Blood donors voluntarily donate blood for transfusion without payment. Donations can be allogeneic, direct, or autologous, and can be whole blood, platelets, or plasma. Donors must meet certain criteria, including age, weight, and health restrictions. Donations are screened for illnesses and typically take around 10 minutes. Donors are advised to drink fluids and eat before donating and avoid heavy lifting or exercise afterward.
A blood donor is a person who voluntarily has blood drawn for the purpose of transfusion. In almost all cases, blood donors are not paid for their donation. A blood donor can donate blood for an unknown recipient, which is called an allogeneic (or homologous) donation; for a family member or friend with a matching blood type, known as a direct donation; or for themselves, to be used during surgery, known as an autologous donation. Blood donors can donate whole blood, platelets, or plasma.
Rules vary by country on who can donate blood. Usually, blood donors must be of a certain weight and within a certain age range. If a blood donor is under the age of 18, they will typically ask for parental permission to give blood. It is usually required that blood donors have not had any surgery, piercing or tattooing, within a certain period of time before donating blood. Other restrictions also apply and a specific list will be provided at each blood donation center or online.
The frequency of blood donation depends on the type of donation; Allogeneic donation usually can only be done every eight weeks, while autologous donation can be done every few days before surgery. This is because blood has a relatively short shelf life. Donating whole blood requires a longer waiting period between donations than platelets or plasma, as they return to normal levels within the body much more quickly.
Whenever a blood donor gives blood, they will be carefully screened for any illnesses. Also, whenever a donor decides to give blood, they will likely be asked to fill out a questionnaire and a small drop of blood tested to be sure their blood count is high enough. A brief history and blood pressure and pulse test will be taken to ensure that the blood donation is not dangerous to the health of the donor. If all the information collected is deemed acceptable, the blood donation can begin.
The typical amount donated by a blood donor is around 500 milliliters, or a pint. At any one time, the human body contains between ten and 12 liters of blood. A typical donation only takes about ten minutes, but most donation centers will ask the blood donor to stay at the center for 15 to 15 minutes after donating to have some light snacks, such as juice or a cookie, to avoid feeling faint. It is very safe to give blood and can be a vital and life-saving resource for those in need.
Before donating blood, it is best to drink plenty of fluids and eat a healthy meal about an hour beforehand. Restrictions after donating blood are fairly minimal and generally involve not lifting heavy objects or exercising heavily for a day. Any questions can be answered by blood donation technicians.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
