January 13 , 2022 The Beacon • 5
Blood donors are celebrated during January
January is National Blood Donor Month , a time to celebrate those who are willing to take the time to donate blood .
Steve Oster started donating blood in high school and continued on and off over the years .
“ I try to donate when I can and am more consistent at times over other times ,” he said . “ You never know when someone is going to need a blood transfusion or having surgery and your pint of blood might help to save someone ’ s life .”
According to www . redcrossblood . org , there is currently a dangerously low blood supply , and the Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in more than a decade . Local blood drives can be found on the website , along with information on how to make an appointment .
“ I feel like I am able to potentially help others by giving blood ,” Oster said . “ Over a few decades ago , I found out I had blood that could be used for babies because it is CMV negative . Also , the staff
who work and volunteer at the blood drives are very nice and give of their time to help others . I know a lot of people are scared the first time they give , but the staff will walk you through the process and make you feel comfortable .”
Tips for the day of your donation
— Drink an extra 16 ounces of water or other nonalcoholic drink before your appointment .
— Eat a healthy meal , avoiding fatty foods like hamburgers , fries or ice cream .
— Wear a shirt with sleeves that you can roll up above your elbows .
— Let them know if you have a preferred arm or particular vein that has been used successfully in the past to draw blood .
— Relax , listen to music , talk to other donors or read while you donate .
Your donation
— If you ’ re donating whole blood , they ’ ll cleanse an area on your arm and insert a brandnew , sterile needle for the blood draw . This feels like a quick pinch and is over in seconds .
— Other types of donations such as platelets are made using an apheresis machine that will be connected to both arms .
— A whole blood donation takes about eight to 10 minutes , during which you ’ ll be seated comfortably or lying down .
— When approximately a pint of whole blood has been collected , the donation is complete , and a staff person will place a bandage on your arm .
— For platelets , the apheresis machine will collect a small amount of blood , remove the platelets and return the rest of the blood through your other arm ; this cycle will be repeated several times over about two hours .
Tips for after your donation
— Keep the strip bandage on for the next several hours . To avoid a skin rash , clean the area around the bandage with
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soap and water .
— Don ’ t do any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for the rest of the day .
— If the needle site starts to bleed , apply pressure and raise your arm straight up for five to 10 minutes or until bleeding stops .
— Call 1-866-236- 3276 to report any additional health information you forgot to share if you have any problems or if you need medical care after giving blood .
— If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness , stop what you ’ re doing and sit down or lie down until you feel better . Avoid performing any activity where fainting may lead to injury for
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at least 24 hours . — Keep eating ironrich foods .
— If you donate frequently , be sure to take multi-vitamins with iron to ensure you continue to replenish your iron stores before your next donation .
Tips were provided from www . redcrossblood . org .
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