Do your part...donate
As you are reading this, a child
in hospital is receiving a blood transfusion. A girl is learning how to
smile again, as she recovers from leukaemia. In another ward, an old man
is being treated for severe burns.
hey all rely on blood donation from healthy people like you…
You
could be investing in your own future as well as saving someone’s life,
Because who knows if you or one of your friends or family will need a
blood transfusion one day? God forbid.
Who can become a donor?
Practically anyone, as long as you’re over 18, under 60 and in good health.
What blood groups are needed?
All groups, especially the most common which we can never have enough of.
Where can I give blood?
The
main collection facility is Central Blood Bank in Jabriya, as well as
its four fixed satellite branches distributed in different areas in
Kuwait, Amiri Hospital, Adan hospital, Jahra hospital and the Red
Crescent Society.
How long does it take?
The
donation actually takes ten to fifteen minutes, but the whole process,
takes about thirty five minutes from registration to the end of the rest
period.
How is it done?
There are three steps:
1. First Step
We
must first make sure you are fit enough to give blood, and that giving
blood will cause you no harm. We also have to make sure your blood will
be safe for the patient who’ll receive it. That is why we will check
your blood and ask you to complete a health questionnaire with the help
of one of our doctors or nurses.
2. The Questionnaire
After a
few quick questions, a registered health care professional, -a doctor or
a nurse will ask about your health. Your answers will be treated in
the strictest confidence. They are routine enquiries which must be made
for all volunteers before their donation is accepted.
If you
don’t qualify as a donor this time, we will explain why and give you all
the advice you need. If you do qualify we will ask you to sign that you
are happy for us to test your blood later in the laboratory, the test
will tell us your blood group and will screen for any infection that may
be transmitted in blood such as hepatitis viruses (which cause
jaundice) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV); if any of these
positive tests shows you cannot became a donor, we will explain why and
give you all the advice you need in the strictest confidence.
3. Haemoglobin Screening
Do
not worry that giving blood could affect your own health. We will only
collect blood from those who can spare it! All volunteers are screened
to ensure that a donation will not make them anaemic. This is done by
collecting a tiny drop of blood from your finger, the test may show that
you cannot spare a full donation on that day. If so, we will tell you
what you should do.
Honestly, does it hurt?
Giving
blood is normally quick and painless. After haemoglobin screening
you’ll be settled on a bed with a band wrapped around your upper arm.
The skin on the inside of your elbow will then be thoroughly cleaned.
Next,
the band will be tightened just enough to make the veins stand out. A
sterile needle is inserted to collect your blood. Most donors are
pleasantly surprised at just how soon it’s all over. In about five to
ten minutes we’ll have collected 450ml (about a pint). Firm pressure is
applied as the needle comes out and a light dressing is placed on the
arm once bleeding has stopped.
Is there any risk?
All
donations are taken by trained staff. These staff never work without
the supervision of a doctor or nurse. Every piece of equipment used is
sterile and never used again. There’s no risk of a donor becoming
infected in any way.
A very small number of donors sometimes feel
a little hot or faint after giving blood, or experience minor bruising
where the needle went in, but this is rare and is not generally a cause
for concern.
What will I get out of giving blood?
Health screening tests: Every donor undergoes a physical, medical and laboratory
check up, where the blood is screened for all transmittable diseases such as hepatitis B and C HTLV, HIV, malaria and syphilis.
Headache
relief: A number of donors have a higher number of red cells than the
normal for natural reasons which increases the viscosity of blood and
therefore creates a headache. Donating blood will relieve this symptom.
High
blood pressure: Donating blood will help to reduce the high blood
pressure, providing that you do not suffer any complication such as
heart diseases.
Helping others: Becoming a donor is an act that
benefits many. It is a way of helping others less fortunate than
ourselves in our community.
Life after all is the greatest gift that a person can give.
Heart trouble: Research proved without any doubt that incidents of heart diseases between donors are less than non donors.
Knowing
that one has helped in saving someone’s life can give the individual a
great feeling of satisfaction and this is a reward in itself.
