ICICI Lombard celebrates World Blood Donor Day

Online, June 14, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Mumbai - June 14, 2010: ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd. (ICICI Lombard.com), India's largest private sector General Insurance Company is educating and encouraging its employees and customers alike to donate blood this 14th June, celebrated worldwide as Blood Donor Day. ICICI Lombard uses this initiative to -
• Highlight the current deficiency of blood banks
• Promote the benefits of donating blood
• Debunk popular misconceptions on blood donation
The focus of World Blood Donor Day 2010 will be on Young Donors - with the slogan: "New blood for the world". The need for blood is increasing in all parts of the world. Young people can make an important contribution by donating blood and by recruiting other young people to become donors.
The aim is to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems. World Blood Donor Day is also an opportunity to celebrate those who already donate blood in response to the worldwide increase in demand. Today, 57 countries have achieved 100 per cent voluntary blood donation, up from 39 in 2002.
Blood transfusion is a vital component of health care. The threat to life due to insufficient bloodstocks and the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections calls for a safe and adequate blood supply for all those requiring transfusion. As the need for blood increases globally, young people can make an important contribution by donating blood and by recruiting other young people to become donors.
The chance of receiving a safe transfusion varies enormously from one country to another, depending largely on whether there is a good, safe blood donor programme in place. Some 60% of the global blood supply goes to 18% of the world's population. There is a serious disparity between countries when it comes to both the availability and safety of blood.
In low-income countries, women and children are the groups with the greatest need for blood. More than half a million women die every year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide - 99% of them in developing countries. Haemorrhage, accounting for 25% of complications, is the most common cause of maternal death.
Family replacement donors may feel under pressure to donate and may therefore hide aspects of their health and lifestyle, which could mean that their blood is more likely to contain infection. In the case of paid donors, governments may think that the financial incentive will motivate more donations and boost supplies, but paid donors are often pushed by need and are therefore also more likely to avoid mentioning important details about their health status.
India reached 100% screening of donated blood for HIV by the year 2000.
At the heart of global efforts to ensure universal access to safe blood is the move to a system of regular voluntary, unpaid blood donors. Deemed the safest, it also demonstrated that such donors have a sense of responsibility towards their community and keep themselves healthy to be able to keep giving safe blood.
Basic Requirements to Donate Blood: as per Eblooddonors.com
• Be in generally good health and feeling well.
• Be at least 18 years of age; upper age 60 (420d*)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds (45 kg)
• Pulse: 80 to 100 beats/min and regular
• Temperature: Should not exceed 99.5 (37.5c)
• Blood Pressure: acceptable range is 160/90 to 110/60
• Skin: the venipuncture site should be free of any lesion or scar of needle pricks indicative of addiction to narcotics or frequent Blood donation (as in the case of professional Blood donors)
Facts about Blood Donation: as per friendstosupport.org
Blood cannot be manufactured - it can only come from generous donors.
Every year our nation requires about 4 Crore units of blood, out of which only a meagre 40 Lakh units of blood are available.
Every two seconds someone needs blood, with more than 38,000 blood donations needed every day.
The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O. It is always in great demand and often in short supply. Only 7 percent of people in India have O-negative blood type.
Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is also usually in short supply. 0.4 percent of people have AB-blood type.
More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour and 15 min.
The average adult has about 10 units of blood in his body. Roughly, just about 1 unit is given during a donation.
A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days.
One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
If you began donating blood at age 18 and donated every 90 days until you reached 60, you would have donated 30 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 500 lives!

Blood Donation Tips: as per bharatbloodbank.com
• Have a good meal at least 3 hours before donating blood
• Accept the snacks offered after the donation, as it is vital that you have them. You are recommended to have a good meal later
• Avoid smoking on the day before donating. You can smoke 3 hours after donation
• You will not be eligible to donate blood if you have consumed alcohol 48 hours before donation

Misconceptions about Donating Blood
"I will feel drained and tired after donating" - You will not feel drained or tired if you continue to drink fluids and have a good meal.
"I cannot resume normal activities" - You can resume all your normal activities, though you are asked to refrain.
"I will have low blood" - If you are cleared to donate by the doctor you will still have surplus blood after the donation.
"It will be painful while donating" - No, you will not feel any pain.
"I will feel dizzy and may faint" - You will not faint or feel uncomfortable after donating blood.
"I may get AIDS!" - No! Make sure disposable syringes are used and all measures are taken to keep you germ free.
"My blood is common. I don't think there will be demand for it" - That is why the demand for your type is greater than for rare types.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd Details:

ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. is a 74:26 joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited, India's second largest bank with USD 75 billion in assets and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a Canada based USD 27 billion diversified financial services company engaged in general insurance, reinsurance, insurance claims management and investment management.

ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. is the largest private sector general insurance company in India with a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 37,492 million for the year ended March 31, 2009. As on February 28, 2010, the company has 4,640 employees and 359 branches. In the financial year ended March 31, 2009, the company issued over 4 million policies and serviced over 33 Lakh claims. The company has a claim disposal ratio of 97% (percentage of claims) settled against claims reported) as on March 31, 2009.

The company has been assigned a domestic rating of 'iAAA' by ICRA (an associate of Moody's Investors Service) for highest claim paying ability and a fundamentally strong position, for the fourth consecutive year. ICICI Lombard Auto Insurance has been rated highest in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power Asia Pacific in India among 11 auto insurance providers. The company has been conferred the Golden Peacock- Eco Innovation Award of 2009 for weather insurance and the Customer and Brand Loyalty award in the "Insurance Sector - Non-Life" at the 3rd Loyalty awards, 2010. It was awarded the 'General Insurance Company of the Year' at the 11th Asia Insurance Industry Awards. The company also won the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Award 2007 and was adjudged as the most Customer Responsive Company in the Insurance category at the Economic Times Avaya GlobalConnect Customer Responsiveness Award 2006. It has the Gold Shield for "Excellence in Financial Reporting" by the ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) for the year ended March 31, 2006.

ICICI Lombard allows instant policy issuance and renewal through its website www.icicilombard.com for all retail insurance products including Car Insurance, Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, Two Wheeler Insurance and Home Insurance. There are multiple payment options available including internet banking, credit card, debit card and cash card.