How to Give Life

Donating blood does save Lives.

Your blood donations are used to help a variety of patients. Blood usage varies depending on the type of surgery or illness.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• healthy life style
• donating 1 unit every 56 days
• responsible
• able to give

1. 

   Four simple steps to save a Life :
   
   First Locate a blood drive near you by visiting GiveLife.org or by phoning 1-800-GIVELIFE. Register your profile, select a location your would like to donate at, select an appointment time.

2. Your first visit, you will need to complete a medical history. You first donation will be screened and a little extra blood will be collected. Once you are approved as a blood donor eg: good clotting factor ( try not to take aspirin 48 prior to giving blood some patients are allergic or unable to use your donation if you do)
   
   You must have good blood pressure: Donating blood can lower your BP so if to low or to high you run a risk of passing out. Let the red Cross Technicians or RN decide.

3. Several weeks later you should get a donor card in the mail. Use this card for all your donation appointments.
   
   Just select a location, time to donate, Takes less than 30 minutes and they usually offer food and drinks.

4. If you could visit any area hospital for adults or kids you will see first hand how much a simple unit of blood could make for patients in need.
   It really is a matter of life of death for thousands of patients each day.

5. Patient Need
   
   Rob Accident victim 4-100 units
   Kidney transplant 2 units
   
   Madison Premature baby 1-4 units while in intensive care
   Liver transplant 10 units
   
   Chas Cancer treatment 2-6 units
   Heart transplant 4-6 units
   
   Ashley and Breana Sickle cell disease 10-15 units periodically to treat severe complications
   
   Open heart surgery, adult 2-6 units
   Cody Leukemia 2-6 units
   Bone marrow transplant 1-2 units given every other day for 4w w

6. Many of the above patients and thousands more would also require Plasma and Platelets.
   
   Giving Life to another person is not just the right thing to do it's a morale responsibility we all share.
   
   
   If you do become a blood donor please do so responsibly, IV drug use, drugs,heavy drinking or unprotected sex will only result in your blood donations being destroyed and not used.
   
   You will not only be helping to save someones else life you'll be helping yourself save yours.

7. DONATING BLOOD AND KNOWING I HELPED SAVE A CHILD, A MOM, A DAD, A BROTHER OR SISTER IS THE GREATEST FEELING THAT NO WORDS CAN EXPLAIN, BUT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND.
   
   1800-GIVELIFE
   GIVELIFE.ORG

Tips & Warnings

• Please be responsible when deciding to be a blood donor, unprotected sex, heavy drinking and drugs will only result in your blood donation being destroyed. Besides saving someone else life you will be saving yours.

Resources

• Give Life

[melissalewis]

on 7/15/2009 This is one of those things that people rarely think about and it's so simple (as long as you aren't needle-phobic)! Thanks for the reminder. 5 stars.

[anthony2]

on 12/14/2008 I have'nt donate blood yet I think I need to do that very soon great article thanks!!!!

[JenWrtr]

on 12/11/2008 I was intrigued by your article title & when I read your article I thought this was such a good reminder, especially during the holidays. Also, you can become a blood doner for just babies (not sure what the requirements are).

[prism]

on 12/11/2008 Good reminder that there are other ways we can help that aren't monetary. Thanks!

[Susang6]

on 12/4/2008 I had to undergo 2 life saving blood transfusions and since then I give blood whenever my local blood bank calls on me. Excellent article