Blood Donation, whole blood, Platelets, Red Cells, Plasma

@hopeful33250
They offer various things but I can only have water. Not allowed to have juice or snacks. My mean doctor won’t allow it. Can only drink water and 2 cups of milk a day. I lost 62 pounds but 20 more to go.
If you have cancer it depends on what type and if it’s active. If it was a blood related cancer you must wait usually 12 months after successful treatment.

@jakedduck1
Wow, 62 pounds is quite a weight loss! How long did it take you to lose that much weight?

Why should we donate blood? Because blood saves lives. It is correct that only about 5% of the population donates blood.There are a lot of myths about blood donation, too numerous to list. If you're not sure you are eligible to donate, or have been told by someone you shouldn't donate because (fill in the blank), don't assume that you can't. Call the blood donation center in your area, Red Cross or Independent Blood Center, and ask. They will give you the correct answers that follow FDA regulations. I am 70 years old and have been donating blood for 50 years, averaging about four donations a year. I donate whole blood, which is split into components (red cells, plasma, and platelets) to be used for three different individuals. I take a daily multivitamin with 18 mg of iron to keep up my iron stores. One in three of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime. Thankfully, I have never been on the receiving end, but am glad I am still eligible to be on the giving end.

@tim1028 Thank you for making a difference. I used to be able to donate. But due to medical issues it is impossible now. My father donated every 2.5 months for over 40 years.
Ginger

@tim1028
@gingerw
Hi kids,
Tim, Ginger & your Dad, thank you for your generosity for so long. Imagine how many lives you helped save.
I would be celebrating my 45th year of donating had I not been so ignorant but I was wrongly diagnosed with Hepatitis B. No one ever told me about the Antibody & Antigen testing. I got tested and I never did have it.

When I stated 5% I used that as an average. The American Red Cross states 3%. Although I have read donation statistics ranging from 3 to 10%.
The following information is provided by the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components.
Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood.
13.6 million whole blood and red blood cells are collected in the U.S. in a year.
Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.7 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Red blood cells must be used within 42 days (or less).
Platelets must be used within just 5 days.
A type of white blood cell (Granulocytes) must be used within 24 hours.
I have volunteered numerous places and as rewarding as it was, to me, nothing has compared to donating blood. I hope, if you can, you too will help with this never ending need.
Blessings to you all,
Jake

@Jake Thanks for posting statistics about blood. Organ transplants also need numerous units of blood. And because of highly sensitive modern laboratory testing for viruses, blood is very safe. There one chance in a million of getting HIV, Hep B or C from a donated unit. The main problem is blood given to the wrong patient, which still happens occasionally despite ultra-strict guidelines regarding patient identification. I got started donating blood because my father, a WWII pilot, was a regular donor and encouraged me to give blood.

@jakedduck1

You are donating a gift of life, Jake! On behalf of all of the people you have helped, I would like to thank you .

You have helped to save a lot of lives and also helped to maintain the quality of life for many others.

@hopeful33250
Hello Teresa,
Thank you for your very kind and generous words. They mean a lot to me.
Jake

THIS STORY IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
HOW IMPORTANT BLOOD DONATIONS ARE.
IM DONATING TOMORROW, PLEASE JOIN ME.

Mere hours after birth, Finn was admitted to the hospital for what was assumed to be a minor respiratory problem. His parents' joy turned to fear when they learned their newborn son had severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of his body.

Finn's condition made him a high priority to receive a pediatric heart transplant...at just 6 months old. In order to bridge Finn to his new heart, he needed many transfusions.

After receiving his lifesaving heart, he spent three months fighting rejection, infections, blood clots, kidney failure and lung disease, and received even more transfusions. Three months post-transplant, Finn went home with a new heart.

"We never truly understood the impact that donating had. We credit donation with making Finn stronger and helping keep him alive long enough to receive a new heart. Finn is living proof that donations help save lives." – Finn's mother, Ali

Thanks to donors like you, Finn is heart-healthy, doing well and celebrating a 2nd birthday!

Be proud to be an American Red Cross Platelet donor today. Schedule your next donation appointment, and help spread the word that more donors like you are needed.

@jakedduck1 There are many of us who cannot donate fluids. I was heartbroken to find out that I was not able to do that as my dad left such a legacy of donating blood. Instead I find other ways to donate: my time, my resources, my funds. And I am signed up on Donate Life to be able to donate whatever organs possible when I no longer need them in this earthly body. You too can be a donor!
Ginger