Monthly Health Feature - November

Give a Gift of Life This Holiday Season: Donate Blood

By Kerri Roling, UI Wellness Practicum Student Fall ’07

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Have you ever donated blood? If you have, you may have saved as many as three lives each time you donated.  The holidays are fast approaching and usually during the winter holidays there is a shortage of blood supply. There is no substitute for human blood. Sixty percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, yet, only five percent do. To be eligible to donate you must be in good health, at least 17 years old, and weigh more than 110 pounds. The entire blood donation process takes only 45 minutes to an hour and the process consists of four basic steps. First, you will fill out basic information about yourself which includes a medical history form. Then you will have a brief health exam that involves having your pulse, temperature, blood pressure, and iron level measured. Next, a blood donation kit will be used to draw about 1 pint of blood from a vein in your arm. The actual donation process takes 6 to 10 minutes. Lastly, after you have donated, you will be asked to visit the refreshment area for some snacks and juice to replenish and ensure that you are feeling well after the donation.

Whether you have or have not donated blood before, the American Red Cross has listed some tips to consider for a good donation experience.

Before donating

• Get a good night’s rest
• Eat a nutritious breakfast and/or lunch
• Eat iron rich foods (poultry, fish, beans)
• Drink extra water and fluids to help replace the volume you will donate, try avoiding beverages with caffeine
• Avoid eating fatty foods like hamburgers, french fries, ice cream, etc. because the fatty materials may affect the tests that are done on all donated blood

While donating

• Relax
• Wear appropriate clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow
• Show the staff any “good veins”  that have been used in the past to draw blood

After donating

• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours
• Avoid strenuous physical activity and/or heavy lifting for five hours after donating
• If you feel light headed, lie down with feet elevated until the feeling passes

You may donate whole blood every 8 weeks. This time period allows your red blood cells to be replenished. Each unit of donated blood goes through more than 10 tests, nine of which are for infectious diseases. All blood donated at the DeGowin Blood Center or at the DeGowin mobile blood drives benefit patients at The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Many patients at UIHC depend on donated blood as a part of their care including cancer patients, surgical patients, premature infants, trauma patients, organ transplant recipients, and patients with diseases like sickle cell anemia. These patients all depend on healthy individuals that donate blood. Please visit the UI DeGowin Blood Center website for a listing of upcoming blood drives.