Could YOU save a Life? (National Blood Services (NBS))

Member Name: chrissypops

Product:	National Blood Services (NBS)
Date:	29/12/00 (328 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See text

Disadvantages: shame there isnt a way to incourage more people,

By just giving one pint of blood every three months. All it takes is 20 mins of your time, and someone else could be given a chance to live.

Why should we give blood?

I think that sometime in our lives we should at least give blood once. I have given blood for about 5 years now and each time I come out feeling that I have done something to reduce the possibility of someone dying through the lack of blood. without blood we cant live but just a pint could be a life saver for someone else.

How?

When you first go to give blood, you are put through a screening process. This involves a series of questions to see if you are suitable for giving blood. This questions include past and present sexual relations, drugs, visitation of certain countries, body piercing and pregnancy. Whatever you are asked you must answer truthfully, as you could put your life as well as others at risk.

NEVER GIVE BLOOD IF,
You carry the hepatitis B virus, the hepatitis C virus or the HIV virus. You're a man who's had sex with another man, even "safe sex" using a condom. You've ever worked as a prostitute. You've ever injected yourself with drugs - even once.

Why cant you give blood?

You've already given blood in the last 12 weeks (normally, you must wait 16 weeks). You have a chesty cough, sore throat or active cold sore (although the end of a cold is OK). You're currently taking antibiotics or you have just finished a course within the last seven days. You've had hepatitis or jaundice in the last 12 months, likewise any ear or body piercing or tattoos, or you have received a blood transfusion yourself. You've had acupuncture in the last 12 months outside the NHS (unless you can produce the approved certificate from your acupuncturist or physiotherapist). A member of your family (parent, brother, sister or child) has suffered with CJD (Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease). You've ever received hum
an pituitary extract (which was used in some growth hormone or fertility treatments before 1985).

Why you may not be able to give blood at the moment?

You've had a serious illness or major surgery in the past or are currently on medication. Please discuss this with the clinical staff. The reason you're taking medicines may prevent you from donating.
You've had complicated dental work (although simple fillings are OK on the same day, as are simple extraction's after 24 hours).
You've been in contact with an infectious disease or have been given certain immunisations in the last four weeks.
You're presently on a hospital waiting list or undergoing medical tests.


Pregnancy
If you're pregnant or have been pregnant in the last year, you're ineligible to give blood as it could potentially affect your own health. You make an extra 2 pints of blood while you are pregnant, with a reason... for you and the baby. You are more at risk at anaemia, dizzy spells, and fainting.

Travel abroad
Please wait 12 months after returning from a malarial area before giving blood. Tell them if you have visited Central/South America at any time.

After this screening is completed, you are told whether you are suitable. If you are not they will tell you why and when to come back. If you are then they will do a finger prick test, and drop it into some fluid. This is a iodine solution and it can tell by the weight of your blood whether you are anaemic. If its heavier than the iodine, it will sink and this means your blood is loaded with oxygen. If your blood floats you maybe anaemic, and they will ask you to go to the GP to get your blood tested and you can come back when your iron level is back to normal.

You have to wait awhile until your name is called and then you will be asked to lay on a couch, so they can insert the needle into your arm. This part can be a little frightening
because the needle is quite large and hollow, but when its inserted its uncomfortable more than painful. This process it done by a trained nurse but after this you are looked after by the general nurses. They connect the transportation bags to the needle in your arm and all you have to do is relax for 10 mins.

Its important to note that I know some people who are a bit squeamish, but you can still give blood. Just let the nurse know and they will do what they can to make you feel more comfortable. I'm not squeamish, but I still cant look at the needle going in. If you start to feel faint or dizzy at any time during the donation, tell the nurse straight away. The feel wont go it will get worse until your stopped the donation.

After about 10 mins you will of given about a pint of blood and you of given a person a fighting chance to live. You are given a choice to rest on the couch for 5/10 or 15 mins. This is to stop you from getting dizzy. After your rest you can have a cuppa tea and a biscuit. This is to give you a sugar boost, again so you don't feel sick or dizzy.

Where does your blood go?

Your blood its transported to the London depot, where it is tested and screened for AIDS, HEPATITIS A, B, C, and other harmful diseases. Some of it is then stored as whole blood which can be used for severe blood loss but most of it is separated. Blood is more useful this way.

These are used in the treatment of all kinds of anaemia which can't be medically corrected, such as when rheumatoid arthritis or cancer is involved, when red cells break down in the new born, and for sickle cell disease.

They're also essential to replace lost red cells after such things as accidents, surgery and after childbirth, not to mention pre-op 'top-ups' for existing anaemic patients and for burn victims.
Bone marrow, post transplant, chemotherapy treatments, and leukaemia. These are all instances when platelets
can be of huge benefit to the recipient.

Fresh frozen plasma is used after obstetric loss of blood (which is usually childbirth), during cardiac surgery, and to reverse any anti- coagulant treatment .It's also used to replace clotting factors after massive transfusions or when they're not being sufficiently produced, such as liver disease.

Some people, my hubby included, thinks that if you have an accident on the way home from a blood donating session you are going to die. I think that this is just an excuse and even if it where to happen at least you know that you could have blood because people are giving blood to keep the levels up. The other excuse is "having the time". This, I think is a really poor excuse. Most places that do/support blood donating have varied times which you can pop in. Most do a morning session, afternoon session AND an evening session. So NO excuses about that!

If you want to know how the blood is used or what to know anything about blood and blood donating heres some web site that might come in handy. Just remember blood isn't the only thing you can donate. You can donate bone marrow, eggs, sperm and your organs. Please do something special this year... donate blood.

www. blooddonor.org.uk/start.htm

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts /blooddonor.htm

http://www.repromed.co.uk/Fertility/Donorinsem ination/index.htm( for sperm donation information)

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/4098.html ( for sperm and egg donation)

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/4098.html ( a list of links for organ donation)

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