Interesting Facts About Blood Donation

The new approach educates the country about the needs of the nation, instead of that of just one hospital or patient. The blood services cater blood donors and encourage the constant blood donation. Most importantly, the country benefits from these donations. Here are some interesting facts about blood donation.

Basic requirements for blood donors:

Age: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has set a minimum age of 17 years old and a maximum age of 65 years of age for blood donors. Why have they set these rules? There is a need to establish a minimum age so the individual has the competence and capacity to provide correct information and consent. As well as for a maximum, to ensure the blood donation does not carry any negative effects that can increase the risks of the patient.

Weight: In order to donate blood you must have a maximum weight of 110 pounds. This was set, in order to be able to retrieve at least 450 ml of blood per individual, making it only the 12% of their blood circulation.

Fasting: It has been advised to NOT ask the donor to fast when donating blood. Instead, the approaches have been updated to make the donor more comfortable. A 16 oz glass of water is being offered as soon as one arrives, to diminish the vomiting and dizziness rates. This is also friendlier to donors.

15 facts about the blood, the donors and its process to think about!

1. As often as every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion in the US.

2. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day, yet less than 15,000 are received.

3. The average human body carries 10 pints of blood, while the average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.

4. The most needed type of blood is O positive but only 1 person in 3 carries it.

5. The only patient that can receive any blood donation is type AB+, this makes 3.4 % of our population.

5. In case of emergency, 100 pints of blood are needed. These tend to be already in the shelves.

6. Most patients diagnosed with cancer need daily blood transfusions, during their treatments.

7. Less than 38% of the US population is eligible for blood donation due to disease or bad habits.

8. Blood cannot be made in labs, only a donor can provide.

9. Donating blood has become a safe procedure. Needles are sterilized and used only once per donation.

10. To donate blood you only need to register, provide with medical history, do a quick physical by a nurse and donate. Refreshments provided followed the procedure.

11. Blood donors are checked for blood pressure, temperature, pulse and hemoglobin levels to ensure the donation will be a successful one.

12. All tests made to the donated blood are later on reported to the donor, in case of any findings.

13. A healthy donor can donate blood every two months.

14. A healthy donor can donate platelets a maximum of 24 times a year.

15. All information given to the hospital when donating blood is kept confidential.

If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every two months until your seventy-sixth birthdays, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially saving more than 1,000 lives!