you are consuming any medicines, please inform your doctor.
• In the last 15 days, you should have not received vaccines for dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus, pox, gamma globulin, and rabies immunisation, as well as gamma globulin.
• You should not have had any piercings or tattoos in the last 12-month period, or tattoo removal operations in the previous six months.
• You must not have been medicated for malaria in the previous three months or have spent the previous three years in malaria-endemic areas.
• You cannot donate blood if you are expecting, have given birth within the last year, or are breastfeeding.
• You are advised to not donate blood if you have had any dental work done, such as fillings, cleanings, or restorations in last two days of blood donation. The procedures include teeth removal, surgery, root canal treatment, crown, root transplant, gum autograft, or implant performed in last three days.
• In case you are infected by hepatitis B, hepatitis C, TB, leprosy, HIV, heart illness, schizophrenia, bleeding problems, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, or cancer, you are not permitted to donate blood.

Precautions to take after blood donation:

• After the treatment is completed, wait for at least 5 minutes before getting up.
• After donating blood, eat something sweet to normalize your insulin levels.
• Increase your water intake for next 24 to 48 hours, as the body may need up to 24 hours to recover from the blood donation.
• Avoid aerated drinks and carbonated beverages.
• Avoid excessive physical exertion, hard lifting, or pushing with the donation arm.
• Avoid standing for long.
• Eat balanced meals to help your body regenerate blood.
• After donating, do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least 24 hours.
• If you are feeling light-headed or uncomfortable, recline until the sensation subsides.

How to reach the Global Village Dubai for Donating Blood?

Global Village is situated on Exit 37, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai. The theme park can be reached via:

• Metro or Taxi: Go to the First Gulf Bank station and then get a taxi to Global Village. You will reach your destination in 50 minutes.
• Motor car: You can drive to Global Village Dubai from airport. It is around 28 kilometres from the airport.
• Bus: To get to Rashidiya, take the Red Line metro. The Blue Tower is accessible via metro bus. Call a cab to get to the village.

Every day, the valet parking service at the Global Village costs between AED 50 and AED 200. If you're parked far away from the main gate, take advantage of complimentary shuttle buses and Dotto trains to get there. It is also worth noting that there really is no metro station nearby. You may get a bus from Rashidiya, Union, Ghubaiba, and Mall of the Emirates stations.

To Summarise

Global Village, Dubai regularly organizes blood donation drives as part of its community programs. This campaign is in fact part of the initiative “Dami Le Watani”. Anybody can donate blood in Dubai until one is suffering from a chronic disease like diabetes. It is also important to note that you should not have had any body piercings in last one year from the due date.

When going to donate blood, make sure that you are adequately hydrated and you’ve eaten something. The best way to reach the Global Village Dubai for donating blood is via metro. The park itself takes several precautions keeping in mind the COVID protocol. In case you are nearby, participate in the noble cause. 

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