Did you know that calf-to-human transfusions occurred in the past?

In the second half of the 19th century, Dr. Manuel M. Carmona published in La Unión Médica de México (the predecessor of today's Gaceta Médica de México): "What was the point of stemming postpartum hemorrhage, tying off an artery, or stagnating the blood flowing from a cancerous tumor if the patient had lost so much blood that it was insufficient to stimulate the organs essential for life? He added that what was the point of the doctor seeing that the blood was no longer flowing if the general pallor, the concentrated pulse, the coldness of the extremities, the icy sweat, and all the other symptoms indicated that life was nearing extinction, and that all his efforts had been useless because the heart and brain were already lacking the necessary stimulant to function."[1]

Therefore, as a way of thanking voluntary, unpaid donors, World Blood Donor Day is commemorated on June 14th of each year. This also raises awareness among the general population of the need to make regular donations. to guarantee the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products in the various medical units; with the sole purpose of "Saving Lives" [2].

Blood and blood product transfusions help save millions of lives each year. They help patients with life-threatening diseases live longer with a better quality of life, and they enable complex medical and surgical interventions. They also play a vital role in maternal and child care, pregnancy, and emergency responses to natural or man-made disasters [3].

Blood services that allow patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantities are a key component of effective health systems, not forgetting that the health system must bear the costs of testing and analyzing this donated blood in order to offer it to recipients with the lowest risk of contracting any disease [4].

A sufficient supply can only be ensured through regular, voluntary, unremunerated donations. However, in many countries, blood services continue to struggle to provide sufficient blood and ensure its quality and safety. [5]

Therefore, today, June 14th, we invite you to join the Voluntary Donor Group. Visit your nearest hospital and, "Give a little bit of life to someone who needs it."

[1] Rev. mex. anestesiol. vol. 45 no. 3 Mexico City Jul./Sep. 2022 Epub 05-Sep-2022

[2] Modified from: https://www.who.int/en/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day

[3] https://www.who.int/en/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day

[4] Modified from: https://www.who.int/en/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day

[5] https://www.who.int/en/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day