Giving blood may not be the first thing that springs to mind to do during your lunch break. But you could end up saving three lives in that one precious hour. Being of a squeamish disposition, I’ve procrastinated about giving blood all my life. And it was only when a close family member received an emergency transfusion that everything changed.
Why is it important to give blood right now?
The NHS recently went through a blood donation crisis following the cyber-attack which occurred in July. Hospitals were put on Amber Alert for both O Positive and O negative blood groups which restricted donations to critical cases only. And there’s still a shortfall of 80,000 appointments to be booked between now and the end of October.
Donations are always particularly needed from donors of black heritage to treat patients with sickle cell disease. A single patient can require donations from one hundred people annually and 245 babies are born with the disease every year. Also in demand are young blood donors. For the first time in five years, there are now more donors over the age of 45 than under. Furthermore, only half the number of the youngest donors (aged 17-24), are donating now compared to five years ago.
Donate Breaks
Such is the current demand for blood that the NHS has just launched a new campaign entitled Donate Breaks. Companies are being asked to give workers a morning or afternoon off to give blood as part of their corporate volunteering programmes. This initiative is based on research that indicates that 65% of 25-44 year olds would be more likely to give blood if given time to do so by their employer. So far, The Co-operative Bank, ITV and Basketball England are just a few of the diverse businesses who have pledged to do so. Why not encourage your employer to do the same?
What are the reasons you can’t give blood?
You can donate blood if you’re aged between 17-65, weigh between seven stone 12 pounds and 25 stones, have suitable veins and meet other donor eligibility. Those who have serious health conditions or who’ve been exposed to diseases through lifestyle factors may also be excluded. (A full medical history is undertaken before you give blood.) You may have to wait to give blood if you’re pregnant, have a baby under six months and/or have recently got a tattoo or piercing.
How do I find out where to donate blood?
There are 25 permanent donation centres in the UK and many more mobile centres that visit on a regular basis. If a centre’s not located near your place of work, you can still get evening or weekend appointments. You can search for appointments online or by using the NHS app which also lets you book last-minute slots.
How often can I give blood?
Men can give blood every twelve weeks and women every sixteen weeks. This is because men generally have higher iron levels. But if you have genetic Haemochromatosis, you can give blood every six weeks as part of your treatment. The average person has ten pints of blood and only one pint is taken during donation.
What happens when you give blood?
Before any donation, your haemoglobin levels will be checked to ensure that you’re not deficient in iron. Next, you’ll undertake a health check to cover any reasons that you may not be able to give blood. If like me, you’ve travelled over a long time, this may take a while! Also bear in mind if you have any upcoming surgery as this can also affect your ability to give blood. Once you’re cleared, you’ll be summoned to a dentist’s chair where you’ll stay suspended above the floor for the next ten-fifteen minutes. A blood sample is taken at the start of the process to check for any diseases before the blood can be accepted.
Tips for the squeamish
If like me, you can’t stand the sight of blood, let staff know beforehand. My assistant sensitively placed a paper towel over the injection point and I was fine from that point on. Deep breathing and meditation can also be helpful if you’re not keen on needles. Furthermore, you can bring a book or listen to music during the transfusion. This can take up to fifteen minutes and you’ll be advised to keep squeezing your fists throughout – also a welcome distraction. There’s no pain involved and it’s a surprisingly straightforward process. Once finished, a drink and sugary/salty snack await! I was delighted by the unexpected bonus of a packet of Seabrooks crisps. And after fifteen minutes of careful monitoring, you can leave.
What are the side effects of giving blood?
immediately before you give blood, you drink 500 ml of water to compensate for the fluids you’ll lose. 50% of our blood is composed of water so being well hydrated is essential to prevent feeling faint and dizzy afterwards. For the same reason, it’s also important to eat regularly to ensure that your blood sugar levels are stable. (Have an early lunch if you can fit in a donation in your lunch break). Afterwards, rest and avoid any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting to enable your body to replace the fluids its lost. If you follow these instructions, there shouldn’t be any side effects from giving blood.
What are the benefits of giving blood?
Giving blood is perhaps the most valuable and easiest type of volunteering that exists. One donation can save three lives and takes less than an hour of your time – all while lounging on a couch! My father received an emergency blood donation following a hip fracture two years ago. And while sadly it wasn’t enough to save his life, I’ll forever feel indebted to the blood donor.
Once your donation’s accepted, your blood has a unique barcode that can be traced during every step of the donation journey. You’ll also receive a follow up text telling you which hospital it’s gone to. While you won’t find out the actual recipient, it’s still great to know where your blood has ended up.
Discover your blood type
Giving blood also gives you the opportunity to learn your blood type. In common with one in three donors, I am O Positive. This’s one of the most sought-after blood groups as three in four people, (76%), of the population can receive it. I also found out the blood types I can receive if I ever need a transfusion in the future.
While it’s taken me forever to get here, I’m so glad to be a blood donor and will be donating again in November. I can’t think of a better way to spend my lunchbreak than saving lives.