American Red Cross Fond du Lac County Chapter
Blood Services
Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. The FDL Red Cross facilitates many blood drives throughout Fond du Lac County in order to allow generous community members the gift of life.
**Remember you don't have to put your life on the line to save a life, you just have to put out your arm."
Do you have questions about donating blood?
Click here for answers to your most frequently asked questions!
Why is it important to donate blood?
Since inception, primarily after World War II, blood transfusions have become an integral part of medical practice. If not for the readily availability of blood components, life-saving medical treatments, such as the treatment of serious injurues, organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, complicated surgical procedures and cancer treatment, would not be possible. It is estimated that five million recipients are transfused with blood components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma, in the U.S. annually.
The number of units of blood that may be used for an particular situation can sometimes be unpredictable. A complicated surgical procedure may be started with the anticipated use of a certain number of units; however, complications during the procedure may require the use of 5-10 times the number of units anticipated. Therefore, it is imperative that blood be available within a short notice. Similar to the withdrawal of cash from a bank, one can only withdraw cash if sufficant deposits were made before it is needed. A blood bank must have an adequate supply of blood on hand to meet the demand when patients need it.
Unlike medications that are manufactured, blood components can only be collected from healthy volunteer donors and have a very short shelf life, from five days for platelets, six weeks for red cells and one year for frozen plasma. In addition, when collections are at 100 percent of the planned level nationwide, there is only about a one-week supply in the nation's blood bank. When the collections are even slightly lower, at 95 percent of the planned level, there could be a shortage of some types of blood components. Thus, to ensure an adaquate blood supply to meet patient need, it is important that all healthy, eligible people donate blood regularly.
Here are the answers to your most frequently asked questions about donating blood. Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Is donating blood safe?
Can I give blood if I have been turned down before?
How often can one give blood?
How do I know if I am eligible to donate blood?
Are the health history questions and my test results confidential?
What can I do if I am not eligible to donate?
How can I ensure a pleasant donation experience?
Should I give blood now or wait untill I am called?
How long does it take to donate blood?
How much blood is taken? Won't it make me weak?
What will happen to my blood after I donate it?
Can I direct my blood donation to an individual?
Can I direct my blood donation to the military?
Is donating blood safe?
Donating blood is a safe process. Needles and bags to collect blood are used only once and then discarded, making spread of infection to the donor not possible.
Can I give blood if I have been turned down before?
Most reasons, for which donors are turned away from donating blood are temporary, not permanent. For example, one common reason for a deferral is low iron level in the blood, but iron levels fluctuate daily and are affected by what you eat. Check the eligibility requirements to see if you are eligible to donate. A "mini-physical" is given to all potential donors to ensure they are healthy enough to donate.
How often can one give blood?
Regulations in the United States allow people to donate blood once every 56 days. The waiting period between donations can be different for other blood components. For example, donating only platelets in a process called apheresis requires only a 3 day wait before a person can give again. Donating 2 units of red blood cells through a similar process doubles the waiting period to 112 days.
How do I know if I am eligible to donate blood?
You must be in good health, be at least 17 years of age, and weigh at least 110 pounds. You will also need to pass physical and health history reviews prior to donating. There is no upper age limit on your ability to donate. Conditions that require a temporary deferral are pregnancy, travel to certainparts of the world, innoculations, some health conditions and certain medications. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or check the eligibility requirements on www.givebloodgivelife.org to get answers to specific questions you may have. Eligibility requirements may also vary for some states and blood centers. Final eligibility is determined by medical professionals at the time of donation.
Are the health history questions and my test results confidential?
Yes. The health history will be conducted by a trained professional in an individual booth arranged to preserve confidentiality. Your answers will be kept confidential, except where required by law. If your blood tests positive to any of the administered standard tests, you will receive confidential notification. The Red Cross maintains transitional confidentiality of all blood donor records.
What can I do if I am not eligible to donate?
While you may be unable to donate blood, there are other ways you can help. You can help organize a blood drive, recruit suitable donors, or volunteer at fixed sites or mobile blood drives to help make donors' experience a positive one. Monetary donations are another way to help ensure that safe blood can be provided to thsose who are in need. Learn more about how you can help.
How can I ensure a pleasant donation experience?
You'll want a good night's sleep the night before, and a good breakfast or lunch before your donation. Drink fluids like juice, milk, or soda ahead of time. Take your normal medications as prescribed. Ensure you have adequate iron level by making iron-rich foods part of your daily diet These include red meat, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetable, iron-fortified cereals, nuts, raisins, and prunes. During your donation, relax. After your donation, have some juice and cookies in the canteen. Then you can go about your daily activities, but avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day. See the tips for a good donation experience.
Should I give blood now or wait untill I am called?
Under normal circumstances eligible donors are encouraged to donate as often as possible. Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or schedule an appointant online. During emergency circumstances please listen to media reports in your area and donate as requested.
How long does it take to donate blood?
The whole process takes about an hour. It starts with registration, a health history, and a mini-physical. Then comes the actual donation, which usually takes less than 10-12 minutes. Afterward, you will be asked to speed a few minutes in the "canteen" where you can have a light refreshment before returning to your normal activities.
How much blood is taken? Won't it make me weak?
A blood donation equals approximately one pint of blood. The average adult body has 10-12 pints. The vast majority of people will not feel any different because of the donation. A very small pertcentage may experience temporary dizziness, but some rest and fluids will help you feel better quickly. Your body will replace the lost fluid with 24 hours.
What will happen to my blood after I donate it?
Each blood donation is assigned a unique computer barcode number, which will identify it throughout its path from the donor to a hospital patient.Immediately after the blood donation, the blood is placed in transport containers designed to keep it at a safe temperature until it reaches a Red Cross component laboratory. Samples of the blood donations are simultaneously sent to one of nine Red Cross National Testing Laboratoties to be tested for transmissible diseases. In the component lab the blood is separated into its components: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. The products are then placed in quarantined, tempurature-controlled refrigeration units until the test results are received(usually 12-16 hours later) and the blood can be released for distribution or destroyed. From local distribution centers, the blood is transported to hospitals based on patient need. Hospital personnel then transfuse the blood or blood products to a patient in need.
Can I direct my blood donation to an individual?
Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves in the weeks before non-emergency surgery in a process known as autologous donation. If the autologous donation is not used, it is discarded. Family member and friends can also make directed donations. Directed donations are fully tested, so if they are not used by the intended patient, they can be released for use by other patients.
Can I direct my blood donation to the military?
The American Red Cross has created a strong operations network that helps us direct your blood donation to the areas of the country - or the world - where they are most needed. While you can't direct your donation to be specifically routed to military personel, you can be sure that it will be sent to the areas of most critical need.
More Questions....or want to make an appointment to donate?