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By Rome Jorge, Lifestyle Editor
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Donated
blood is screened
for pathogens |
PERHAPS you’ve received one too—a text or
e-mail message about someone urgently needing blood: somebody’s
daughter with dengue, a classmate from college who just gave birth
or a friend of a friend who’s bleeding too much from heart
surgery. Or perhaps you’re the one sending or forwarding the
message. The message is most often the same: the hospital is
requesting that the blood consumed by the patient in their care be
replenished, regardless of blood type.
If you plan to do some good, stop partying
immediately. And don’t be shocked if complete strangers ask
questions about your sex life or any drug habits. If you’re the
one sending the message, send it as early as you can before people
go out to drink, smoke and party all night long.
First off, know what disqualifies a person as a
donor: being underweight, having anemia or high blood pressure,
previous blood donations within the last three months, being under
medication, having infectious and sexually transmitted diseases,
engaging homosexual sex and other high risk behaviors most
especially within the last year, a tooth extraction or any other
form of surgery within the last year, drug use within the last month
and drinking alcohol within the last 24-hours.
These qualifications may seem prudish, bigoted
and invasive. But you can’t be too cautious in protecting the
welfare of both blood recipients and donors. “We’re not after
quantity; we’re after the quality of blood,” explains Dr. Urduja
Villa-Cariño, medical officer of the National Blood Center of the
Philippine Red Cross. She adds that these qualifiers are in no way
discriminatory.
To prepare for a blood donation, sleep early and
do not drink alcohol or caffeine. Refrain from taking any
medication. Avoid fatty foods; high levels of fat in the blood
interfere with infectious disease testing. Instead, eat foods rich
in iron. Women undergoing strong menstruation may also want to
reconsider giving blood.
The very process of extracting your blood, often
just a 450cc bag, takes less than 15 minutes and involves nothing
more than pinprick on the arm. They even give you water and biscuits
for free as well as rubber ball to squeeze to get your blood going.
However, filling up questionnaires, falling in line, giving blood
and urine samples for your infectious disease and drug testing and
waiting for their results may take as long as a few hours. Make time
to give blood.
Donating blood effectively burns about 650
calories with every half-liter, stimulates the generation of red
blood cells and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, Dr. Cariño discourages those who
suspect that they are at risk in donating blood simply to get a free
test for infectious diseases. One should not add to the long lines,
tax medical resources or put blood recipients at risk. Instead, seek
tests from the proper institutions.
After donating blood, attendants will advise
donors to rest before leaving and to have something to eat and
drink. Although most donors walk away feeling just as strong and
virile, it is best to be cautious, especially if one is driving soon
after. Often, donating blood leaves you nothing more than bruise
that gradually spreads from the needle mark and disappears within a
few days.
Remember to specify for whom you are donating
blood. Though your donation goes into replenishing bloodstocks and
does not necessarily go directly to that person, crediting it to his
name goes into paying his dues, so to speak.
Upon hearing any news of widespread injuries, do
not wait for any message. Give blood to anticipate any massive need.
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