Blood: costs nothing to you and is priceless to someone else.
- Anonymous
In the U.S. someone needs blood every two seconds, yet only 3% of the 62% of Americans who meet the eligibility guidelines donate blood. This low percentage of donors can lead to blood shortages and serious consequences for patients in need. As we all know, blood is absolutely vital for life and surprisingly, it cannot be manufactured; there is no other source if the blood supply runs out. That’s why donating is so important.
Donating blood helps people with a wide range of health conditions including: internal or external bleeding due to an injury, cancer and treatment, cardiovascular and orthopedic surgery, sickle cell anemia, and transplants - to name a few. While we know that donating blood is critical to patients in need, most of us don't know that donating blood can provide important health information and health benefits to the blood donor as well.
Donating blood regularly can:
Reduce the risk of heart attack by improving blood flow and reducing arterial blockagesBalance iron levels and help ensure there is not too much iron in the blood, which can restrict blood flowReveal potential health concerns since donors have a mini physical exam before the blood draw that includes: checking blood pressure, pulse, temperature, cholesterol levels, hemoglobin, and iron levels. And after the draw, testing includes the blood type and Rh factor, antibody screening, and infectious disease testing such as HIV, Hepatitis, and West Nile VirusMakes you feel good; donating blood is an easy process that can help save person’s life!
There are several different types of blood donation, including: Whole Blood Donation with frequency up to 6 times a year; Power Red Donation up to 3 times a year; Platelet Donation every 7 days, or up to 24 times a year; AB Elite Plasma Donation if you have type AB blood with frequency of every 28 days, or up to 13 times a year.
These different types of donations help particular health conditions. For instance, platelets help cancer patients who may not be producing enough of their own. Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. For millions of Americans, they are essential to surviving and fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries. Power Red is frequently given to trauma and surgery patients, while AB Elite Plasma is needed for burn patients. The type of blood most in demand for donation is O+ followed by O-. The typical donation is 1 pint of whole blood.
To be eligible to give blood in the U.S., a person must typically: Be at least 17 years old; weigh at least 110 pounds; be in good overall health; and provide two pieces of identification the first time they donate. The process is easy. For a whole blood donation procedure, the donor is seated in a reclining chair and can choose to donate blood either sitting up or lying down. For platelet donation, the donor has their blood taken out, the platelets removed, and then returned to their system all inside of around an hour.
Sometimes donors experience side effects after donating blood. Although severe adverse effects are quite rare, temporary reactions can include: weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and bruising at the needle site. These symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours. If you plan to give blood, following these steps may help avoid these reactions:
Drink plenty of water so you are well hydratedEat well beforehand; have a healthy meal before donating and don’t skip a mealEat the snacks offered to youExercise before donating blood, but not afterward (as it may cause dizziness)Be well restedTake an iron supplement or multivitamin with iron if you donate blood frequently.
Giving blood is a great way to help support vulnerable people in your community when they need it most. For more information or to make a blood donation appointment visit the Red Cross Website at: www.redcrossblood.org or call your local hospital. For a fun and quick read check out this article on James Harrison who donated over 1000 pints of blood and saved countless lives!
Remember, it's up to you to be proactive and Take Charge of Your Health.
