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National Volunteer Blood Donor
Month - RCJ
Since 1970, the president has proclaimed January to be
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. This year marks the
33rd year and the message is simple---if you can donate
blood, please do so. Encourage others to do so as well.
September 11 brought to our national conscience the
importance of donating blood. The days following this event,
hundreds of thousands of people turned out around the
country to give blood. Because red blood cells have only a
42-day shelf life, the blood donation rate is back to
pre-September 11 levels, according to the National Blood
Data Resource Center.
Eight million people will
donate blood in the United States this year. Many more
donors are needed. Accident victims, people undergoing
surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia,
cancer or other diseases, all utilize blood. An auto
accident or gunshot wound alone can require up to 20 units
of blood.
The United States leads the
world in procedures that require blood. Every three
seconds, someone will need blood, and each day, the country
will use approximately 32,000 units of blood. Studies show
that while the demand is increasing, the number of blood
donations nationwide is decreasing. This demand could
outstrip the supply this year if donations do not rise.
While blood donors are needed
throughout the year, they are most needed during holidays
and in the summer. It is during these times that the number
of donations declines while the demand continues or even
increases.
Anyone who
is in good health, is at least 17 years old, and weighs at
least 110 pounds may donate blood. If you began donating
blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached
the age of 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood.
Blood donation takes four steps: a
medical history; a brief physical including blood pressure,
temperature and pulse; the donation; and then a snack. (I
received a cookie for my efforts.) The actual blood
collection takes approximately 10-20 minutes and the entire
process, from when you sign in to the time you leave, takes
about 45 minutes to one hour.
You cannot
get AIDS or any other blood disease by donating blood. The
materials, including the needle used for your donation, are
new, sterile, disposable and used only once by you for your
blood donation.
It will not
make you feel weak and in fact, you will feel great because
the blood you gave could save up to three lives.
Donated
blood undergoes several tests, including ones for hepatitis
and the HIV antibody. If there is a problem, you will be
notified by mail. All results are confidential and are never
released over the phone.
If you are a
veteran blood donor, why not extend your dedication to
saving lives by recruiting a friend or co-worker to donate
blood for the first time? Please join a veteran blood donor
and the thousands of other South Dakotans who are committed
to keeping our blood supply levels adequate.
If you are interested in becoming a blood donor, you should
call United Blood Services at 605 342-8585 for
more information. Make an appointment today to give the gift
of life.
Content
of articles can only be used with writer attribution to Dr.
Kevin Weiland.
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