Why You Should Be a Blood Donor
Have you ever wondered what happens to your blood after you donate it? Angi Icard, blood bank supervisor at Iredell Health System, explains why blood donation is so important and how it directly impacts the community.
What is a blood bank?
“The blood bank is where we store all the blood products for patients who may need them for surgery or trauma situations. This includes red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate, which is given to patients with bleeding disorders.”
Where Does The Blood Come From?
A single donor typically gives a pint of blood — enough to help save up to three lives.
“After donation, the bag is spun down into different components.”
How Is The blood Tested?
Blood goes through far more comprehensive screening than the questions asked at donation sites.
“Blood goes through rigorous testing before it reaches patients for things like HIV, hepatitis, and blood typing. All this testing is done within 24 hours. The quicker they get the testing completed, the quicker they can get it to the places that need it.”
Every donation is also retyped to ensure accuracy.
“We take a little of the patient’s blood and match it specifically to what we have in stock. There are some special cases where we work with other blood banks to make sure we have the right product for the right patient.”
What About Emergencies, Like A Gunshot Wound?
“If there’s an emergency surgery situation, there may be no time for testing. This is when we give O negative. This is the universal type. That’s why there’s always a big push for O negative donors at blood drives.”
Plasma And Platelet Donation
Plasma is the liquid that carries all parts of the blood throughout the body and contains proteins that help people with serious illnesses. Platelets help form clots.
“We have numerous patients who come through our infusion care center and receive platelets two or three times a week because their chemotherapy or disease has destroyed their platelets. Without platelets, you can bleed out.”
Platelets must be used within five days, which is why donors are always in high demand.
Where Do Donations Go?
Most blood donations stay in the area where they’re collected, but blood banks work together to ensure nothing is wasted.
“Let’s say we have too much of one type. We will disperse it around to other banks that are low. It’s a precious commodity. We’ve even started a partnership with [another organization] to transfer products that are close to their expiration date to them since they have a bigger trauma center and it’s more likely to be used.”
How Are Blood Products Stored?
“Blood is stored refrigerated. Platelets are stored at room temperature and agitated to keep them alive. We have a special machine that incubates them at room temperature and constantly rotates them. Plasma and cryo are flash frozen and can be used for up to three years.”
What Does The Donation Process Look Like?
In North Carolina, healthy people as young as 17 can donate blood. There are a few exceptions — such as certain medications or health concerns — so it’s important to check with the donor organization beforehand.
“The first thing they do is check your blood pressure, temperature, and your hemoglobin levels, which is the part of your blood that carries oxygen. One of the reasons we give blood is for low hemoglobin levels, so we wouldn’t want to take more than you can give. They will then put you in a comfy chair and ask a few questions. Then they will put a tourniquet on your arm and start the process.”
A donation can take as little as 15 minutes, depending on needle placement and your veins.
“They give you a stress ball to squeeze to keep the blood flowing and to keep your mind busy. After you’re done, you’re offered juice and snacks, and a co-band is applied to your arm to stop the flow.”
Most donation sites offer rewards for donating, sometimes exceeding $100 for donors with rare types. You can donate up to six times a year. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat beforehand.
“There are some antibodies that are so rare that there’s only one person in the world who can donate them.”
Where Do You Donate?
Blood drives are held in the community frequently through different organizations, including The Blood Connection, which holds drives at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville on a regular basis.
The next blood drive at Iredell Memorial Hospital is on August 27 from 9am-2pm. The blood mobile bus will be parked in the front parking lot of the hospital, Lot B, near Same Day Surgery. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. To schedule an appointment or learn more, go to thebloodconnection.org.
Consider donating today. You could be saving lives for up to three years after your donation.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; over 2,300 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.
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