By Hayley Young
Why not put your blood to good use by donating blood to the Red Cross. Without donated blood, the future of many people would hang in the balance. Giving blood is one of the easiest ways to make a difference. A small but huge gesture for the person in need of blood.
Let me share my experience of donating blood. I probably would have never made the first appointment had I not had the support of my mother-in- law, Sherry Young, who was a long-time blood donor.
During that first appointment you will be expected to complete some initial paperwork regarding your health and personal information. Following the donation, you will receive a donor card that includes your blood type.
During each donation thereafter you will be asked to complete a set of questions regarding recent travel, medications, and other basic health information. They will also take your blood pressure and measure your
hemoglobin levels to ensure they are adequate for blood donation.
This is where it either gets fun or scary. You will be prepped by trained professionals to give your one-unit donation. Once you are prepped, you’ll have a “quick poke.” It really is that easy, the poke is quick and nearly painless. The needle seems much more intimidating than it really is. Now you just lay back and let the blood flow. Within a few minutes you will have donated a unit of blood.
Together my husband and I have donated nearly 5-gallons of blood. I, personally, donate one unit (1 pint) of whole blood during each Red Cross visit to our local community center. You can donate every eight weeks.
My husband donates two units with a power red donation which separates and returns plasma and platelets back to the donor. The power-red donation lasts about 20-30 minutes longer than the traditional whole blood donation. Power red donors can donate every 16-weeks.
Once you are set up with the Red Cross you can download their app and keep track of your blood’s journey and where the blood ends up being used. The app also keeps track of scheduled appointments and your donor card among other things.
For a patient in need of blood there is no other substitute. It’s either blood that has been donated or nothing. It costs nothing to donate but a little bit of your time. Your body will renew your blood; you’ll never even notice that it is gone. You usually receive a free snack after and most often a nice little gift. I have received socks, T-shirts, sunglasses and most recently a gift card.
I would encourage everyone to try it out, to find out more information, and donate as often as possible. You will not regret giving a unit of blood knowing that someone in need receives a life- changing gift. For more information, please visit redcrossblood.org.