why do you need to donate blood

14 Reasons Why You Should Give Blood

• It saves lives — what else do you need to know?
• It is not more painful than losing a loved one that you may save by donating!
• It is your civic duty.
• Because I know too many people who can’t give blood.
• Because some day, I may need someone to do the same for me.
• Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!

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Full Answer

Why should I donate blood instead selling it?

May 19, 2021 · Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. The need for blood is constant. But only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.

What are some reasons to not donate blood?

Jun 10, 2020 · Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person – the gift of life. A decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood is separated into its components – red cells, platelets and plasma – which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.

What conditions disqualify you from donating blood?

Jun 26, 2019 · Donating blood has benefits for your emotional and physical health. According to a report by the Mental Health Foundation, helping others can: reduce stress improve your emotional well-being...

What are the reasons why a person cannot donate blood?

Donation frequency: Every 112 days, up to 3 times/year*. You must be in good health and feeling well**. Male donors+ must be at least 17 years old in most states, at least 5'1" tall and weigh at least 130 lbs. Female donors+ must be at least 19 years old, at least 5'5" tall and weigh at least 150 lbs. See additional requirements for student ...

Why should people donate blood?

Safe blood saves lives. Blood is needed by women with complications during pregnancy and childbirth, children with severe anaemia, often resulting...

What happens when I give blood?

Whether you are a first-time or regular donor, the blood service must make sure that you will come to no harm by donating blood. This includes chec...

How much blood will be taken? Will I have enough?

In most countries, the volume of blood taken is 450 millilitres, less than 10 per cent of your total blood volume (the average adult has 4.5 to 5 l...

Is giving blood safe?

Yes. Remember that you will only be accepted as a blood donor if you are fit and well. Your health and well-being are very important to the blood s...

Does it hurt?

Just squeeze the inside of your elbow tightly and you will get a quick idea of what the needle feels like. All you should feel is a gentle pressure...

Who can give blood, and how often?

The criteria for donor selection varies from country to country, but blood can be donated by most people who are healthy and do not have an infecti...

Who should not give blood?

The blood service is concerned with the welfare of both the blood donor and the recipient (patient). Donors are often asked not to donate blood fo...

Can I give blood after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2?

Consistent with current general global practice, recipients of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that do not contain live virus may donate blood if they feel wel...

How will I feel after giving blood?

You should feel great for selflessly giving someone the gift of blood.

What is the role of blood donors?

Blood donors play a vital role in the healthcare of patients in your community . 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 5% actually do. With every blood donation, you are providing strength, hope and courage to patients and their families in your local hospitals. View more reasons to donate here.

Why is blood needed?

In fact, every two seconds of every day, someone needs blood. Since blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and has a limited shelf life, the supply must constantly be replenished by generous blood donors.

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

You probably can. While donors must be at least 17 in most states, there’s no upper age limit for giving blood as long as you are well with no restriction or limitation to your activities.

What are the vitals before donating?

You get a free mini-physical. Before donating, your vitals — temperature, pulse and blood pressure — are checked as well as your hemoglobin level. “Many people find out they have elevated blood pressure from us,” Eder says.

How long does it take to get a pint of blood?

It will take 8 to 10 minutes to collect a pint of whole blood. 7. Relax. After the donation, you can enjoy beverages and snacks in a refreshment area. Stay about 10 to 15 minutes to make sure you’re OK. If you experience dizziness, you shouldn’t drive, so you might want to arrange for a back-up ride.

What percentage of blood donations are collected by the Red Cross?

Here’s what to expect: 1. Find a place to donate. The American Red Cross, which collects 40 percent of the nation’s blood donations, has an easy-to-use location tool.

Can you donate blood to cancer patients?

Cancer patients are among the most common recipients of blood transfusions. But donations are also used daily for surgery patients, accident victims, organ transplant recipients and burn patients — young and old. 2. You probably can. While donors must be at least 17 in most states, there’s no upper age limit for giving blood ...

Can older people give blood?

Older people can give blood more comfortably. Donors age 50 and older are less likely than young donors to have an adverse reaction such as dizziness, lightheadedness, bruising or fainting. “It’s a little counterintuitive,” Eder says, but an older person is usually a more experienced giver than a 16-year-old. 4.

What are the benefits of giving blood?

According to a report by the Mental Health Foundation, helping others can: reduce stress. improve your emotional well-being. benefit your physical health. help get rid of negative feelings. provide a sense of belonging and reduce isolation.

Why is whole blood donation the most common type of donation?

Whole blood donation is the most common type of donation. This is because it offers the most flexibility.

How long does it take to get a pint of blood?

A sterile needle will then be inserted. You’ll remain seated or lying down while a pint of your blood is drawn. This takes 8 to 10 minutes. When a pint of blood has been collected, a staff member will remove the needle and bandage your arm.

How many lives can you save by donating blood?

There’s no end to the benefits of donating blood for those who need it. According to the American Red Cross, one donation can save as many as three lives, and someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds.

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

You need to be 17 or older to donate whole blood. Some states allow you to donate at 16 with parental consent. You have to weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health to donate. You need to provide information about medical conditions and any medications you’re taking.

Does blood donation reduce heart disease?

The research is mixed on whether blood donation actually lowers risk of heart disease and heart attack. . This may reduce the risk of heart attack. High body iron stores are believed to increase the risk of heart attack. suggests these observations are deceiving and are not a real physiological response.

Can you get dizzy after donating blood?

There’s no risk of contracting disease. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor. Some people may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or dizzy after donating blood. If this happens, it should only last a few minutes. You can lie down with your feet up at the until you feel better.

Why is it important to know about the restrictions on donating blood?

Donating blood is an exceptional way to give back to your community, which is why it’s important to know about basic giving blood restrictions. The list of eligibility restrictions and rules for donating blood is extensive, and rightfully so; it’s important to keep those who receive donated blood safe. However, many of these requirements are very ...

How old do you have to be to donate blood?

In order to donate blood, you must: Be at least 17 years old. In some states, you can give blood at 16 years-of-age with parental consent.

How long does it take for vcjd to show up in cows?

In the 80s and 90s, the UK saw a widespread outbreak of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cows. Symptoms from vCJD can take years (sometimes as many as 50) to show.

What is the hemoglobin level of a woman?

In their eligibility requirements list (linked above) The American Red Cross states that: “In order to donate blood, a woman must have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dL, and a man must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.0 g/dL.

How long do you have to wait to donate platelets?

If you wish to donate only platelets, you will need to wait the space of two full days between the last time you took a pill and the day you donate blood. Blood thinners: Since blood thinners affect the ability of your blood to clot, individuals taking certain types of blood thinners will not be allowed to donate.

What are the restrictions on blood donation?

The following are just the most common restrictions for giving blood that need to be enacted. 1. You have the cold, flu, or other acute illnesses that cause fever.

Why is there a weight limit on blood donation?

The weight limit is enforced because the amount of blood in your body is roughly proportional to your weight; the bodies of individuals who weigh less than 110 lbs. may not respond well to the standard amount of blood drawn during donations.

How soon before donating blood can you do it?

But if you’ve never donated before, you may be unsure of what do before donating blood. Blood donation preparations should start right away, at least a few days prior to your scheduled donation.

Why do you have to fast before blood donation?

This is because of the volume of blood we draw. A blood donation is usually a whole pint of blood, which is quite a bit more than what would be drawn for your labs.

What is the recommended blood count for a donor?

One of the FDA’s requirements for a blood donor is their hemoglobin levels (or iron levels) need to be within an appropriate, safe range to donate. For women, this is: 12.5 – 17.1. For men, iron levels should be 13 – 17.1.

What is the maximum hemoglobin level for a donor?

For men, iron levels should be 13 – 17.1. For any automated or special donations the maximum hemoglobin level for both female and male is 17.0. To prevent being turned away for low iron, you may want to eat foods with high in iron a few days prior to your donation.

What to check before leaving your house?

Let’s review! Before your leave your house, your self-check list is: 1 Did you eat a healthy well-balance diet with good sources of iron? 2 Did you drink plenty of water? 3 Do you have your Identification: Driver’s license or picture ID?

Why is it important to get blood work done?

This is why it is so important even If you feel great and look amazing on the outside there may be things going on on the inside you aren’t aware of that could be detrimental to your health.

How often should I donate blood for TRT?

When you have adjusted everything you need to and still get thick blood, DONATE IT! This is a very common practice, and TRT patients can and do donate as often as every 4 weeks.

How to keep blood from thickening?

Below are natural things you can do to keep things like thick blood at bay. 1 Drink LOTS of water! I’m at a min of a gal per day. While I’m on cycle I try my hardest to get no less than 1.5 gal per day. Do this and you’ll be half way there. 2 Take Omega-3 supplements. The dose usu­ally recommended to prevent stroke and coronary disease is 1,000 mg daily of DHA and EPA. 3 B vitamins. Numerous studies have shown that regular intake of folic acid and other B vitamins can reduce the risk for ischemic stroke by about one-fifth. Low levels of these vitamins can lead to abnormally high levels of homocysteine, which damage blood vessels. If you have elevated levels of homocysteine, use a formula desig­nated on the label as a homocysteine formula that includes folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12. 4 Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a natural blood thinner. Dose: 1,200 interna­tional units (IU) to 2,000 IU daily of a vitamin E supplement. Look for a brand that says “mixed vitamin E” or lists all eight tocopherols and tocotri­enols on the label. 5 Coated Aspirin. While this will not “fix” thick blood issues, it is a blood thinner and reduce blood thickness, however this will not change your hemoglobin number results. Daily does approx. 300mg

How often can you give testosterone?

If you are “self medicated” your option is maximum every 8 weeks (Free Service). If you have a doctor script for testosterone this will depend on your doctor. If your doctor thinks it necessary he or she may write you a script for therapeutic blood donation as often as every 4 weeks.

What is the normal range of hemoglobin?

Normal ranges of hemoglobin will range from. MEN: 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl) WOMEN: 12.1 to 15.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl) High ranges will be is the ranges of hemoglobin will range. It’s not uncommon to have high ranges from 18 to 26. THIS IS HIGH BUT NOT UNCOMMON.

What vitamins are good for stroke?

B vitamins. Numerous studies have shown that regular intake of folic acid and other B vitamins can reduce the risk for ischemic stroke by about one-fifth. Low levels of these vitamins can lead to abnormally high levels of homocysteine, which damage blood vessels.

Why is my blood thick?

The obvious reasons for thick blood being an issue is blood clotting and heart attack risk. This isn’t “normal” per say but it is a very common side effect of using things like AAS and being on TRT. This is why it is so important to get blood work done and monitor yourself. These are things you will NOT feel.