How to Donate Blood
Hospitals do numerous blood transfusions everyday, because of accidents, surgeries and crisis. Blood is an essential, naturally-regenerating resource found in the body, and if you’re a healthy individual, what better way to help than donate some of yours? Here’s how to donate blood.
What You’ll Need:
Phone book
Internet access
Good medical record
Procedure:
Before you think of donating blood, make sure you’re qualified. Most organizations require donors to be 16 to 65 years old, weighing at least 110 pounds. Minors, or those 16 to 17 years old, require parental consent. The donor’s blood pressure must also be between 90 to 160 mmHg (Systolic) and 60 to 100 (diastolic).
Find a blood services organization within your area. You can use the phone book or the Internet to find credible ones. Going to the hospital is also a good idea. Plenty of hospitals have blood banks on site, but some also use independent blood service groups to gather donations and blood products.
Another way is to find standing blood service centers or local blood drives. Schedule an appointment on a day when you’re free, and you’re sure you won’t be doing any important task.
Go to the drive, organization or hospital during your appointment. Coming a few minutes early is a good idea, since the attendants will be doing a quick physical check on you, including your blood pressure, iron level and temperature. You also have to answer questions about your lifestyle, health and medications.
The attendants will show you to the donation chair. Make yourself comfortable. The technician will ask you which arm you’d want him or her to inject the needle. This determines how you’ll be seated during the procedure. Be very calm when the technician injects the needle. If possible, ask for a bottle of water and reading materials to keep you preoccupied.
The amount of blood that will be taken from you depends on your blood pressure and your weight. The procedure also isn’t very long. 350cc to 450cc of blood will only take at least ten minutes or less.
After donating, the attendant will escort you to a “recovery area”, where you can rest, enjoying water, juice, and light snacks like cookies and crackers. You can stay for 10 minutes or so, with the staff monitoring you if you need additional care or if you become lightheaded. Sometimes, they also ask you to fill out a survey form, asking for feedback.
If you want, you can schedule another appointment. They will tell you when you’re eligible enough to donate blood again.
A Few Tips
If you’re a first time blood donor, give whole blood first. This simpler process lets you observe how well your body can take the donation process.
Eat a low-fat, healthy meal at least four hours before the donation. This keeps your energy up.
Eat iron-rich food days before your donation, to keep your iron level up. Having a low iron level disqualifies you from giving blood.
Don’t smoke cigarettes or tobacco after donating.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverage 12 hours before and after the donation.
Don’t give blood just to earn money. Do it for charity, and not for profit.
Help the community in your own simple way, by donating your blood. It’s a simple act of kindness that can save another person’s life.