Consider yourself asked.. becoming a hero is easier than you may think posted 6/3/2007 10:02:31 AM | 7 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: life, gift, thanks

luvshorses644

Stop... count to 2 --- that is how often someone needs a blood transfusion. Yet fewer than 5 percent of people who are able to give blood actually do so . As many of you may or may not know, I am a regular (meaning every 56 days) blood donor. I have a very rare blood type AB negative and I am aware of how little there is. I am approaching my 5 gallon mark soon and the last time I gave blood one of the American Red Cross people approached me and asked me to participate in their 2007 Summer Campaign and ask people to please give!

Blood donations during the summer months are critical because of increased travelling being done and the increase in traffic and other numerous accidents related to people being out and about.

Each donation of blood means another life or up to 3 lives (people rushed to the hospital after a trauma, children fighting leukemia, fire fighter who've been burned, grandparents needing heart surgery or hip replacement, people like the ones in your neighborhood, or in your own family) can be saved or prolonged with your generous gift. I would also like to inform those that have type "O" blood who are thinking it is very common that it doesn't mean that the patients in hospitals don't need your donation. Type O patients can ONLY receive Type O blood, so more often than not, type O blood is in short supply.

For those worried about A.I.D.S. -- YOU CANNOT CONTRACT IT BY DONATING BLOOD. All the Red Cross equipment used to collect the blood is sterile. Each collection bag has a self-contained sterile need that is used for one donation only -- YOURS.

Also if your were ever deferred from giving blood because of your pulse, temperature, iron count or blood count, it was most probably a temporary condition. Many donors who were deffered are able to donate successfully. And taking medications usually will not disqualify you from donating. I am also borderline anemic, but I load up on iron-full foods a week before the donation (raisins are the best, any type of legume [beans, etc.] red beets and liver) and only twice was it lower than acceptable and I suffered no side effects from the donation.

I understand it is summer and you have plans on vacations, cookouts, etc., but please think of those people in hospitals who need this gift of life, without your donation they may not have another summer or a cookout.

When you donate a unit of blood (a little less than a pint, adults usually have 10-12 pints in their body), it is separated into its components. Each component meets a different medical need: surgery patients, cancer patients or bone marrow tansplant recipients need your platelets to prevent hemorrhaging, patients suffering burns, shock or dehydration need your plasma.

Contact your local Red Cross association to set up a time for your donation. You can find the location in your yellow pages. The actual donation time will take about 6-8minutes. It takes only 24 hours for your body to replace your blood volume or your plasma. Do not to any heavy lifting with the arm you doingated with for 5 hours after the donation. Your body needs 4-8 weeks to replace the red cells. Thus you can donate again in 8 weeks - 56 days. Remember to eat breakfast or lunch before donating and be sure to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages after you donate.

There is also a donation of only platelets called apheresis which takes longer than a regular blood donation, but if you have a little more time, you might want to do this. I have been matched with an 12 year old girl with leukemia. This procedure can be done every 14 days without interferring with your blood donation ability of every 56 days.

Thank you for reading this blog and for those of you that have decided to help.. many, many thanks for all those people that truly need it.

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