Blood donation is a voluntary procedure that can help save lives. Donors can opt to give blood at local blood drives sponsored by the American Red Cross or other well-known organizations. Each blood donation can help more than one person. Blood is essential and cannot be manufactured outside the body, so it must be constantly replenished by generous donors. Whole…
Although donating blood is a great contribution, it is important to allow your body time to make new blood cells before donating again. Different Guidelines for Different Types of Donations The American Red Cross has specific guidelines for how often people may donate, based on research and average times to replenish the body’s blood supply. There are four basic types…
While whole blood donation is what most people think of when donating blood. It is certainly the most common, however there are actually four different types of blood donations to be aware of. Each type is needed by recipients to treat different types of diseases and conditions. Whole Blood Donation Whole blood donation consists of one pint (about 475 mL)…
Periodically, we all see coverage on the news about a blood supply shortage, sometimes of a specific type – but sometimes all types and products are in demand. You may have heard things like “red alert” for a certain blood type. This refers to the system used by the American Red Cross to notify the public of shortages by blood…
You may have heard about plasma donation centers that pay money for donations. Not all plasma donations are paid – community blood centers such as the American Red Cross and most hospital-based facilities are supplied by volunteer donors, just like for whole blood. While donating plasma definitely fulfills a need and extra money is tempting, it is important to be…
The entire blood donation system would be ineffective and risky without stringent donor screening, safety protocols, and rigorous testing that is conducted. Donor Screening One of the first steps that every potential blood donor goes through, every single donation, is the registration and screening process. The standardized donor screening form is fairly lengthy, and covers a range of topics, such…
Many people learned about blood types sometime in school but may have forgotten a lot of that information. Let’s review some of the general principles so that you can better understand which blood types are rare, and why. Blood Types Review There are four major blood groups: A, B, AB, and O. These are further divided into positive and negative…
One thing that stops some people from being willing to give blood is fear. Today, donating blood is very safe. Sterile, disposable equipment is used for each donor, so there is no risk of getting a bloodborne infection by donating blood. To better understand the donation process and allay those fears, let’s address the minimal risks involved. Frequent Concerns Don’t…
It is natural for first-time blood donors to be a little fearful of the process, especially if they haven’t been around a blood donation drive or center. Those that make the leap and donate blood get to leave feeling good in the knowledge that their donation will help save lives. To ease those first-timer fears, it is helpful to know…
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