The ninth annual blood drive is almost upon us and it is essential that all donors know some helpful tips on donating their blood.
To be able donate, you must at least sixteen years-old to donate. If you are sixteen or seventeen, you will need parental consent, which you can pick up in the office or in room 613. You must also weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. If these requirements are met, you are one step closer to being able to donate blood!
Prior to donation, remember to drink lots of water and eat a balanced meal the night and morning before. It is also highly recommended that you eat lots of iron rich foods, including beef, turkey, chicken, lamb, pork, and liver, and/or an iron supplement. Iron is important because it helps you maintain your strength and energy while also making new blood cells that you will lose during donation. If your blood does not contain high enough iron, you will not be able to donate.
On the day of donation, you will need to bring a form of identification with a unique number on it and your photo, like your driver's license or your student ID card. it is recommended wear a short sleeve shirt or something that can easily be rolled up so that the job of the technician is made simpler. Before they can begin to draw your blood, you will undergo a mini-physical and be asked about your medical history, including medications you are currently taking, places you've traveled, etc.
The donation itself will take about 10-15 minutes and you will sit in a reclining chair during the draw. Once you have finished donating, you will be asked to relax, grab a snack, and get something to drink for 15 minutes. You should keep your bandage on for at least five hours and avoid strenuous activity for at least five hours.
Your blood donation will then go to the Central California Blood Bank to help save three lives in our community. It will also be part of the more than 15 million pints of blood that is transfused in the United States each year to save lives
Donating blood can be a scary thought, but remember that you can help the community by contributing to the Central Valley blood supply.
