Frequently Asked Que…
@Why should people donate blood?
Safe blood saves lives. Blood is commonly used for women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancies and haemorrhage before or during childbirth, children with severe anaemia often resulting from malaria or malnutrition, accident victims and surgical and cancer patients. There is a constant need for a regular supply of blood because blood can be stored only for a limited period of time before use. Regular blood donation by a sufficient number of healthy people is needed to ensure that blood will always be available whenever and wherever it is needed. Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person – the gift of life. With recent developments in component therapy, a decision to donate your blood can save the life of one or even several people.
@What happens when I give blood?
Whether it is the first time you give blood or you are a regular donor, the blood service must make sure that you will come to no harm by donating blood. It must also check that your blood will be safe for the person who receives it. Before you give blood, you will be asked some questions about your medical history, current health and lifestyle. You may also be asked about recent travel; for example, if you live in a country where there is no malaria, you may be asked whether you have recently visited a tropical country. These questions will be asked only to safeguard your own health and the health of the person receiving your blood. You will be told whether you are eligible to give blood and, if not, whether you may be able to donate blood in the future. Any personal information
that you are asked to give will be kept confidential and will not be used for any other purpose. It is very important to be truthful about any reasons why your blood might not be suitable. Although almost all blood is tested for infections that can be transmitted by transfusion, such as HIV, hepatitis and syphilis, the test may not detect a very recent infection. This means that even though blood may test negative for a particular infection, it might still infect a patient receiving a blood transfusion. After answering the questions you will also be given a brief medical examination that may include the checking of your pulse, blood pressure and weight. A drop of blood will then be taken from
your fingertip to check whether giving blood will not make you anaemic. Your health is very important to the blood transfusion service and blood will not be taken unless you can safely give a donation that day. Donating blood is very simple. You will be made as comfortable as possible, usually in a special chair or on a bed. The area inside one of your elbows will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution before a trained health worker inserts a sterile needle, connected to a blood bag, into your vein. It usually takes only about 10 minutes to donate a unit of blood.
After resting for 10 or 15 minutes and taking some refreshment, you will be able to return to your normal activities, although you should avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day. You should drink plenty of fluids over the next 24 hours.
@How much blood will be taken?
In most countries, the volume of blood taken is 450 millilitres, less than 10% of your total blood volume (the average adult has 4.5 to 5 litres of blood). In some countries, a smaller volume is taken. Your body will replace the lost fluid within about 36 hours.
@Is it safe?
Yes. Remember that you will only be accepted as a blood donor if you are fit and well. Your health and well-being are very important to the blood service. The needle and blood bag used to collect blood come in a sterile pack that cannot be reused, so the process is made as safe as possible.
@Does it hurt?
Just squeeze the inside of your elbow tightly and you will get a quick idea of what the needle feels like. All you should feel is a gentle pressure, but no pain. Blood donation is very safe and any discomfort or problem during or after donating is very uncommon.
@Who can give blood, and how often?
The criteria for donor selection vary from country to country, but blood can be
donated by most people who are healthy and do not have an infection that can be transmitted through their blood. The age at which people are eligible to give
blood varies, but is commonly between the ages of 17 and 65. Some countries accept donations from people from the age of 16 and extend the upper age limit beyond 65 years. Healthy adults can give blood regularly. In most countries, men can donate blood every three months and women can donate blood every four months.
@Who should not give blood?
You should not give blood if your own health might suffer as a result
The first concern of the blood service is to ensure that blood donation does no harm to the blood donor.
You should not donate blood if:
• You are feeling unwell
• You are anaemic
• You are pregnant or have been pregnant within the last year
• You have certain medical conditions such as heart disease, low or high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy
• You are taking certain medications, such as antibiotics. You may be able to donate blood at a later time. In some cases, however, you will not be able to donate blood in order to protect your own health. You should not donate blood if it might cause harm to the patient who receives it Blood can transmit life-threatening infections to patients who receive blood transfusions.
You should not donate blood if:
• You have or may recently have contracted a sexually transmitted disease, such as HIV or syphilis, which can be passed on to a patient who receives your blood
• Your lifestyle puts you at risk of contracting an infection that can be transmitted through your blood: for example, if you have more than one sexual partner or have sexual contact with prostitutes
• You have ever injected drugs
• You have recently had a tattoo, skin scarification or ear or body piercing
• You have had sexual contact with anyone having sexually transmissible disease.
But even if there are health reasons why you can’t actually give blood, you can still help to give the gift of life by encouraging your family and friends to become blood donors.
