So far, no suitable substitute has been found for life-sustaining blood. It has, therefore, to come from people. People like YOU!

Blood donors regard giving blood as the most worthwhile contribution they can make to the community. In times of peace, very few of us can perform great deeds of heroism, but the simple act of giving blood can be just as dramatic.

Anyone who is in good health may donate between the ages of 16 and up to 65. Under 18’s need parental/guardian’s consent in the form provided by the Blood Donor Center. Blood donors should weigh a minimum of 50 kg. and must not be in the risk category for AIDS and other diseases transmissible by blood.

The unit of blood collected is approximately 450 ml. or about 9% of an adult’s blood volume.

The average adult has about five (5) liters of blood.

It takes the body 24 – 48 hours to replace the plasma portion that is about 80% water and 3 – 5 weeks to replace the red cells. Donors are encouraged to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluid before and following the donation to assist the replacement process. Also, regular and frequent donors should eat plenty of iron-containing foods (ex. meat).

Ordinarily, a healthy adult male can donate every 3 months (90 days). Women, can also donate provided they passed the required hemoglobin/hematocrit level.

Apart from the constant need for blood, regular blood donations are needed because blood has a short storage life. Whole blood and red cells can be stored for up to 21 – 42 days depending on the anticoagulant-preservative used. On the other hand, platelets only last from 3-5 days and fresh frozen plasma can be kept for 12 months.

Yes, eat a substantial meal, avoiding fatty foods, not less than 1 hour and not more than 4 hours before donating to avoid any tendency to faint.

The rest period allows the body to adjust to the loss of blood in the system and to ensure that bleeding has stopped before the blood donor leaves the donation area.

We care about 2 groups of people – the recipients of the blood and the blood donors. The questions are asked to ensure that blood donors will not suffer any ill effects from the donation and that the blood given to the patient/recipient is safe.

Giving blood will take about an hour of your time, yet it may save the life of someone you know or care about.

At the Blood Bank, there are no common blood types. If you have one of the most popular blood types, you are needed just as much to meet the demands for blood.

It is normal to be afraid but remember that it feels like an ant bite only.

Medical conditions maybe permanent or temporary, but they do not Necessarily mean you cannot give blood.

A new, sterile needle is used for each donor and then immediately thrown away. It is not possible to contract AIDS or any infectious disease by donating blood.

The Blood Center’s goal is to keep blood costs as low as possible while maintaining a high quality blood supply. The Blood Center charges a processing fee to recover the costs incurred in collecting, processing, testing and distributing the blood. This processing fee does not include hospital charges for crossmatching, transfusion administration and so on.

Most insurance policies cover the cost of blood and blood services. But peso bills cannot be transfused! Volunteer blood donors are needed daily so that blood is available when a patient needs it.

Many medications, including allergy medicines, vitamins, and birth control do not affect your eligibility as a blood donor. Be sure to tell the medical interviewer what medications you are taking or have recently taken.

A trained medical technician will test your blood before you donate. If you are anemic, you will not be allowed to donate on that day. However, anemia is not a permanent condition. Just because you have been deferred before or told that you were anemic does not necessarily mean that you cannot give blood now.

 Emergencies happen every day,

REMEMBER…. REGULAR DONATIONS PREVENT BLOOD CRISIS SITUATIONS.