Steps and Requirements to donate blood in the Dominican Republic

Donating blood is known as the extraction of blood from a citizen for the benefit of someone in need.

Requirements to donate blood in the Dominican Republic

The requirements to donate blood in the Dominican Republic are the following:

1. Present valid identity document.
2. Be between the ages of 18 and 65.
3. have a minimum weight of 125 pounds.
4. Never having had venereal disease, heart disease or cancer.
5. Not having had Hepatitis.
6. Not having ingested alcoholic beverages during the 48 hours before donating blood.
7. Not having had any type of piercing or tattoo in the last 12 months before donating blood.
8. Not be a narcotic drug user.
9. Not having undergone chemotherapy treatments or any other cancer treatment.
10. Not having been in acupuncture treatments.
11. Women wishing to donate blood must have a Hematocrit above 40 and men above 42.
12. Not having undergone any major surgery in the last 6 months before donating blood.
13. Not having risk factors for contracting the HIV virus.
14. If the donor has had a Zika or Chikungunya case, they must have overcome the virus for six months.
15. You should not donate on an empty stomach.

What to do to donate blood?

The Red Cross of the Dominican Republic establishes that to donate blood a donor can go plus a fee that goes from RD$1,500.00 to RD$2,400.00 to analyze the donor’s blood. The price for the blood test depends on the health center that performs the blood test.

The process to donate blood can last between 45 minutes and an hour depending on the blood bank where the process is carried out.

The frequency of donation per year for women is three times and for men is four times.

Who can donate blood?

People who qualify to donate blood are those who meet the aforementioned requirements, who are in stable good health, and who pass the medical and background examination that is carried out before the citizen makes the donation. Also those who have the will to donate blood to people in need.

In the Dominican Republic, adolescents under 18 years of age are allowed to donate blood, as long as they have an authorization signed by their representatives or guardians.

Myths about donating blood

Although we often hear that a menstruating woman cannot donate blood; that a person with tattoos cannot do it; a person who has or has had diabetes or who is hypertensive cannot donate blood, it is totally false and they are myths that must be eradicated.

People who have had tattoos, piercings, permanent makeup or acupuncture can donate only if one year has passed since the procedure.

The only ones who can establish that a person cannot donate blood are specialist doctors and nurses, so if you want to donate blood you should go to the Dominican Red Cross or a blood bank, clarify any doubts and donate if allowed.

Another of the most well-known myths regarding donating blood is «if I donate blood can I get HIV or any other disease?» This is totally false since the material used for the donation must be stylized and then must be discarded.

People with tattoos can’t donate blood

People who have tattoos can donate blood, provided that at least 12 months have passed after the tattoo was done.

people with hepatitis

The only people who can donate are those who have had Hepatitis “A” for some reason before they are 12 years old, however people who have had Hepatitis “B” or Hepatitis “C” will never be able to give blood.

donating blood makes you fat

This hypothesis is false since donating blood does not alter body weight.

Around 430 ml of blood is withdrawn from the donor, an amount that is easy for the citizen to recover. What is certain is that after carrying out the process the donor may have an appetite, this due to the need to recover energy, what is recommended is to eat in a balanced way and drink plenty of liquids for 12 hours after the procedure. The donation.

Benefits of donating blood

Although we may not believe that donating blood has certain benefits for our body, here are some of them:

1. Triglyceride clearance.
2. Improved blood flow.
3. Iron levels in the blood are cleaned.
4. Reduces the risk of stroke
5. Reduces the risk of heart attacks
6. Stimulates the production of blood cells in the human body
7. Blood donation can be used as a small medical check-up.

Who require blood?

People who need donated blood are people who lose blood during surgery; people who suffer severe bleeding due to an accident or in some medical intervention; patients with cancer, anemia or other hematological diseases; women who suffer from some complication in the caesarean section process, some complication during or after childbirth. Also patients with kidney failure unable to produce their own blood.

Why donate blood?

Because a healthy person can easily restore the blood drawn for donation in 60 days, for this reason the donor can donate blood every 2 months.

The aforementioned capacity is not lost during the life of the donor, so they may be helping other people who need blood to survive or to overcome a disease or health episode.

Where to go to donate blood?

The volunteer who wishes to donate blood can do so at a blood bank or at the Dominican Red Cross. As long as it meets the requirements mentioned above.

Why promote blood donation voluntarily?

This action makes it possible to raise awareness and sensitize the population to the need of our fellow human beings; as well as to have support when a person needs it, preventing him from losing his life due to lack of this good.

Donating blood allows and contributes to other people staying alive and/or improving their quality of life. Donating blood does not take life away from the person who donates it, but it does give life to the person who receives the donation.