Celebrating National Blood Blood Donation Celebrating National Blood Donation Month Saving lives one pint at a time

What You Need to Know BE A First time donors… Scared of needles? The tiny pinch feeling is nothing compared to the fulfillment of saving lives! Keep a diet with iron rich foods like beans, beef, clams, lentils, oysters, and spinach. Hydrate, before and after donating! Your body uses water to replenish your blood supply. Avoid food high in fat before donating. You will need your state ID or two other forms of identification! You must be at least 17 years of age and weigh 110 pounds! BE A

Did You Know? Donated red blood cells have to be used within 42 days of collection. Platelets need to be used within 5 days and plasma can be frozen for up to one year. 50 units (pints) of blood or more are sometimes needed for people in serious car accidents. Heavily burned victims can require 20 units or more. One pint of donated blood can help the lives of three people.

Benefits of Donating The amazing feeling of helping others after donating! Free snacks. Proud feeling of wearing an “I give blood” sticker. Knowing you’re increasing the supply of blood for others and possibly yourself.

Blood Types Type A: contains the A antigen on red blood cells, with B antibody in plasma. Type B: contains the B antigen on red blood cells, with A antibody in plasma. Type AB: contains both A and B antigens on red blood cells only. Type O: contains neither antigens on red blood cells, but both in plasma. There are four types of major blood groups. They are determined by whether they contain or lack two antigens (molecules that bind specifically to an antibody). Along with the four types, another factor of matching blood types is the (+) and (–) aspect. In most cases, negative blood cells are given to matching negative blood patients and negative and positive blood types can be given to positive patients.

Red Blood Cells, Platelets, and Plasma Types of Donations Red Blood Cells, Platelets, and Plasma

Platelet This process separates your platelets from blood and returns the remaining blood components with saline back into your body. Platelet donations are used for patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplants, and have weak immune systems. Donors can give every 28 days and can be collected with a plasma donation. Duration for donation is 1.5 – 2 hours.

Plasma After Plasma is tested, it is purified and split into groups of different proteins. The proteins are mixed with other chemicals to create life-saving medicines! Hemophilia, immune deficiencies, and emphysema are a few of the types of patients that benefit from these medicines. Type AB candidates are ideal and always needed. Donors can give every 28 days Duration for donation is roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Sources http://www.donatingplasma.org/ http://www.adrp.org/adrp-information/ http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors