CL Presents: National Blood Donor Month
January 5, 2012 by StephanieC
Filed under CL ExCLusives!, Lifestyle, Nutrition, What We Love, Womens Health
January 2012 marks National Blood Donor Month. Blood Donor Month has been observed since 1970 to educate everyone how important it can be to be a blood donor. Pints of blood are collected through the Red Cross or local blood banks. Giving blood is a simple way to potentially prevent another person’s death. The blood is used during blood transfusions or operations. For more information on how to get involved, how to donate, and other services review America’s Blood Centers: It’s About Life.
Facts
- Every 2 seconds someone in the country needs blood
- 44,000 blood donations are needed everyday to help accident and burn victims, cancer patients, those having surgery, new mothers, premature babies, and more
- A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days or double red cells every 112 days
In order to donate you must be 17 years old. In some states you can be 16 with parental supervision to donate. A donor must also weight at least 110 pounds and be in general god health.
Process
- Make an appointment
- Hydrate before giving blood and maintain a healthy level of iron in your diet
- Bring a list of medications you are currently taking to your appointment
- Bring an ID with you
- Bring a friend just for support and RELAX!
- Donation: Register, a health history and mini physical will be preformed, about 1 pint of blood is collected and stored in iced coolers until its transported
- Processing: Donated blood scanned into the database, blood spun in centrifuges to separate transfusable components, test tubes sent for testing
- Testing: A dozen tests are performed on each unit of donated blood to establish blood type and test for infectious disease, test results are transferred to manufacturing facilities within 24 hours
- Storage: Red blood cells are stored in refridgerators at 6 degrees Celsius for up to 42 days, platelets are stored at room temperature for up to 5 days, and plasma and cyro are frozen for up to a year
- Distribution: Donated blood is available to ship to hospitals 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Stephanie Coppola is an intern at College Lifestyles ™. She is a graduate student at Quinnipiac University studying Interactive Communications. She hopes you consider donating blood this year. You could help someone in need!
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The facts given in this article sparked an interest in me to give blood right now!! Thank you for sharing, classy co-ed!