Recent events at the local and national levels have increased the need for blood. With the bombings in Boston, the explosion in West TX and the local shootings at Rounder’s Club, the demand for blood is greater than ever.
Which is why Amarillo College will be hosting a blood drive at the Washington Street campus. Coffee Memorial’s Blood Mobile will be at AC on May 1st and 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The donation process is fairly painless and only takes about an hour of your time. First you’re signed in and go over basic eligibility requirements. Then you get a mini-physical; at this point you answer a few questions about your health. Your temperature, pulse, blood pressure is recorded along with the hemoglobin in your blood taken from a small sample.
Once you have been approved to donate you may continue to the next step, the sticking. Some people tend to think that the “sticking” is painful but it’s not more that a small pinch. Once the needle is inserted the drawing takes about 8 to10 minutes to donate a pint of blood. However certain donation types, such as platelets, red cells or plasma can take up to 2 hours.
Once the drawing process is over it is recommended that you have a snack and stay hydrated. The plasma from your donation is replaced within about 24 hours. Red cells need about four to six weeks for complete replacement. Which is why at least eight weeks are required between whole blood donations.
If you have never donated before and would like to help out remember to bring a photo ID and stay hydrated before the donation, if possible eat iron-rich food. “I haven’t donated blood but I would like to, and well we’ve always been taught that sharing is caring, so why not share life?” said Juan Carlos Ramirez, general studies major.
When asked why its important for her to donate blood nursing major Luz Bejarano said, “I donate blood because I can help someone who really needs it.”
It doesn’t take much effort or time to donate blood and help save a life.
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