Kathrine Alderman
news@greenepublishing.com
During winter, bad weather can often cause blood drives to be canceled, and spikes in illnesses, such as the flu, can cause many people who would otherwise donate blood to be unable to give. This drop in drives and donations caused President Richard Nixon to announce January as National Blood Donor Month, on Dec. 31, 1970. The goal in doing this was to raise awareness, pay tribute to voluntary blood donors and, hopefully, increase the blood and platelet donations during winter.
Donating blood is vital for a multitude of reasons. Not only does it benefit others, but it benefits you as well. Some of the health benefits of donating blood are: you get a free blood test, donated blood is tested, and you can ask to be told if there is anything wrong; it burns calories, you can burn up to 650 calories when you give blood; it stimulates blood cell reproduction, the body works to replenish the blood loss, which stimulates the production of new blood cells and helps in maintaining good health; it reduces the risk of heart disease; it does this by helping to eliminate excess buildup of iron in the blood and, lastly, it reduces the risk of cancer, also because of the elimination of excess iron buildup.
The biggest reason to donate blood, though, aside from any health benefits, is to help others. People throughout the United States need blood every day. Blood donations can save lives and help ease the pain of those suffering from a disease. Not only is donated blood used to help trauma patients, but it is also used for cancer patients, burn patients and patients with chronic diseases. People with Sickle Cell Disease also benefit greatly from blood transfusions. So, donated blood from African Americans of all blood types can significantly help those with Sickle Cell Disease, as the donor's blood type must be a very close match to the patient's.
To put into perspective how important blood donations are, burn victims and trauma patients sometimes require over 100 blood transfusions, and lots of patients with chronic diseases will have to have lifesaving blood transfusions for the rest of their lives. Just one blood donation can help save the lives of up to three patients with chronic diseases.
During this time when COVID-19 is around, blood donations can be a big help in the fight against the global pandemic. All blood donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Those antibodies can help current COVID-19 patients in need of transfusions and speed up the efforts to develop something to fight the virus.
If you would like to donate blood to help during National Blood Donor Awareness Month, here are some excellent tips for having a successful donation. First, you should make an appointment. Find a blood drive or place to donate near you, select a donation type and then find a convenient time that works best for you to give blood. You should also have iron-rich foods, such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans and spinach, and be well-rested and hydrated. So make sure to get a good night's sleep before your donations, eat healthy foods and drink lots of water. If you plan to donate platelets, you shouldn't take aspirin for two days before your appointment. Lastly, ask a friend to come along! Not only can you provide moral support for each other, but at a blood donation, the more is always the merrier.
After all that prep, on the day of your donation, you should bring a photo ID and a list of current medications, as they need to know what kind of medicines you take. It's also a good idea to drink an extra 16 oz. of water before your appointment; eat a healthy meal, avoiding fatty foods like hamburgers, fries or ice cream, and wear a shirt that is either short-sleeved or a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up above your elbows. Some extra things to keep in mind, if you're thinking about giving blood, are that you must be in good general health and feel well, be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
After your donation is done, you should drink extra liquids; four 8 oz. glasses are recommended, and avoid alcohol over the next 24 hours. You should keep your strip bandage on for the next several hours and, to prevent skin rash, clean the area around the bandage with soap and water. Keep eating iron-rich foods and avoid activities where fainting may lead to injury. If you feel lightheaded, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down.
If you want to give blood again, you must wait for a minimum of 56 days between whole blood donations, at least seven days after donating blood before you can donate platelets and, after an automated double red cell collection, you must wait 112 days before donating again. You can donate platelets once in a seven day period and up to 24 times a year. You must wait at least seven days after donating platelets before donating whole blood.
No matter your reason for giving blood, whether because a friend asked you, you think it's the right thing to do or if you're just in it for a cookie and juice, it'll be a big help to someone. So, get out there this Blood Donor Awareness Month and make a difference, even if it's just so you can eat a cookie.