How you can become a blood donor
Saving lives can be as simple as sitting back, rolling up a sleeve and squeezing and releasing a little red ball, but only a small percentage of the U.S. population actually donates blood. People often don’t realize the impact they can make and forget about giving.
It’s “out of sight, out of mind,” says donor Magan Bertetto, 35, of Chicago, who recently donated at a blood drive.
“When I was done with donating, the nurse told me I just saved three lives,” she says. “I had no idea.”
The need for blood is constant, says Kara Lusk Dudley, American Red Cross National Headquarters spokesperson.
“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, and you never know if it’s going to be someone you love,” Dudley says.
If you’re interested in giving blood, there are a few things to know before you go.
What to Expect
The entire blood donation process takes about an hour, including registration and the time it takes to fill out a confidential questionnaire and have a mini-physical, plus the short observation period at the end. Donors must bring a donor card or picture ID. If you’re nervous, Dudley recommends bringing a music player or a friend or family member.
Eat Well
Drink lots of water and eat a healthy meal with iron-rich foods before and after the donation, Dudley says.
Donors should also avoid eating fatty foods before giving blood because too much fat in the bloodstream interferes with testing and could make your donation unsuccessful. You should also avoid drinking alcohol before donating.
Who’s Eligible?
Only 38% of the population is eligible to give blood, Dudley says.
To donate, you must meet certain minimum age, height and weight requirements. There are also restrictions on people who take certain medications or who have recently traveled to certain countries. Those meeting the requirements can donate whole blood every 56 days, up to 24 times a year.
While most eligibility requirements haven’t changed in recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s rule restricting men who have had sex with other men from donating is in the process of changing from a lifetime deferral to a year-long deferral.
The best way to find out if you are eligible is to call the Red Cross beforehand, she says.
Remember that donors are especially needed during summer when people take vacation and schools that host blood drives are out of session.
Giving blood “falls off the radar,” Dudley says.
Donate Liquid Gold
Giving platelets is another way you can donate life. Platelets help blood to clot and prevent excess bleeding. They are used in bone marrow transplants and open-heart surgeries and are given to chemotherapy and radiation patients, as well as burn and trauma patients, says Kara Lusk Dudley, American Red Cross National Headquarters spokesperson.
“Doctors and patients even call them ‘liquid gold’ because they are shiny and yellow, and they are always in demand,” Dudley says.
The platelet donation process takes up to two and a half hours at select blood donor centers. Donors must be 17 years old and cannot take aspirin or medications containing aspirin for 48 hours before donating, she says. You can donate platelets every seven days.
“The blood is collected by a cell-separating machine, and it removes the platelets and then returns the rest of your blood back to your body,” she says.