Donating a pint of blood is one of the best things that you can do to support your local community, the country as a whole and even our troops serving abroad. It does not cost you anything, it doesn’t take a lot of time and the benefits to others are tremendous.
I began donating blood on a regular basis in 2001. Like many Americans at the time, I was looking for a way to do my part in the wake of 9-11. There happened to be a blood drive at my place of work just few weeks after September 11, so I signed up to participate and rolled up my sleeve. It felt really good to donate and I have been doing it ever since.
My wife has been donating blood for many years as well. She actually started donating a few years before I did. Recently, she has had some medical issues that have prevented her form donating, but she plans to start up again as soon as she is able.
If you have never given blood before, this is how the process works; When you first walk in, they will ask you sit down and read over some information about the benefits of donating blood, reasons why people might be rejected as a donor and places in the world that you may have visited that could raise questions about your ability to donate. From there you are given a number and asked to wait for the next available Red Cross worker, who will give you a mini physical exam.
The exam includes taking your temperature, your pulse and your blood pressure. They will also prick your finger and take a drop of blood in order to check your iron level. They used to simply put the drop of blood into a tube of bluish liquid to see if it sank or floated. If it sank, you were good to go. Now they have a machine they put the drop of blood into that gives them a number on a digital display to tell them what your iron level is.
One you have passed the physical, you will be asked to sit at a laptop and answer about 50 questions about your medical history in private. There are questions about places you have visited outside the U.S., medicines you might be currently taking and if you recently received any tattoos or body piercings. A Red Cross worker will review your answers with you when you are done.
If you pass this part of the process you will then be taken to the area where they will draw your pint of blood. You will be asked to lie down on a padded table and given a rubber ball to squeeze. Once they begin the actual draw of blood from your arm, it only takes about 5-8 minutes for the average person to donate a pint of blood.
They say that each pint can save up to three lives. Donors are allowed to donate every 8 weeks, or 56 days. That comes to just six times a year.
Recently I donated blood at a drive held at the local high school that my kids attend. As I walked into the gymnasium to sign in, I saw my oldest son, who is 22, heading to a station where he would receive a brief medical check. He was donating his 16th pint that day, reaching the two gallon mark.
Another of my sons, who is 17 and a high school senior, had already finished donating and was sitting at the post donation table eating cookies and talking with his friends. It was his second time donating.
In the last 10 years, I have donated 61 pints of blood, which is over seven and a half gallons. My wife has donated 62 pints in her lifetime. I was very proud to see two of my sons stepping up and donating blood. The example that my wife and I have set has definitely rubbed off on them. Hopefully, they will continue to donate for many years to come.
If you have never donated blood before, I highly recommend it and encourage you to ask questions and educate yourself on the donation process. It could make a huge difference in someone’s life and make you feel mighty proud of yourself as well.