It’s in you to give
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4FVXFniIps
In the gift of blood you give a person in need one of the most important things – a fighting chance. You may not be a trained nurse, doctor, EMT, or any form of a health care provider but you do have the power to save someone’s life.
There are many reasons why someone would want to donate. It could be that they were simply asked to, they know someone who is in need of blood donations, the company the work at encourages going as a part of Partners for Life, or it could be that they believe that if they are capable, it is the right thing to do. Whatever the reason for donating, you are becoming part of something bigger.
Blood isn’t the only thing you can donate via the Canadian Blood Services. You can become a part of OneMatch and donate stem cells, you can donate a kidney, or you can donate individual components of blood like plasma or platelets. Each of these have slightly different processes which you must go through. One of those processes is evaluating whether you are able to donate, or not. There are height and weight restrictions that are put for your safety to ensure you health and there are blood tests done to ensure the safety of others. There is also a waiting period you must go through in between donations so you can replenish what you’ve given. For whole blood you must wait 56 days, meaning that optimally, you would be donating blood 6 times a year if you decide and are able to become a donor for the long term. If you donate blood once, and decide that you no longer wish to donate for whatever reason, you may do so with no complications. If you wish to donate platelets, you can do so every 2 weeks for 70-90 minutes. The waiting period for plasma donations is 7 days between appointments and takes around an hour and a half. Six to eight whole blood donors is the the equivalent to one platelet donor. Four whole blood donors is the equivalent to one plasma donor.
Your gift does not go without recognition. The Canadian Blood Services has a National Donor Recognition Program that recognizes milestones with pins, cards, certificates and other small tokens. When you donate, you are giving a part of yourself and that doesn’t go unnoticed.
To be eligible to donate you must…
– Be 17 years of age
– Be in good health
– Meet the height and weight requirements
To find out more eligibility criteria and check the height and weight requirements click here.
If you are unable to donate due to health and eligibility requirements that’s okay! Encourage your family members who may be able to donate to do so.
Here is a video to you show you the steps to donating blood so you’re comfortable and knowledgeable about the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlo1vJo55Tg
