Giving Blood

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

Currently, the nation’s reserved blood supply is extremely low—in most hospitals, there is just enough "to squeak by." Why is it that so many people are able to donate blood, but aren’t willing? Suzanne visited an American Red Cross facility, and spoke to Dr. Scott Murphy to find out more about the process. She even donated her own blood to demonstrate how easy it can be to save a life.

The Facts on Donating

Many people don’t realize that by donating one pint of blood, you can save three lives. Once the blood is taken, it is divided into three parts: the red blood cells, platelets and the plasma.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a component that is essential in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. Without it, the body would slowly die. Platelets are an extremely important part of the blood, as they are what form clots and help to stop excessive bleeding. Finally, the plasma is 90% water, and carries the blood throughout the body. It is essential to survival, and promotes coagulation of the blood.

Although some hospital patients that have been through surgery or severe trauma will need a transfusion of all three of these components, some patients will only need one specific element to regain their health.

Concerns about Giving Blood

If so many people are eligible to donate, there must be a reason why we have a shortage of blood in the nation’s blood banks. What are the concerns?

A lot of people are afraid of the needle and think that it will be more painful than giving blood at the doctor’s office. In reality, it is just a quick pinch and the entire donating process takes about seven minutes.

You may know some people that have told you “horror stories” about passing out after donating. While it is true that the loss of red blood cells may cause some people to feel slightly faint, if you have eaten a full meal approximately 4 hours before donating, most people can resume normal activities right away. Your body will regenerate the blood you lost within a few hours.

In this day and age, it is surprising that people still believe that they can contract diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis by donating. This is impossible, because you never come in contact with anyone’s blood. The needles that are used to collect blood are sterile, and used only once before being destroyed after use.

Some people believe that because they are on medication, they can’t donate. In truth, most medications will not cause you to be ineligible for donation. If you have a specific concern, contact your local Red Cross beforehand and explain what medication you are presently taking, and for what reasons.

There are three main prerequisites for donating blood.

• Are you 17 years old or older?
• Do you weigh 110 pounds or more?
• Are you generally in good health?

If you answered "yes" to all three questions, you may be a good candidate to donate blood.