October 13, 2009 04:48 pm
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By: Connie Jo York
When you are at the hospital with a seriously ill relative who requires a blood transfusion to stay alive—that’s when you realize and appreciate the importance of being a blood donor. That is when it happened for me. My father was very weak, speaking incoherently and his skin was as white as a sheet when we took him to the hospital. After some testing we learned he had a bleeding ulcer and needed several units of blood. Luckily there was plenty of his blood type on hand and all turned out well.
Shortly after that incident with my father, I decided to become a blood donor, but I was not content with just donating— I wanted to do more. For several years I have been a chairperson for the blood drive hosted by, and for, Laurel County government employees, their friends and family members. Kentucky Blood Center comes to our office building every eight weeks to conduct the drive. I am very honored and extremely proud of the small role I play in such an important, crucial process.
If you would like more information or would like to schedule an appointment to donate blood, please contact the Kentucky Blood Center at (800) 775-2522, or visit on line at www.kybloodcenter.org.
Connie Jo York is a Group Fitness Instructor certified with the American Council on Exercise.
Some other Blood Donation facts you might want to know:
• People are allowed to donate whole blood every 56 days.
• You must be at least 17 years of age (or 16 with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds to donate. There is no upper age limit for donating.
• You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day following your donation. I have found it takes me 2 or 3 days to return to peak physical performance for my exercise routine, but every individual is different. Listen to your body.
• You should drink extra fluids for 24 hours following donation. It takes the body approximately 24 hours to replenish the fluids you have donated.
• You should avoid alcohol consumption for at least 12 hours following donation.
• One of the reasons potential donors are not permitted to donate is that their iron level is not adequate during the pre-donation health screening process. To help ensure your iron level is adequate, you should make iron-rich foods a part of your diet (red meat, poultry, fish, green leafy veggies, nuts, raisins, prunes, and iron-fortified cereals).
• Several military people who have been out of the country have asked if they are permitted to donate. The answer is yes, as long as you have been back in the United States for at least a year, you are eligible to donate.
Here is my list of the Top 10 Reasons to Donate Blood!
10. They give you a really cool, 100% cotton tee-shirt for donating—comfortable to sleep in and perfect to wear to exercise class.
9. Following the donation process, they FORCE you to eat cookies and cake to help with recovery! How bad is that??
8. Donating blood is found to be linked with a lower risk of cancers (liver, lung, colon, stomach, and throat), with the risk dropping as blood donations increase.
7. There is some evidence to suggest that donating blood on a regular basis will help to lower cholesterol. This could decrease the likelihood of angina or a heart attack. To be honest the evidence to support this one does not seem overwhelming. Remember, to combat cholesterol concerns, you need to consult with your physician, participate regularly in an exercise program, and make good nutritional choices. On the other hand, if you are leaning toward becoming a blood donor, and there is even a chance it’s going to cut your risk of heart disease, that is a WONDERFUL bonus.
6. Donating blood is said to help fight iron overload. One million Americans are affected by iron overload (symptoms include joint pain, lack of energy, abdominal pain and heart problems). Stored iron drops with each blood donation.
5. You receive a confidential “mini-physical” and medical history screening prior to every blood donation to determine if you are healthy enough to donate. This includes checking your iron level, body temperature, pulse and blood pressure. (My borderline high blood pressure was first detected at a blood drive! I immediately followed up with a doctor’s appointment!)
4. The process of donating blood is completely safe. Donors are at no risk of contracting a disease. A new needle is used for every donation and destroyed following.
3. Look at it this way, one of the best reasons to donate blood is not to promote your own physical fitness, but to help improve the health of others!!
2. Donating blood is also good for your mental health. Donors have great satisfaction after donating, knowing they have helped save a life. It’s a good feeling and many donors say they donate because it makes them feel good.
1. One pint of donated blood can save the lives of three people! Give a gift of life!
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