Most people do not often think that they can save somebody’s life without being a doctor or a lifeguard. However, one of the easiest and most widespread ways to voluntarily help other people is to become a blood donor. Blood donation is not a complicated process, which, however, includes several essential aspects related to the health and safety of both a donor and a recipient. Therefore, donors need to be aware of the specific requirements and rules to maximize the benefit of blood donation. This essay aims to provide detailed information about how to become a donor and what is necessary to know about the blood withdrawal procedure.
To begin with, it is important to understand the basics of blood donation and its purposes. Blood donation is a process of drawing blood from a volunteer to use it for transfusion, medications, or other medical, scientific, and educational purposes. Either whole blood or its specific components, such as plasma and red blood cells, can be donated. The procedure is undertaken in specially organized laboratories, or blood centers, after a careful medical examination of a donor.
Like any type of medical intervention, blood donation is associated with certain risks, which can be minimized if particular requirements are met. To be eligible for blood donation, an individual should be 16 years old or older (Barbeau 31). Since a significant amount of blood is extracted, the donor’s weight should not be less than 110 lbs. Moreover, it is important to be in good health and without any infectious diseases or other conditions that may create risks for the donor and the recipient.
After defining eligibility for blood donation, a donor needs to find a local blood center where the procedure can be undertaken. For example, in the US, regional blood drives can be found on the American Red Cross’s website. On the specified date, it is required to take an identification document to the blood center. To reduce the negative effects of blood withdrawal, donors are recommended to drink plenty of water and eat a balanced meal before the procedure. It is important to understand that taking particular medications before blood donation, such as antidepressants and painkillers, may negatively influence blood quality. Therefore, donors need to consult the local blood center to define their eligibility for blood donation.
Besides the basic requirements for the donor’s age and health condition, there are certain recommendations for an individual’s blood properties. For example, the allowable pre-donation hemoglobin of a prospective donor should be 12.5 g/dL or over, while the hematocrit level is supposed to be 38% or over (Barbeau 31). Moreover, special attention is paid to blood pressure and the amount of blood donated. A person of a healthy weight (110 lbs) can donate 525 mL of blood maximum (Barbeau 31). Finally, if an individual donated blood less than eight weeks before the procedure, it is necessary to postpone the subsequent donation since this time is required for blood cells to restore themselves fully. In certain cases, for example, after donating red blood cells, a longer period of recovery is needed. Therefore, the frequency of blood donations is an essential factor to consider before registering for the procedure.
After a physical examination of the donor, a doctor can start the blood donation process. The procedure includes making a puncture in a large arm vein, which is usually the median cubital vein. The donor should sit upright or lie down and remain in a still position. Blood withdrawal takes about 10 minutes and is associated with tiredness or an uncomfortable sensation in the place of a puncture. To timely detect and eliminate possible complications, donors are required to stay in the blood donation center for at least 10 minutes after the procedure.
Most donors tolerate blood withdrawal; however, negative reactions may still take place. Doctors give the following recommendations to facilitate post-donation recovery and secure the donor’s well-being. Firstly, donors are encouraged to pay attention to their general condition several days after donation. In the case of a headache, fever, or any other illness, they are advised to contact their doctors or blood centers (Harmening 300). Secondly, in the next several hours, it is recommended to drink more nonalcoholic fluids and avoid smoking. Finally, donors should not perform any physical activities demanding significant effort (Harmening 300). If these recommendations are followed, the recovery process does not require a long time.
In conclusion, blood donation is a significant contribution that almost every healthy adult can make. If all the precautions and recommendations are considered, the procedure does not take a lot of effort; however, its clinical and scientific benefits are hard to overestimate. Healthy weight and lifestyle, balanced meals before blood withdrawal, and attention to the technician’s instructions are the main requirements for facilitating donation and recovery. Therefore, to maximize the positive results of the procedure, prospective donors need to carefully follow the medical recommendations and pay special attention to the preparation for the procedure.
Works Cited
Barbeau, J. Mills. Risk Management in Blood Transfusion Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2019.
Harmening, Denise M. Modern Blood Banking & Transfusion Practices. 7th ed., F.A. Davis, 2018.