Endless debate has been going on for many years about whether it is harmful to be a blood donor. That is why in this article we will bring to your attention a comprehensive answer to the question. In addition, you will learn how to become a blood donor, what requirements are imposed on such people and how much it can cost.
general information
The word "donation" comes from the Latin "donare", which translates as "give". And, indeed, this is a voluntary blood donation for transfusion. In addition, such a concept includes all necessary measures that are aimed at ensuring and organizing the safety of material procurement. Blood taken from a donor is used for educational and research purposes, during the manufacture of medical devices and medicines, etc.
How to become a blood donor?
Before answering the question posed, it is necessary to consider exactly what reasons can prevent a volunteer from becoming a donor. Indeed, despite the fact that blood collection points invite absolutely everyone to collect materials, not everyone can perform this function.
So who should not be a blood donor? Among the reasons why a potential candidate may be rejected, there are not only those aimed at protecting the health of the recipient, but also the donor himself. That is why such prohibitions should be taken responsibly.
Blood donor: contraindications
The following contraindications are common contraindications to blood donation :
- mental illness;
- myopia (more than 6 diopters);
- hypotension (low blood pressure);
- hypertension (high blood pressure);
- tooth extraction (9-15 days before the procedure);
- vaccinations made 10-30 days before the procedure (depending on the type, it is necessary to clarify in the center of the donation).
Who can not be a blood donor, in addition to the categories listed above? It should be noted that in addition to general contraindications, there are specific ones. As a rule, they concern only the weaker sex. So, women and girls are strictly forbidden to donate blood:
- During the entire pregnancy. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that pregnancy is a clear and direct contraindication to blood donation. That is why it is necessary to be very careful.
- During menstruation, as well as for 5 days after them.
- While breastfeeding.
- One year after pregnancy and childbirth.
- Three months from the end of lactation.
Among other things, there are other contraindications to this procedure. We will talk about them in the next section of the article.
Who should not be a donor?
In no case, people who have the following diseases, experience and pathological dependencies should not be allowed to donate blood:
- HIV and suspicion of it in a given period of time;
- viral hepatitis and suspicion of it in a given period of time;
- serious blood diseases;
- promiscuous sexual intercourse;
- homosexual relationships;
- use of intravenous drugs (except for inpatient conditions);
- drug addiction and alcoholism.
The contraindications presented are permanent. But besides this, there is a temporary challenge. These reasons include:
- postoperative period (approximately 12 months);
- after mild illnesses (ARVI, ARI) - 1 month;
- after the use of analgesics - about 2 weeks;
- after using antibiotic drugs - about 2 weeks;
- after tattoos or punctures on the body for piercing - about 6-12 months (depending on the conditions of a particular blood transfusion center).
Potential candidates
Who can become a blood donor? There are much fewer items in this section. However, this does not mean that only selected people can become donors.
So, if you want to become a volunteer and donate blood, then you need to:
- Have sufficient weight (over 50 kg). In this case, the main thing is that your excessive thinness does not catch your eye.
- Feel great and be healthy.
- Be an adult. But most often people over 60 are not allowed to donate.
- Have with you any identification card (military ID, passport, etc.).
- Have a local registration (this item is not necessary at all blood donation centers).
Having figured out who can become a blood donor, we move on to the next paragraph, or rather, to the description of the procedure itself.
Preliminary procedures
How to become a blood donor? After a volunteer decides to donate his material to a donation center, he should go through several procedures.
So what does it take to become a blood donor?
- Fill out the form. Arriving at the donation center, you should contact the registry, where you should be given a questionnaire, which contains very simple, but very important questions. As a rule, they relate to past illnesses, promiscuous sexual intercourse, drug addiction, as well as some other personal data. This questionnaire must be filled honestly and frankly. After all, there is a law of the Russian Federation “On blood donation and its main components”, which states that a citizen who has distorted information about his health condition and intentionally hiding it, bears full responsibility established by law if these actions entailed (or could have led to ) significant recipient health disorder. By the way, in other states, even criminal liability is established for false information. Therefore, you should take this procedure as seriously as possible. After all, even a minor trifle can cause serious complications for the person who is planning to transfuse your blood.
- Get a physical examination. Before undergoing examination, a small amount of blood from a finger is necessarily taken from an approved candidate. This is necessary in order to determine the rhesus and blood group, and also to see at what exactly level the donor’s hemoglobin is. After this, the results of the tests go to the therapist, who should be visited by a volunteer. Your doctor will expect a measurement of your pulse and pressure, as well as a few questions regarding the completed questionnaire. Further, the candidate is invited to sign on the contract, which indicates that he understood all the questions, answered them correctly, and also completely agrees to the voluntary donation of blood and its further transfusion to the recipient.
If all the necessary procedures have been completed successfully, then the donor is sent to a special ward, where a number of blood collection activities are carried out.
How does blood donation take place?
Depending on the specific center of blood transfusion, the donor may be offered to donate it in a sitting, lying or reclining position. If you are a beginner, then most likely you will be asked to lie down on the couch. After all, it is in this position that a person is less likely to feel fever and severe dizziness. After that, the center’s employees squeeze the donor’s hand above the elbow, and then disinfect a certain area with a cotton swab with alcohol and pierce with a special needle. Then for 5-12 minutes, blood is collected in a plastic bag with a volume of about 450 ml. Finally, the rubber tubes are tied, and the needle is removed from the vein. Next, employees drain the remaining blood from the system into a test tube (approximately 20 ml) for further analysis. After this, the vein is closed with an alcohol cotton and bandaged fairly tightly with a bandage. This dressing is not recommended to be removed within 2-4 hours.
How to prepare for blood donation?
Now you know how to become a blood donor. But before such a procedure, experts recommend that you adhere to the following rules:
- do not drink alcohol 2 days before blood donation;
- do not smoke 2 hours before blood donation;
- do not take aspirin, analgesics and other potent medicines 3-5 days before blood donation.
In addition, on the day of blood donation, you should definitely have breakfast, and 5-10 minutes before a vein puncture, drink a glass of water or stewed fruit.
What is allowed to take before blood donation?
Two days before the appointed date, the donor can use:
- any fruits, vegetables;
- fruit drinks, juice, juice, mineral water without gas, sweet tea;
- jam, jam;
- bread, crackers, cookies;
- boiled cereals cooked in water without the addition of fat, butter and milk;
- boiled or steamed fish.
What should not be consumed before blood donation?
Two days before visiting the donor center, it is forbidden to eat fried, salted, spicy, smoked, eggs, any dairy products and nuts.
Blood donation: harmful or beneficial?
- Thanks to this procedure, a person can regularly and free of charge take tests for the detection of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, hemoglobin, red blood cells, ESR, white blood cells, etc.
- Donation trains the body and prepares it for the most difficult situations in life (operations, injuries, blood loss, etc.).
- 30% reduction in potential heart attacks. After all, the circulatory system of all donors works with greater efficiency, which contributes to better health.
- Blood loss improves metabolism and forces the entire body to mobilize.
Cost
How to become a blood donor in Moscow for money? To do this, you should contact any donation center. It is there that you will be asked to decide whether you want to donate blood for free or get money for it.
If the donor chooses a free procedure, then at some points food rations are issued. If the volunteer decided to make money on this, then depending on the center chosen and the collection of certain material, after the procedure he may receive from 500 to 3000 Russian rubles. Although it should be noted that if you regularly donate blood for several years in a row, in the end you can get the title of honorary donor and all sorts of benefits.