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SAVING LIVES IN ONLY BLOOD DONATION
IT’S NOT EVERY day that you can save someone’s life. When you »» It’s safe and sanitary. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor.
donate blood, the components of a single pint can save as many »» You may feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted
as three lives.
into your arm. “It’s nothing more than a pinch,” Spencer-
Donated blood helps accident victims, cancer patients, premature Pieterick says.
babies and people with other health issues—right here in Georgia. »» It takes about 10 minutes to donate a pint of blood.
Navicent Health alone uses 22,000 pints of blood (or blood “The whole process from beginning to end takes about
products such as platelets) each year, and the demand never stops. 45 minutes, and that includes chilling out at the end with a drink
and a snack,” she says.
“It’s a great feeling once you’ve donated,” says Jenny Spencer-
Pieterick, Lead Medical Technologist at the Blood Bank at The READY TO DONATE
Medical Center, Navicent Health. “You go home feeling that you’ve
done something good.” There’s a need for donors of all races, ethnicities and blood types.
The blood of minority donors—such as those who are African-
Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of eligible blood donors American, Hispanic or Asian—might contain rare compatibility
participate, according to the American Red Cross, so blood traits that make it the best match for someone of the same race.
donors are always needed. That’s because blood can only be Donations from these minority groups are especially helpful
stored for a limited time before it gets used, and there’s no way to patients with sickle cell disease, an inherited disease of the
yet to manufacture synthetic blood. red blood cells that is potentially painful and can lead to severe
infections. Patients with sickle cell disease depend on blood
The bottom line: “If it’s not donated, it’s not available for people transfusions to decrease disease-related health problems.
who need it,” Spencer-Pieterick says.
Since you can donate blood every eight weeks, Navicent Health
WHAT TO EXPECT hosts a blood drive at The Medical Center, Navicent Health every
eight weeks.
To give blood, you need to weigh at least 110 pounds. You must also
have no recent infections, and you can’t currently have cold or flu “Just know that there’s always a need,” Spencer-Pieterick says.
symptoms. Specific rules exist about recent tattoos and piercings, “You never know if you or an immediate family member will need
so you might want to call ahead and ask. lifesaving blood one day.”
Here’s what else you should know about the process: FINDING THE NEXT BLOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED IN YOUR
»» Before you donate, you should make sure to eat a balanced meal AREA IS EASY. VISIT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WEBSITE
AT WWW.REDCROSS.ORG/GIVE-BLOOD. TYPE IN YOUR
and be hydrated. ZIP CODE, CHOOSE A BLOOD DRIVE AND MAKE AN
»» Bring a photo ID and a list of any medications you’re taking. APPOINTMENT.
»» When you arrive, you’ll undergo a brief health screening,
where they check your pulse, temperature, blood pressure and
hemoglobin levels.
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