Steps and Requirements to donate blood in Puerto Rico

Donating blood involves saving lives, the life of someone who has suffered an accident, or that of someone who unfortunately suffers from a disease that makes them need more blood components to rehabilitate, if you need to know Requirements to donate blood here we have it for you.

It can become an act that leads to feeling better morally, and it is something that does not carry any expense.

Requirements to Donate Blood in Puerto Rico

Below we will present the parameters and requirements that those who want to donate blood must take into account:

How is the blood donation process in Puerto Rico?

After filling out the corresponding form, in the event that everything is favorable, you can donate. If it turns out otherwise, the medical staff will inform you why and how you should address said test result.

It really is a very simple process, if you want to help it will be even more rewarding.

A suggestion to take into account is that the night before rest considerately and not attend fasting, which is one of the most common mistakes in misinformed donors.

The needle incision is generally made in one of the veins of the cubital fossa, until approximately 450 ml is extracted. of blood that would be a bag of blood. Throughout the process, disposable and single-use materials are used, therefore it is impossible to catch any disease during the donation.

Likewise, to prevent, a small blood sample will be taken that will be later examined to evaluate that it does not have any communicable disease.

If there is a case of appearing positive, the donor will be notified and the ability to donate temporarily or permanently will be restricted as the case may be. In the same way, the donation you made will be discarded.

It is important that after donating blood, rest for 10-15 minutes. Drink plenty of water or natural juices and avoid drinking alcohol and smoking in the two hours following the extraction.

You will have to avoid hot areas and do some sport or actions that cause fatigue. for at least 24 hours. If these preventions are followed after the donation, the donors will feel better, in any case it is prudent to know the adverse aspects that could happen after or during the donation:

1. Dizziness or vasovagal reaction. It is a common symptom for first-time donors, it is easily resolved with a few minutes of rest, it generally occurs in conjunction with a slight drop in blood pressure, it can easily be avoided with adequate prior consumption of plenty of fluids.
2. Difficulties in inserting the needle. In the development of the donation, problems can occur at the puncture point which can develop bruises on the skin.
   This difficulty develops when dealing with a vein that is too fine, in cases where this difficulty occurs, the donation is not continued.
3. Nerve laceration. It is one of the cases that are very rare to happen, this occurs when the needle puncture touches the root of a nerve near the area where the blood will be drawn

Blood banks in Puerto Rico

Today, the two institutions in charge of collecting donations in Puerto Rico are the Puerto Rico Blood Bank of the Medical Center, which is the only institution belonging to the Government of Puerto Rico.

which offers services as a collection center to satisfy the needs of blood components to outpatients and hospitalized patients treated in the health institutions of the Puerto Rico Medical Center complex and finally the Mutual Services Blood Bank, which is in charge of supplying to private clinics.

Benefits of donating blood

1. Donating blood reduces the risk of suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest.
2. The percentages of probability that a cerebrovascular accident will occur are reduced.
3. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels drop.
4. An improvement in blood flow develops.
5. Aid in emergency care and treatment against diseases: on average each donation can contribute to the treatment of 4 people.
   1. Different components are extracted from each unit: packed cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets. Each component can help a sick person.
6. A brief medical check-up and an analysis of the blood in the donation are carried out: You can only donate blood if you are healthy and free of any type of contagious disease.
   Before donating blood, you have to go through a simple examination, a medical interview and a small determination of your hemoglobin levels.
7. Affection grows. Various scientific studies show that the act of donating activates oxytocin, the pleasure hormone, therefore our reward mechanism is activated. promotes solidarity, we increase both our own empathy and those of others.As you know, empathy is putting yourself in the other person’s place, so if we have decided to be a donor, it means that we are totally committed to that cause, that is, save lifes.In addition, by showing our satisfaction and being able to share it with our closest friends, we can increase their generosity, and why not, encourage them to be donors.
8. Develop better links between your social circle. For any unforeseen event, people from the same family become blood donors and recipients. If by this act the difficulties are overcome, it is confirmed that these people develop a better relationship with each other, thanks to this act of morality.

Frequent questions

Who can donate blood

Anyone with a stable state of health and who feels physically well

You can donate blood from the age of 16.

after donating blood

You will need to eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals that provide your body with the nutrients it needs to regrow the donated blood.

how much blood donate

for a healthy person weighing 110 pounds or more, you can easily donate 450cc of blood without risk of side effects.

How to get blood donors

Every year the Puerto Rico Blood Bank carries out a campaign to encourage people to donate blood, clarifying that the procedure is fully controlled and does not result in subsequent consequences for the donor, the idea is to reach a sufficient endowment to provide the health center where there are patients or emergencies that may need these donations.

If you want to donate in Puerto Rico because a relative needs it or just to contribute a drop of blood, we hope that the Requirements to donate blood have been very helpful and prompted you to make this beautiful gesture.