Donate Your Blood: Save a LifeBlood Drive May 15, 2008

Anna Rubin

Summary Slide

• What is a blood drive?

• Who is able to give blood?

• Eligibility (con.)

• What to expect at a blood drive

• Where does your blood go?

• Volunteers

Summary Slide (cont.)

• Sponsors

• Apheresis Donation

• Top Five Reasons You Should Give Blood

• Make a difference today

What is a blood drive?

• Every 2 seconds someone needs blood.

• A blood drive is a chance for you to help someone in need of blood.

• The Red Cross gives the blood to one of over 3,000 hospitals that needs it.

Who is able to give blood?• Must be 17 years old or 16

if allowed by state law.

• No fever or any sort of illness or problems breathing through mouth.

• No one who is taking antibiotics should donate.

• If you have hepatitis you are not eligible to donate.

• Not pregnant or nursing.

Eligibility (con.)

• Wait twelve months after receiving a kidney or tissue transplant to donate.

• Wait twelve months after getting a tattoo unless you got the tattoo in a state regulated facility.

• Go to http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html for a complete list.

What to expect at a blood drive

• You will:– Be asked to fill out a health form.– Be given a mini physical.– Then get your blood taken

• A needle will be inserted

• 7-10 minutes until they have a pint of blood

– Be given refreshments so your body can adjust to the slight loss of fluids.

Where does your blood go?

Blood is drawn.

Blood is given a unique bar code.

Blood is placed in a

cooler.

Blood is sent to labs to be tested for

transmittable diseases.

If the blood is clean it is sent to local distribution centers where it is sent to hospitals that need it.

Volunteers

• Volunteers are crucial to a successful blood drive.– Help donors to register.– Pass out food in the canteen area.

• Volunteers are the people that keep the donors coming back.– Be welcoming and inviting.– Help dispel first-time fears.

Sponsors

• You can’t have a blood drive without a sponsor.

• They coordinate where and when the blood drive will take place.

• To find out more about being a sponsor go to http://www.givelife2.org/sponsor/default.asp.

Apheresis Donation

• Apheresis donations donate part of your blood platelets.

• Donate plasma or red blood cells.

• Platelet donations often go to a specific person in need.

• Can provide as many platelets as five whole blood donations.

Top Five Reasons You Should Give Blood

5. You will walk a little taller afterwards — you will feel good about yourself.

4. You will be helping to ensure that blood is there when you or someone close to you may need it.

3. It's something you can do on equal footing with the rich and famous — blood is something money can't buy.

2. You will be someone's hero — you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother, or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may help save up to three lives with just one donation.

1. It's the right thing to do.

Make a difference today

• Find a blood drive near you today.

• Don’t wait, you can make a difference.

• Go to http://www.givelife2.org/donor/process.asp

for more info.