Give Blood, get a sticker
Jason Link
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
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The Blood Center of Iowa collected 39 units of whole blood and four units from the double red machine, said Abby Hausmann, the blood center's mobile marketing specialist. There were 14 first time donors. One unit of blood is nearly a pint.
The Blood Center of Iowa is a non-profit organization that serves 49 hospitals in 49 counties in Iowa.
All of the blood will stay in Iowa, Hausmann said. Giving blood is a simple process.
Donors are advised to avoid caffeine before donating according to Lindsay Zamzow, a full-time phlebotomist at the Blood Center of Iowa. "Caffeine can dehydrate you a bit," she said.
After filling out the paperwork the donor's temperature and blood pressure is then checked to ensure that they are healthy enough to donate.
A blood sample is taken and checked to make sure enough red blood cells are present, 38 percent and above are acceptable percentages. Men average between 40 to 50 percent and woman between 36 to 42 percent, Sarah Skoglund, a full-time phlebotomist at the Blood Center of Iowa said.
The donor is then moved into the donation area.
The first blood drawn is tested for things such as proper liver function and the presence of Hepititus, said Zamzow. The donation is then taken.
"The first minute can be a little bit uncomfortable and then you get used to it and then the pain will go away," Zamzow said. The process on average takes between 8 to 12 minutes based on the donor's fluid intake.
The donor is then given information on what activities to avoid and what to do for any side effects.
"If you do feel either dizzy or faint what we want you to do is lay down immediately on your back and prop your feet up on something," Zamzow said.
The donor is then sent over to the canteen where fluids and snacks are available to make sure they are well enough to leave.
"When we're done we'll send the product back to the lab to be manufactured into the different products. We'll run fourteen different tests on them. Usually there's about a day turn around between the testing and when we can officially release the product," Zamzow said.
"You're saving at least three people with one donation," Zamzow said. "From accidents, trauma, surgeries, or childbirth. There are also people who routinely receive blood for any kind of medical condition that they have, such as hemophilia, blood clotting disorders, or sickle cell anemia.
A card is later sent out to the donor showing their blood type, they also get a donor I.D. number that is accepted at different blood centers, said Zamzow.
"What we do ask is that you drink extra fluids for the rest of the day and obviously stop if your not feeling well," said Skoglund, "but most people do just fine after the donation."
The Blood Center of Iowa's website lists four ways to donate.
*A Whole Blood Donation is where a donor gives one pint of blood. The donor may do this up to six times a year.
*Double Red Cell Donation takes twice as many red blood cells as normal, but gives all other parts of the blood back to the donor. This process takes about 15-20 minutes longer than normal and a donor may only give up to three times a year.
*Direct Donation allows a patient to select the donor, but must be set up by a physician and must be done in a hospital.
*Platelet Apheresis Donation is where only the platelets and white blood cells are collected. Because the blood must be seperated the process usually takes two hours. This type of donation may be done up to twenty-four times a year.
There are two donation centers and varying locations and dates for mobile donations in Des Moines.
To find out hours of operation, to schedule and appointment, and to find out what types of blood are need go to www.bloodcenterofiowa.com.
Students may volunteer at the blood center by helping out in the canteen or picking up supplies according to Skoglund.
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