We Want Your Blood!
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Story by Carter Solomon Photo by Bryanna Kinlicheene Graphics by Graeme Johnston
urango often offers community members the opportunity to donate blood. There are many uses for donated blood, said Charlene Smith, the United Blood Services of New Mexico’s marketing and communications and media relations manager. “One pint of blood has the ability to impact three different patients as it can be separated into three components—red blood cells, platelets, and plasma,” Smith said. There is no substitute for blood, she said. “Donated blood can be used for transfusions for surgeries, cancer treatment, organ transplants, shock and burn victims, patients with hemophilia and other clotting disorders, and other medical treatments,” Smith said. When donating blood, a full pint of blood is taken from the donor, Smith said. “On average, a normal, healthy individual who donates a unit of blood will fully recuperate from the blood loss in four to six weeks,” she said. Blood is made up of a variety of components, Smith said. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all other body tissues, while white blood cells defend the body against disease, and platelets help produce blood clots, she said. Plasma, another component of blood, is the fluid that is made up of 92 percent water and 7 percent vital proteins and other clotting factors, she said. A whole blood donation can be done every eight weeks, and a double red cell donation can be done every 16 weeks she said. “Hospitals need all types of blood,” she said. There are four blood types: A, B, O, and AB, and there is also a RH factor of positive or negative, according to United Blood Service’s website, www.unitedbloodservices.org. “Type O negative is the universal blood type,” she said. “Anyone can receive it and it is important to always have that available for emergencies when there is no time to type a patient’s blood.” Because this blood type is so common, it is needed the most, she said. “The hospitals served by United Blood Services in Colorado and the Four Corners region are not
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experiencing a blood shortage, and we are very proud that there has not been a shortage,” she said. There are guidelines set in place for donating blood. “In Colorado, 16- and 17- year- olds can donate with parental consent, and there is no age limit to donate blood,” Smith said. All donors must be in good health and not under the care of a doctor, weigh at least 110 pounds and have a photo identification, she said. “Donors ages 16 to 22 have additional requirements based on total blood volume,” she said. The first step to donating blood is meeting these requirements, Smith said. Eating a good meal and being hydrated is also recommended, she said. After giving blood it’s important to stay in the recovery room for 15 minutes, she said. “There are other post-donation instructions, but it’s important to not involve yourself in heavy physical activity for at least four hours after donating,” she said. Fort Lewis College freshman Joey DiPaola donates blood. “I did it as often as I could,” he said. DiPaola started donating blood his second semester of his junior year in high school, donating blood three times before coming to college, he said. His first decision to donate was spur of the moment, he said. Someone asked him if he wanted to donate, so he did, DiPaola said. United Blood Services holds blood drives nearly every month at FLC, Smith said. More information on donating blood can be found on www.unitedbloodservices.org.
Donating blood can be used to alleviate several medical conditions.