ORLANDO, Fla. – January is National Blood Donor Month, and this month is seeing a critical need for blood donations.
OneBlood has issued a call to action for those in the community, who are able to donate blood, to donate blood.
All blood types are needed, especially O negative and O positive as well as platelet donations. Platelets are “tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding,” according to OneBlood’s website. OneBlood says that 60% of the population can donate, but only 5% do.
“If you think it’s not profound, it is. It is a very profound thing to do because within a few days, your blood donation’s going to help somebody and it has saved lives over and over again,” said Pat Michaels with OneBlood.
So what do you need to know to start donating?
Where to donate
OneDrive has donor centers and mobile drives all throughout the community.
You can find the closest one to you by searching with your zip code here.
Can you donate?
Anyone at least 16 years old and weighing at least 110 pounds can donate blood.
You can donate every 56 days.
For platelet donation, you must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. These donations can happen every seven days, but OneBlood recommends donations every 14 days.
“You must be in good health at the time you donate, and can’t donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug, or any other infection,” their website reads.
For other eligibility questions, click here to see their FAQ breakdown.
What to do to prepare for donating blood
There are three things you should do, according to OneBlood, before donating:
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Drink plenty of water beforehand
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Eat a light, healthy meal (avoid fatty foods). Make sure to eat. Donating on an empty stomach is not recommended.
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Eat iron-rich foods for a few days before donating. “Your iron count must be at a certain level in order to donate blood. We will check your iron count prior to your blood donation, and if it is too low you will not be able to donate blood that day.”
Iron is important because it helps “your body make new red blood cells and can help replace those lost after blood donations,” according to OneBlood’s site.
Make sure to bring a photo ID and a list of any medications you are taking.
What the donation process is like
OneBlood says the whole blood donation process lasts 8-10 minutes and typically one pint of blood is taken.
When you first arrive, you will have to register for donation.
Then, you will undergo a health screening, where your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and other items are checked to see if you’re eligible for donation.
What should you do after donating?
You should drink plenty of water, avoid lifting heavy items or intensive exercise for the rest of the day and do not drink alcohol for 24 hours.
Where does your blood go?
If you end up donating with OneBlood, you can enroll in a program that gives you updates on where your donation is going.
“My OneBlood Journey is a program that will notify you when your donation is on its way to a hospital, and will even let you know which hospital your donation is going to,” the website says.
Pat Michaels said each donation can go to several people.
“We divide the components of it, red blood cells, platelets and plasma. It’ll go to three different people, at least. So, you’re impacting three people. You can possibly save lives doing that,” he said.
For more information or to learn more, click here.
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