Blood Donation Benefits

Blood donation benefits not just the person receiving the blood, but also the donor. Surprisingly enough, people who give blood also receive many health benefits. There’s no substitute for blood donation and giving blood regularly saves lives.

Blood Centers of the Pacific states that approximately 4.5 million people in the United States will need a blood transfusion this year. According to the American Red Cross, the nation’s largest coordinator of blood donation, that number rises during holidays and summertime when more people are traveling, which increases the risk of car accidents and other trauma. Although about 37% of all people in the United States are eligible to donate blood, fewer than 10% donation annually. If everyone who could give blood gave three times a year, blood shortages would be almost nonexistent.

There’s no substitute for human blood, although researchers have been trying for decades to create an artificial substitute. Only blood from one person can save another.

Human blood contains different proteins, and can be classified into four major blood groups: A, B, AB, and O. Type O is the most common, and the type blood banks frequently run short of during their peak seasons. Blood transfusions must take place between donors of like blood types. The body produces antibodies if given the wrong blood type.

Blood donation benefits many people. One pint of blood benefits donors in the following ways:

• Each pint of whole blood donated by one person helps three other people.
• One pint of blood may be separate into its various components such as plasma, red blood cells and others. If one pint of blood is used as components, it can help seven people.
• Blood donation benefits surgical patients. A liver transplant patient, for example, may need up to ten pints of blood during surgery. Blood transfusions are needed during many types of surgery and for accident victims.
• People undergoing chemotherapy and radiation benefit from blood donation.
• Individuals with sickle-cell anemia need blood donations to replace their red blood cells.
• Donated blood saves the lives of premature infants and children. Many of these tiny patients require blood transfusions, and only blood from a donor can help them.

Blood donation benefits extend beyond those who receive life-giving blood. Donors also receive numerous health benefits. Blood donation benefits to donors include:

• Free health screening: Every time you give blood, a medical technician, doctor or nurse will check your blood pressure and give you a free health screening.
• Reduced risk of heart disease: Some doctors and scientists believe that giving blood may prevent heart disease. Although no conclusive evidence is available, numerous physicians have noted that blood donors typically have fewer cases of heart disease than non-donors. Dr. Harvey Klein, in an article on USA Today, speculates that giving blood regularly reduces the amount of iron in the bloodstream. While iron is an important element and necessary for human life, too much iron may actually damage the heart and circulatory system. Dr. Klein and others believe that reducing blood iron through regular blood donation is a healthy way to potentially lower your risk of heart disease.
• Acts of altruism make you feel good! Giving feels great, especially when you understand that one hour of your time and one pint of blood can save so many people.

Blood donation takes about an hour and is relatively painless. Here’s what to expect when you give blood.

• You’ll be asked to complete a health questionnaire. The purpose is to ensure that you’re in good health, and that your blood donation won’t jeopardize either your health or the potential recipient.
• The staff will take your temperature. This is to ensure that you do not have an infection. A sign of an infection can be a raised temperature. Such an infection could potentially be passed along to someone receiving your blood, so they want to be sure you’re healthy.
• You’ll have your blood pressure taken.
• If you pass the health screening process, a phlebotomist (technician trained to take blood), nurse or someone else medically qualified will draw blood.

After donating blood, you’ll be offered juice and a snack. Be sure to rehydrate and replenish your fluids. Avoid heavy lifting after donating blood. Lifting something heavy may cause the small mark where the blood was drawn to bruise dramatically or bleed a bit.

Giving blood takes only an hour and can save many lives. Within just one week of giving blood, your body has replaced it. It takes just an hour, and can add years to the life of another person. For more information or to find a blood donation center near you, please visit the American Red Cross.

• Tracking Charitable Donations for Taxes
• Fundraising Strategic Plan
• Request for Donation Letters

• List of Nonprofit Organizations
• Furniture Donation Pick Up
• Sample Letters Asking for Donations
• Samples of Non Profit Fundraising Letters
• Samples of Thank You Letter for Donations

• Category:Charitable Donations
• Salvation Army Pick Up
• Red Cross History
• Hair Donation to Cancer Patients
• Main Page