Can Anyone Give Blood?
Most people can. In general anyone age 17
(16 with parent's permission) and over, who is in good health
and weighs 110 pounds or more is eligible to donate. There
is no upper age limit; the ability to donate depends on your
health.
How Much Blood Is
Taken During One Donation?
The amount of blood taken is approximately
450 ml or 1 pint. It is equivalent to about 10% of your total blood volume.
Does Donating Blood
Hurt?
You will feel a slight pinch when the needle
is inserted. Most people do not find this uncomfortable.
Can One Donation
Really Help?
YES! Each blood donation has the potential
to become multiple products.
Who Needs Blood?
Five percent of all hospitalized patients
receive blood transfusions. The average amount of blood a
patient will use is approximately 3 pints. The most frequent
users are patients with Cancer, Leukemia, Heart Disease, Gastrointestinal
Disease, Traumas, Anemia and Liver Disease.
Can I Get A Disease
From Donating Blood?
NO! All the supplies and equipment used are
new, sterile and disposable after use.
How Often Can I Donate?
A person donating Whole Blood can donate
every 56 days, or 6 times a year. A person donating Platelets
has the potential to donate once every 72 hours, but no more
than 24 times a year.
What Is Apheresis?
Through
a process called Automated Blood Collection, donors can safely give
many times the amount of plasma, platelets or Red Blod Cells (RBCs)
than can be obtained from a whole blood donation. Blood is drawn from
the arm through sterile tubing into a centrifuge. The force of the
centrifuge causes the blood to separate into components which vary in
weight and in density. The plasma, platelet or RBCs are then drawn into
a collection bag, while the remaining blood components are returned to
you.
Is Apheresis Donation
Safe?
Yes. New, sterile donation equipment including
needle, tubing, collection bags are used for each donor. Each
donation is closely supervised throughout the procedure by
trained staff.
What Is Plasma?
Plasma is the fluid portion of the blood
-- the river which transports the Red Blood Cells, White Cells
and Platelets through the body to nourish and protect tissue
and organs. This pale yellow liquid is also rich in minerals
and proteins which help control bleeding.
Who Needs Plasma?
Plasma is frequently used by trauma patients,
burn victims and others fighting serious illness and injury.
What are Platelets?
Platelets are blood cells that help control
bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets collect
at the site of the injury and temporarily repair the tear.
Platelets then activate substances in the plasma which form
a clot and allow the wound to heal.
Who Uses Platelets?
Many lifesaving medical treatments require
platelet transfusions. Cancer patients, those receiving organ
or bone marrow transplants, victims of traumatic injuries,
and patients undergoing open heart surgery require platelet
transfusions to survive.
How Quickly Do My
Platelets Replace Themselves?
By three days about half of your donated
Platelets have been replaced and by nine days your Platelet
count should be at predonation levels. You should never donate
Platelets more often than every 72 hours, and you should usually
wait a week before your next donation. You may not donate
Platelets more often than 24 times in a year.
What Is The Most
Common Blood Type?
| O-Positive |
38% |
| A-Positive |
34% |
| B-Positive |
9% |
| O-Negative |
7% |
| A-Negative |
6% |
| AB-Positive |
3% |
| B-Negative |
2% |
| AB-Negative |
1% |
