Donating Blood 101

This month, HOSA and Vitalant held a blood drive at Northfield! As a person who donated, I thought I'd share my experience and create a dos and don’ts list. Hopefully, this will give some clarity on how the blood drive works and help you as a reader decide if you would want to donate in the spring or in the future!

Before donating, I had to look over the donor consent form to ensure I met the age, height, and weight qualifications and get a parent signature. Then, I made sure to follow the pre-donation instructions very closely, including taking iron supplements and/or eating iron rich meals; staying hydrated with electrolyte drinks and water; and doing my research on blood donations and any questions I may have had. The day of donating, I ate a hearty breakfast, a salty snack, and a good lunch. I also completed a “Fast Track Health Survey” emailed to me by Vitalant to speed up the donation process. This was all to start replenishing lost nutrients and electrolytes before they were actually gone. 

The day of the donation, I made sure to arrive and check in with Ms. Cox about 10 minutes before my appointment using the pass given to me a few days before. I signed in with my name and arrival time. From there, I had to wait until my name was called, similar to a doctor's office. Once called, I was brought into a small area within the room with make-shift walls for a confidential pre-donation information chart. In there, I scanned my survey completion code (can also do while there) and was asked questions about my health and ability to qualify. My blood pressure, pulse, and iron (finger prick) was taken to check my vitals. My heart rate was a little high the first time around, so I was left to snack and rest for 10 minutes before rechecking and being sent to the "canteen" or snack area to wait until a donation chair was open. When called, I was brought to an open spot and the phlebotomist looked for a vein to take blood from. I was a difficult person to find veins on but once they found one, they marked it by indenting the skin slightly with a coffee straw. From there, they inserted the needle and adjusted it as needed, which only hurt a little bit, way less than expected. They covered up the needle with a small gauze to make sure I didn't need to look at the site and from there the blood draw began! I sat still, squeezing a stress ball for only about 5-10 minutes, and the more hydrated you are, the faster it goes. Afterwards, they took out the needle and wrapped up the wound with a bandage. After, I was required to stay for 15 minutes with snacks and water to ensure I didn’t get woozy or feel ill. You are also given a pamphlet of aftercare and a number to call if you get certain symptoms. Personally, I felt fine, just a sore arm and a bruise because of how the needle was in the vein (most people DO NOT get bruised). At home, I drank plenty of gatorade and ate protein-rich meals. The days after, I felt more tired and craved more food but overall not many symptoms. 

DO:

 -Read the requirements before signing the donation form

 -Drink water and stay hydrated

 -Take iron supplements or iron rich food

 -Have plenty of protein and salt

 -Relax and rest after donation

 -Complete the health survey before your appointment AND take a screenshot to avoid wifi issues

 -Eat a good meal(s) before donation

 -Bring a device or earbuds to have while you wait

 -Consider other options other than whole blood like plasma or platelets

 -Donate!

DON'T:

 -Sign the consent form without reading it thoroughly for instructions

 -Donate on an empty stomach

 -Leave immediately after donating

 -Operate heavy machinery or exercise the day after donating

 -Stress yourself out about it

 -Not do your research

 -Stay quiet if you have any questions

Donating blood is a win-win situation! It saves lives in a time where blood is critically needed while giving you volunteer hours, free snacks, a way to miss class, and information about your blood! The staff is super kind and supportive and will make sure you have everything you need. By being informed from this article, you can know what you need to do to have a smooth and hopefully symptom-minimized experience. Again, I want to preface that everyone has a different experience but there are ways to help avoid side effects.