How to Know if I can Donate Blood: Requirements, Process and MORE

Through this article we will explain, How to know if I can donate blood. Donating blood is a totally voluntary act, and it is of great importance since, by doing so, we are helping in a time of need, both known and unknown people.

Here you will know what the requirements are, what the donation procedure is like, what are the sites to donate blood. Also, what are the benefits of donating, what should you do before and after donating blood, what does donating blood consist of and many more information.

How to Know if I can Donate Blood: Requirements

The first thing that can be said about it is that not all individuals are eligible to donate blood. There are some rules, which define who can and who cannot donate blood:

In the case of:

You do not have the possibility to donate blood, both for the health of the person who is going to donate the blood, and for the health of the person who is going to receive it. There are also some rules, which must be followed to proceed to donate blood, and these are:

There are times when you have to stop donating blood for a period. In the case of being a frequent donor, it is due to the following:

What are the requirements to donate blood?

These requirements are mentioned below:

1. Be at least 18 years old, and maximum 65 years.
2. Present a minimum weight of 50 Kg.
3. Do not present any type of virus or pathology on the day it is time to donate blood.
4. Assist on an empty stomach to be able to donate blood.
5. Not having had or having the following diseases: Syphilis, Hepatitis, or HIV-AIDS.
6. Not being a transplant patient.
7. Neither should you suffer: Serious pathologies, tuberculosis, heart disease, epilepsy or cancer.
8. Ladies must not be pregnant, or nursing at that time.
9. During the last twelve (12) months, have not had any piercings or tattoos.
10. In the short term, the women must not have had an abortion or childbirth.
11. Not having used narcotics or alcoholic beverages.
12. Not having received insulin doses, in the case of being diabetic.
13. In the case of hypertension, it should be controlled.

How to know if I can donate blood: process

The process that must be followed to donate blood is as follows:

To ensure that each of the guidelines listed above is followed, prior to drawing blood, the medical team must conduct an interview to the people involved. At this interview, you will be asked about your medical history.

In other words, about previous or current pathologies. You will also be asked if you have donated blood before, and to continue a blood test is done to confirm the data provided by the blood donor.

The donation procedure is based on the extraction of 480 cc of blood, is a number that will not impact the organism, and where the same organism will suppose by itself. This is a very easy and clear process.

During the procedure, the person has to recline on a stretcher or chair, a line is put directly plugged into a bag that is responsible for storing all the blood drawn. The process takes between 15 and 30 minutes, and upon completion let the blood settle and provide a snack to the person.

At the end of the entire process, the person will receive a donation certificate and a «Confidential Self-Exclusion» form. This to be manifested voluntarily, discard the donated blood if it is considered that for some reason it is not reliable.

On the other hand, we proceed to give some suggestions to the donor, both for the hours and for the days after the donation.

How to know if I can donate blood: where to do it in Argentina?

Throughout the country there are many sites where you can donate blood, and here is a list of the respective places. What’s more, we attach a map so that you can locate yourself and find the closest and most practical place to do it:

Cordoba city:

Buenos Aires:

Mendoza City:

Rosary beads:

How to know if I can donate blood: benefits

The act of donating blood is of great importance, there are reasons that can show it. However, there are three (3) salient elements that describe it. These are as follows:

1. Blood is essential for emergencies and surgical interventions: For surgical procedures, blood is essential, since at the time of an emergency it is necessary to have blood available for a patient, and different treatments are also elaborated.
2. Can’t make blood: In other words, there is only one way to find blood, and that is through donation. Even at this time, no way to replace or replace blood has been found.
3. Blood has an expiration date, and cannot be stored for long: It cannot be kept refrigerated for long under any state or condition, as it is damaged. In such a way that, the donation is very important.

What to do before and after donating?

Before Donating Blood

Are you determined to donate blood? The first thing you should take into account is if you obey all the requirements that were named above. However, you have to follow some guidelines, which are:

1. Having slept at eight (8) hours respective, or at least six (6)), since you cannot be awake.
2. You have to feel in good condition, in other words, you should not have vomiting, fever or any other symptoms.
3. Days prior to donation, you have to eat in a normal and balanced way, drink liquids more than usual, but not alcoholic beverages.

After donating blood

After the donation you will receive a snack, since it is essential to consume it before leaving the site, it serves to replace liquid and sugars. In the case of not feeling in good condition, you must notify the staff so that you receive attention. On the other hand, at the following six (6) hours:

What is the Blood Donation?

Blood donation, is to grant an amount of your blood so that it is used and to be able to help other people. This donated blood serves to help individuals who have suffered blood loss in an accident, or who have a pathology such as: Hemophilia, anemia, cancer, among others.

Said blood contains red blood cells and other blood-forming components, such as plasma and platelets. the blood that possesses all these elements is known as whole blood. When donating blood, about 480 ml is drawn.

As previously stated, the donation takes about ten (10) minutes, and the whole procedure takes at most an hour, between answering a few questions and taking a short exam. You can donate blood through the Red Cross, clinics or blood banks.

It is also possible to donate blood, through a campaign at the workplace. The donation that is made implies that the blood is studied to ensure that it can be used. Likewise, it is studied to know what group it is, the objective is that when it is donated it is the group that the person requires.

What tests are done on donated blood?

After the donation, the blood is analyzed to see if it has any pathology such as: HIV, the human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I and II, hepatitis B and C or West Nile virus.

that is, the blood that has been donated must pass all of these tests. In the case of detecting any pathology, the blood is discarded and communicated to the donor. A record of the blood is made, in order to link it with the donor and the site where it was collected.

Are there any risks when donating blood?

This process does not imply any risk for the donor’s health. There is no way for a person to become infected with HIV. It should be noted that both the needle and the bag used to collect the blood are sterilized and prepackaged. A new package is used for each donation.

A small bruise is likely to be made on the arm. In some cases, there is a possibility that someone may bleed on their arm after the band is removed. If this is your situation, you should raise your arm, press on the site where the needle was inserted, for a few minutes.

There are people that they may feel like they faint after donating. This is very common in very young people, and also in those who donate blood for the first time. If you have passed out after donating, and are going to donate again, you must notify the person who will draw the blood.

NOTE: Consuming water prior to donating blood can lower your risk of fainting.

How do I know if I can donate blood? If you have asked yourself this question, it is very important that you take into account everything that has been exposed in this article. The first thing is to know if you are able to proceed with the process.

Donating blood involves giving a part of yourself, required by another or other people. To be a donor is to be part of this beautiful work, for this reason, cheer up and support this cause, tomorrow you can be the one who needs the donation.

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