“He who saves one life...it is as if he saves an entire universe”
The Talmud

            There is a need for blood and a need to raise awareness about how easy it is to save a life. Donating blood is not risky to the donor’s health. In fact, it helps the body when blood is donated on a regular basis. As with exercise, every time a donation is made, the bone marrow, where red cells are produced, work a little harder to restore the blood back to normal levels. Plus, fresh blood cells are not contaminated by high cholesterol or other conditions that may negatively affect health. Blood can safely be donated every eight weeks. A whole blood donation is separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma.

             Red cells carry life-saving oxygen.
             Platelets help clot the blood for healing.
             Plasma replaces fluid.

            In the United States, nearly 40% of the population is eligible to donate blood, and yet only 5% ever do donate. Patients being treated for cancer, leukemia,  sickle cell anemia, accident victims, and organ transplant patients all need blood to survive. A cancer patient may use up to eight units of red cells per week; an organ transplant patient could use over 100 components; a burn victim could use 20 units or more of platelets and plasma. With new, innovative, life-saving technology, blood and blood products play a crucial part in helping doctors sustain life longer. Until synthetic blood is produced, it is critical that healthy people continue to donate on a regular basis.

            Effective July 1, 2008, Virginia law will allow 16 year olds with parental consent to donate. As always, there is no upper age limit for blood donation. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and asthma, which are controlled by medication do not prevent blood donation. Many cancer survivors are acceptable donors after five years in remission. However, previous blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma are not permitted to donate. People that cannot donate blood, can help recruit and register blood donors at the drives.

            Donors register and are given important information that must be read before filling out the medical history form. Photo identification is also needed. In the private screening area, the historian will review the form, check the identification, and proceed with a general medical evaluation. This will consist of taking blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and checking the iron level with a finger stick. Eligibility to donate is based on this little “mini physical.” The Food and Drug Administration has strict standards in place for blood donation. This process will take between 7 and 10 minutes.

            Eligible donors will sit in a donor chair, the donation site will be sterilized, and a Donor Specialist will draw the blood. Each individual may have a slightly different experience as the needle is inserted just under the skin into the vein. It is usually a very brief and fairly painless procedure. Actual donation time should be no longer than 5 and 7 minutes with a maximum time of 15 minutes.

            After the donation is complete:

             Visit the canteen for refreshments for 10 minutes.
             Drink plenty of hydrating fluids such as water and sports drinks.
             No smoking for an hour after donation.
             No heavy lifting with the donation arm.
             Eat well for the rest of the day.

Pohick will sponsor a Bloodmobile on Saturday, October 4 at the annual Country Fair. Please sign-up to be a donor!