Blood drive at Geneseo
Some say giving blood is giving the gift of life. Donating blood helps countless people who need medical care for incidents like car accidents, burn victims, heart surgery, organ transplant patient and people battling cancer. According to The Red Cross, “every two seconds someone is in need of blood.”
SUNY Geneseo typically holds two blood drives each semester. It is important to help others and donate blood now more than ever because we are currently in a national blood shortage. The American Red Cross notes that they are “experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade. The dangerously low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants.”
Blood storage and usage is tricky, as “it can only be stored for a limited period of time,” meaning that hospitals need a constant fresh supply of blood to function properly. So, for those who have never given blood before or are curious about the process, this is how a donation typically goes:
First, the nurses and medical professionals there to receive your donation are going to ask you questions about your medical history. They will ask about what medications you are on and about your current health and lifestyle. According to the World Health Organization, these questions are only asked “to safeguard your own health and the health of the person receiving your blood.” It is really important to tell the truth when answering these background questions, especially since the people receiving your blood will be at risk. Even though the blood “is always tested for infections that can be transmitted by transfusion, such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis, a test may not be able to detect a very recent infection.”
After the question portion of the visit, a medical professional will check your pulse, blood pressure and weight to make sure they meet the minimum levels to safely donate. Then, the donation process begins, which only takes around ten minutes total.
After donating blood, you will have to rest for a 15-30 minutes, as well as find something to eat and drink. These practices help your body replenish the lost blood. Afterwards, you might feel a little dizzy, which is completely normal—make sure to take it easy, not engaging in any strenuous activities and drinking lots of fluids.
There are factors will inhibit you from donating blood. These include, but may not be limited to: if you are feeling unwell; if you are anemic; if you are pregnant, have been pregnant withing the last year, or are breastfeeding; if you are taking certain medications, such as antibiotics; if you have or may recently have contracted a sexually transmitted disease, such as HIV or syphilis, that can be passed on to a patient who receive your blood; if your lifestyle puts you at risk of contracting an infection that can be transmitted through your blood; if you have ever injected recreational non-medical drugs; if you have recently had a tattoo, skin scarification or ear or body piercing; or, if you have had sexual contact with anyone in the above categories.
Giving blood is a great way to help people in need and, if you are able to, a great way to give to those in your community. Especially now with the national blood shortage, it is important to donate if you can. The next blood drive hosted by SUNY Geneseo will be on Apr. 18 in the MacVittie College Union ballroom. If you can’t make that blood drive, there are many other centers you can donate that can be found on the redcross.org site, where you can find one best suited for you.