by Deja Fischer
Less than ten percent of the U.S. population donates blood annually out of the 35 percent that are eligible. The entire donating process takes, on average, about an hour, while the actual donating of the blood only takes ten minutes. Donating blood is a four step process; medical history, quick physical, donating and then snacks. These steps are taken for the safety of the possible donor and the person that may receive the blood donation.
There are two main requirements for donating blood through the Florida Blood Centers (FBC). At the age of 16 a person is allowed to donate blood with parental permission. The donor must also weigh at least 110 pounds to donate. Even though a person may meet these two requirements, it does not guarantee they will be able to donate.
Upon arrival the possible donor needs to fill out a medical history sheet before every donation. The medical history sheet asks simple yes or no questions about one’s health, life and caretaking. If a nurse sees something unusual on the medical history form the person may not be eligible to donate. The reason could be due to a medication the person is taking, a recent tattoo or piercing the person received or a recent vacation the person took outside the United States.
“My first time donating I was deferred because I had just gotten my cartilage pierced, I had to wait awhile before I was cleared to donate again, but now I donate each time there is a blood drive at my school,” said junior Kelsey Pittman. If anything unusual is found that denies the person the ability to donate, the nurse will talk to them one on one, letting them know the next time they will be eligible to donate.
If the possible donor passes the requirements and has an approved medical history the next step would be a quick physical. The physical is performed on site by one of FBC nurses. The mini physical checks on a person’s temperature, hemoglobin level, blood pressure and pulse. This physical is used to make sure the possible donor is feeling healthy that particular day. After being cleared the donor could then begin donating blood.
More than 4.5 million people will need blood transfusions in the United States and Canada each year. With less than ten percent of the eligible donors donating, shortages occur in the rarest blood types when needed most. If the eligible donors donated just three times a year shortages would be uncommon.
Any group can host a blood drive. Timber Creek High School’s National Honor Society hosts up to four each year. To donate at the next blood drive hosted at TCHS, see any English teacher or see Alison Callahan or Jackie Drisgill, the NHS sponsors, for an appointment time.
The day prior to a blood donation the donor should eat an iron enriched diet. Spinach, red meats, raisins and beans are some foods that have rich iron levels. “I couldn’t donate twice because my iron was low; both times I didn’t eat a healthy breakfast, though. So now each time before I donate I make sure to drink a lot and eat before,” said senior Matthew Comans about his experiences donating. Getting a good night’s sleep, and drinking an extra 16 ounces of water along with eating a healthy meal before donating, will increase the chances of a smooth donation.