The availability of quality blood is a very important component of modern medicine. It cannot be created synthetically, so it must be collected from volunteer donors. Yet, many people are afraid to donate for reasons varying from worry about pain to worry about catching a disease. The reality is that donating blood is safe, as there are many precautions in place and there is no reason to fear a communicable disease. The most serious risks when donating blood are referred to as "adverse reactions" and these generally take two forms, namely fainting or bruising. If you follow these steps, you will reduce the potential for both types of adverse reactions.
Determine if you are eligible to donate blood. Each country's blood service will have different requirements in place, some based on specific blood disease concerns (see the "Sources and Citations" below to locate different country requirements). In general, you will be able to give blood if:
• You are healthy, fit, and not suffering from a current illness. Avoid donating blood if you have a cold, a cold sore, a cough, a virus, or an upset stomach.
• You weigh at least 110 pounds or 50 kg.
• You are of the right age (in many jurisdictions, you will require parental permission for the ages 16-17 to give blood; check your local requirements).
Avoid donating blood after dental work. If you have had a minor dental procedure, wait 24 hours before donating blood. If you've had major dental work, wait for a month.
Prior to donating blood
1. Drink plenty of water or fruit juice the night and morning before you donate. The leading cause of faintness and dizziness is a drop in blood pressure. Getting lots of water or fruit juice into your body helps keep your blood pressure up. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service advises that you drink well in the 24 hours leading to the donation time, especially when it's warm, recommending four good sized glasses of water or juice in the three hours prior to donation.
• If you are donating plasma or platelets, drink at least 6 to 8 glasses.
• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, as these will cause your body to expel water.
2. Eat three hours prior to the donation. It's not a good idea to come in with an empty stomach; eating will keep your blood sugar levels stable, helping you to feel better after you have donated blood. Having food in your blood helps to ward off lightheadedness.
• If you feel like eating breakfast first thing in the morning eat something light like (cereal, toast, etc.) or a light lunch, such as a sandwich and piece of fruit.
• If you think you might be nauseous during donation don't eat immediately before your appointment.
• Avoid fatty foods for twenty-four hours before you donate. Increased fat in your blood stream might make it impossible to get accurate readings on some of the mandatory screening tests conducted on samples of your blood after you donate. If they can't run all the tests, they have to discard your donation. You don't want all your effort wasted!
• Eat iron rich foods for two weeks before your appointment, for example, spinach, whole grains, eggs, and beef. Having good levels of vitamin C will help to increase iron absorption (consume citrus juice and citrus fruit, or take vitamin C pills with your doctor's advice).
Your iron level will be tested before you donate to protect you from donating blood--you really need to ensure that recipients receive a potent product.
Prepare all identification and blood donor cards you need to take the day before and put into something that you carry with you. That way you won't forget to take them if you're feeling nervous. Blood donor cards can help speed up the process as your personal donor number will let the blood bank or service find your details quickly.
3.
• Answer questions from the staff members or on forms and answer all interview questions honestly. Certain activities increase the chances of blood borne illnesses (i.e., those that can be transmitted through blood) and those who have recently engaged in those activities may be prevented from donating blood for a period of time. Some of the questions regarding sexual activity might be embarrassing, but the people working at blood centers are professionals. They have heard it all before.
• You might be deferred, but no one will ever know why unless you tell them. If you need a less embarrassing excuse to tell your friends or coworkers, low iron is the most common cause for deferral. Low blood pressure, high blood pressure and high temperature are also good excuses that shouldn't cause embarrassment. Ask the registration personnel if you think you need exact numbers for your made-up excuse.
Source: wikihow