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Christians giving the Gift of Life

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PROVIDING NEW BLOOD DONORS (PPC)

Introduction

How often do we hear the Blood banks appealing for blood, especially during the peak holiday times of Christmas and Easter. In South Africa, we all know of the great rush and migration that takes place when people race off somewhere to pack as much in over a long weekend as possible, and of the horrifying statistics that emerge as to the number of accidents and deaths that occur on our roads.

Most of those injured people who survive the initial trauma of those accidents require the gift of life in the form of blood transfusions to replace the blood that they lost as a result of the trauma that they suffered. Some, however sadly still do not make it, but a least the blood that they received gave them some chance for survival.

How many of you know people or know of people who have undergone major surgery and required blood? There are many examples that we can all think of where people were provided with blood for some life saving reason.

Have you ever thought of where that blood came from? The blood that is used for transfusions and during surgery was donated by ordinary people like us. These are not great heros or heroines, but ordinary people who at one time or another were persuaded to spend a short while lying on a bed and allowing some of their blood to be tapped into a container.

What is involved in a blood donation?

1. Paperwork

Well, first there is the paperwork. In South Africa this is in the form of a questionnaire that asks for a number of personal details, including your age, as well as a number of medical condition questions.

The reason why your age is asked for, is because there is a legal age above which you may donate your blood.

The medical condition questions relate to your sexual partners, your general state of health and any conditions that you may be suffering from or may have suffered from which may disqualify you from becoming a donor.

Please visit the SANBS website for further information.

Once the form has been completed the prospective donor signs that they feel that their blood is safe to be used by others and that they are not there to abuse the system to check for HIV or AIDS.

2. The Interview

After the paperwork is complete, one undergoes an interview with a qualified member of staff. During this interview, the staff member reviews your answers on the questionnaire and may ask further questions to clarify anything.

3. The Blood Pressure Test

Once, satisfied, they will check one's blood pressure and the iron content of one's blood. The blood pressure test uses a simple cuff and a pump.

4. The Blood-Iron Content Test

Most people tell us that the reason that they do not donate blood is not the transfusion needle, but the pricking of the finger that is required to test the blood-iron content of the blood. Let us explain the procedure and demystify this very simple part of the process.

The staff member inserts a new needle into a pen-like object. This object is placed against the tip of one of the fingers and the needle is released. The needle enters the skin and pricks it. Yes one does feel a sharp prick for an instant. No, it does not go right through your finger, it merely pricks it. Blood then appears through the puncture and the staff member catches it in a new glass tube. The staff member then drops the blood from the tube into a coloured solution. The time that it takes for the droplet to make its way to the bottom, indicates whether your blood iron level is satisfactory to donate blood at that time.

If you have any problems that prevent you from donating blood, then the interviewer may refer you to a number of remedies, including counselling.

5. Choosing the Bed

No, this is not a sleeping bed, but it is more of a reclining chair upon which you lie with the arm which you will donate from on a rest. You may choose between a bed with a left hand rest or a bed with a right hand rest. Choosing the bed next to the pretty woman or the scowling man is up to you. Most blood donors are friendly people and there is a sense of camaraderie amongst the donors. Be bold you may meet someone and make friends.

6. The Donation

The staff confirm your date of birth with you and then get to work. They might put a strap around your upper arm to highlight the vein in the crook of your arm, and ask you to clench your fist a couple of times. They will then swab the area and then gently insert the tip of the needle into your vein. Usually you will feel the prick of the needle and will feel that something is there, but there is no pain involved. You will be made comfortable and offered something to drink and some biscuits while you wait for the bag to fill up. Once full the staff will extract the needle and will put a plaster over your arm. Then you can go home.

All of the above is pretty painless and one gets an immense sense of achievement at having donated blood, even if you don't enjoy the experience. Another item to consider is that you may only donate blood again 56 days after your last donation. By then you are sure to have forgotten any unease that you felt the first time, and can return as one who has conquered your fear.

Come and join a happy band of people, who are helping others with the Gift of Life.

To Contact us:

Phone: +27 (0)11 3273178
Mobile: +27 (0)82 4538013
Fax: +27 (0)82 1314538013
Email: info@bloodfortheworld.org