Blood donation: The gift of life

Have you heard about these myths on blood donation?

Myth 1: The body only has a limited amount of blood.

Fact: Only around 350 to 500 ml of blood is taken out in one session. Provided you are not anemic, the body has enough blood for its needs. Your body will also produce new blood immediately after you donate blood.

Myth 2: Blood donation leads to weakness. You will not be able to perform sports activities anymore.

Fact: The body will automatically replenish the lost blood in three to four weeks. Donating blood does not lead to weakness or disability. Just take plenty of fluids after donating blood and rest for a while. In a short time, your body will adjust and will be back to normal. You can go back to your regular physical activities the next day.

 Myth 3: Women and girls cannot donate blood.

 Fact: Women can donate blood just like men.

Myth 4: It is painful to give blood.

Fact: The pain from blood donation is the same as a needle prick. However, there will be a slight soreness in the area of the prick.

Myth 5: You will be exposed to infections, such as HIV, if you donate blood.

Fact: The blood donation team ensures sterility in equipment and needles during the procedure. New needles are used for each person.

Myth 6: Some races are not fit to donate blood. Only certain people are allowed to donate blood.

Fact: Donating blood depends on your current health status and your blood type. It has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or sex. Everyone can be considered for blood donation as long as he/she is healthy.

Myth 7: The process is tedious and they will ask you embarrassing questions before you donate blood.

Fact: The World Health Organization requires all blood donors to answer questions that will ensure that the blood being donated is safe. This is not meant to embarrass the donor but to protect the recipient of the blood.

A health worker will ask you about your medical history and check your blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature. You will be asked about risky behaviors such as intravenous drug use and multiple sex partners. All answers will be kept confidential. During the screening process, a sample of blood will be taken to check your hemoglobin level to make sure you are not anemic.

Myth 8: Donating blood will take a long time.

Fact: The actual blood extraction will take 10 minutes. All in all, the whole process of donation will take about one hour.

Why donate blood

The Philippine Red Cross encourages everyone to donate blood. The lives of other people are at stake. Blood is needed for operations, hospital cases, and during emergencies.

Nothing can be more pitiful than seeing a parent look for blood in order to save the life of his child. If the hospital or your locality does not have an adequate supply of blood, then it is possible that people may die as a result.

You can donate blood if you are in good health and between 16 and 65 years old. Teens who are 16 to 17 years old need their parents’ consent. Eligible blood donors should weigh at least 110 pounds and pass the medical history and physical examination. Vital signs should be within normal limits. You should also not be sick or have a fever.

A healthy person can donate blood every three months. Even if you had a flu shot, you can still donate blood. On the other hand, those who underwent a tattooing procedure, acupuncture, and other procedures with needles are prohibited from donating blood for one year. Those who had a tooth extraction are also deferred from donating blood for a year.

Here are the steps to follow before donating blood:

1. Get enough rest and sleep the night before.

2. Do not drink alcohol within 24 hours before the blood donation.

3. You should not have taken any medication for the past 24 hours.

4. Take a regular meal before donating blood. Avoid fatty foods.

5. Drink lots of fluids, such as water and juice, before and after donating blood.

And here are the steps to follow after donating blood:

1. Rest for around 10 minutes.

2. Drink plenty of fluids, like water or juice, to replenish the fluid you lost.

3. Apply pressure on the puncture site to avoid bleeding. Limit using the arm for lifting heavy objects. You may apply cold compress on the puncture site if there is bruising or swelling.

4. Refrain from stooping down after blood donation.

5. Avoid heavy physical activity and avoid driving big vehicles such as buses and trucks.

6. If you feel dizzy, just lie down and keep your feet slightly elevated. Your dizziness will go away in a few minutes after the body has adjusted.

 What happens to your blood after the donation?

First, the blood is tested to determine the type, which is classified as O, A, B or AB. The Rh factor refers to the presence of a specific antigen in the blood. Most people are Rh factor positive.

In general, people with type O blood (especially Rh-negative) can donate blood to many other people, while those with type AB blood can receive blood from many people. In the Philippines, the most common blood types are as follows: Type O and Rh-positive, 45 percent; Type B and Rh-positive, 25 percent; Type A and Rh-positive, 24 percent; Type AB and Rh-positive, five percent; Rh-negative group, less than one percent. 

Second, the blood will be tested for infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. If the donated blood tests positive, then the blood will be discarded. Persons with such infections are disbarred from donating blood.  

The Philippine Red Cross says that donating blood is giving the gift of life. If you would like to donate blood, visit the Philippine Red Cross website to find the nearest blood donation center.