The availability of good quality blood is indispensable in modern medicine. It is an element that cannot be recreated in the laboratory, so it must be collected from voluntary donors. However, many people are afraid of giving for a variety of reasons, ranging from fear of pain to fear of disease. Donating blood is a safe procedure because all necessary precautions are taken; this means there is no reason to be afraid. The biggest risks of donating blood are mild reactions, such as dizziness, fatigue or bruising. If you follow the simple instructions described in this tutorial, you will be best prepared to donate blood.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare for the Donation
Step 1. Determine if you can be a donor
Each state sets different requirements for recruiting blood donors. These include recent travel abroad, age, weight and risk of blood-borne diseases. Generally speaking, you can donate blood if you meet certain criteria.
- You must be healthy, fit and not suffering from any medical conditions at the time of donation. Don't go to donate blood if you have a cold, cold sores, cough, virus, or stomach pain.
- You must weigh at least 50 kg.
- You must be of legal age. In some states you can donate even at 16-17 years old, but in Italy you must be over 18 years old.
- You can donate whole blood every 90 days. If you are male you can make four donations of whole blood per year, while women can make two. You cannot donate whole blood more often.
- Do not go to the donation center if you have undergone non-invasive dental treatment in the past 24 hours and do not donate until a month has passed since your last dental surgery (even if the final decision of your eligibility rests with the doctor who performs the pre-visit. donation).
Step 2. Find out about donor associations in your area
In Italy there are four organizations or federations of blood donors. The local associations will be happy to give you more information and to communicate the other requirements:
- AVIS
- FIDAS
- BROTHERS
- CRI blood donor groups
Step 3. Your association will tell you which blood transfusion centers are in your area and will tell you how to make an appointment
Step 4. Eat foods rich in iron
Since the production of blood cells requires iron, you should consume foods that are rich in iron in the two weeks prior to the donation. This way your blood will be "stronger" and you will be able to recover quickly after the blood draw. Recommended foods include spinach, whole grains, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and beef.
Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron; try to eat citrus fruits, drink their juice, or take supplements
Step 5. Hydrate
To prepare your body for blood loss, you need to drink plenty of water or fruit juice, both the evening before and the morning of the donation. The cause of the dizziness and weakness that often occurs during blood collection is a drop in blood sugar or blood pressure. You can greatly reduce this risk by maintaining good hydration before going to the blood transfusion center.
- You should drink a lot in the 24 hours before your blood draw, especially if the weather is hot. In practical terms, try to drink 4 large glasses full of water or fruit juice in the previous three hours.
- If you need to donate platelets or plasma, drink at least 6-8 glasses of liquid.
Step 6. Rest properly
The night before the donation should be of absolute rest. This way you will feel better and more alert during the procedure, reducing the risk of negative reactions.
You should get at least 5 to 7 hours of sleep during the night
Step 7. Go to the donation on an empty stomach or after a light breakfast
Donations take place in the morning, so you can safely go to the blood transfusion center on an empty stomach or after a light breakfast. During the procedure, a sample will also be taken for the complete hematocrit examination, the transaminases and several other controls that could be altered by a previous rather large meal.
- Remember that a light breakfast such as tea and a toast is allowed. Do not go to the blood transfusion center after eating a cream brioche and a cup of milk and cocoa, as your blood sugar and other blood values will be altered.
- Do not eat immediately before donation to avoid nausea during the procedure.
- In the 24 hours leading up to your appointment, do not eat fatty foods. A high concentration of fat in the blood could alter or make it impossible to carry out accurate laboratory tests, which are indispensable and mandatory for verifying donated blood. If the blood transfusion center is unable to perform the tests, the blood you have donated will be discarded.
Step 8. Bring your ID documents
Each blood transfusion center has its own procedures, but you should always carry identification documents with you. This means your identity card or driver's license, your donor association card and your health card. Make sure you have them with you on the day of your appointment.
The card is a small booklet with your photo, on which all donations are recorded and which shows the main personal and health data (such as blood group). The card is delivered to you by your association when you are "enrolled" among the actual donors following physical entrance examinations
Step 9. Avoid some activities
In the hours leading up to the blood collection, you should not engage in any work that may prevent you from donating or activities that may contaminate your blood. Don't smoke just before you go to your appointment; also do not consume alcohol in the previous 24 hours or chew gum, mints or candies.
- Chewing gum, mints and candies raise the internal temperature of the mouth giving the impression that you may have a fever (a condition that will exclude you from the donation).
- If you have to undergo platelet apheresis, you should not take aspirin or other NSAIDs in the two days prior to the collection.
Part 2 of 2: Donate Blood
Step 1. Fill out the questionnaire
When you arrive at the blood transfusion center, after completing the acceptance formalities, you will need to answer many questions about your general health and fill out a confidential form about your medical history. The questions may vary from state to state, but at a minimum you will need to indicate the name of the drugs you are taking and the countries you have traveled to in the past months or years.
- You will also be asked if you engage in certain activities that increase your risk of contracting blood-borne diseases. These include the use of injectable drugs, certain sexual activities, the use of certain medications, or staying in certain countries. If the answers to these questions are yes, you may be excluded from the donation.
- Diseases such as hepatitis, HIV and Chagas disease are incompatible with donor status.
- Answer all questions honestly. The questionnaire will touch on personal and private matters, but you must always be honest, so that the transfusion center can get an idea of how to use your blood.
Step 2. Get a medical examination
Once you have passed the questionnaire stage, you will be subjected to a small visit. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. A nurse will prick your finger to take a drop of blood and evaluate your hemoglobin and iron levels.
All these parameters must be within normal limits for you to be eligible for donation. In this way the transfusion center is sure of the "good quality" of your blood and you will not run the risk of feeling nauseated or becoming anemic during the blood draw
Step 3. Prepare yourself mentally
Many people who donate blood are afraid of needles or don't like being pricked. You can distract yourself or prepare yourself before the needle is inserted to make the procedure easier. Take deep breaths before the needle pierces you, you can also pinch yourself with the hand not involved in the donation, so your attention will be elsewhere.
- Don't hold your breath, or you might pass out.
- Remember that most people report that the needle is absolutely painless or causes only a little discomfort like a pinch. The real problem is your discomfort, so the more relaxed you are, the better your donation will go.
Step 4. Submit to the donation
When you pass the medical exam, the nurse will ask you to sit in a recliner or lie down completely. A cuff is placed around the affected arm to make the veins more visible and make the blood pump faster. The nurse will then disinfect the puncture site (usually the inside of the elbow) and proceed to insert the needle which is connected to a long tube. Finally you will be asked to open and close your hand for a few minutes and the blood will begin to flow.
- Before making the actual donation, the nurse will take some vials to proceed with the laboratory tests, after which the blood will be diverted into a bag. Usually 500 ml of blood is donated.
- The procedure typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 5. Relax
Nervousness causes blood pressure to drop, resulting in dizziness. Talk to the nurse who is performing the procedure if that helps you. Ask him to explain everything he is doing.
Find ways to distract yourself, maybe you can hum a song, recite something, think about the ending of a book you are reading or a TV series you are following. Listen to music with your electronic device or think about the usefulness of your gesture
Step 6. Rest and recover
Once the donation is complete and the nurse has placed a dressing on your arm, you will be asked to wait 15 minutes to make sure you don't feel lightheaded or faint. You should also eat a snack and drink fruit juice to replenish fluids and raise your blood sugar. The staff at the blood transfusion center will also advise you to avoid certain activities and rest for the rest of the day, as well as drink plenty of fluids for the next 48 hours.
- Don't go through strenuous activities, weight lifting, or intense workouts for the rest of the day.
- During the day, if you feel faint, lie down and lift your feet.
- Do not remove the dressing for four to five hours after donation. If a bad bruise forms, apply a cold compress. If you experience pain at the sting site, take a pain reliever to relieve the discomfort.
- If the discomfort lasts several hours after the donation, contact your doctor for an assessment.
Advice
- Bring a large bottle of orange juice with you. It will offer you a quick burst of energy after donating blood.
- When making the donation, lie on your back. This way you feel less of the effects of high blood pressure and fight dizziness, especially if this is your first time.
- When you begin to feel comfortable with the donation process, inquire about donating platelets. This is a longer procedure, but it allows you to store your red blood cells. Platelets are a vital element in treating seriously ill patients.
- If you feel faint, notify the medical staff immediately. You will be helped to assume a reclined position on the chair. If you have already left the blood transfusion center, sit with your head between your knees to help the blood reach the brain or, alternatively, lie down with your legs elevated.
