Give Blood, the Gift of Life
What is IBDS?
Orignally, I had planned on volunteering at INOVA Fairfax Hospital to fulfill my 45 hrs of experiential learning for NCC 331: The Non-Profit Sector, but I was told that the whole application and interview process could take as little as 2 weeks to as long as 2 months. And, because I was on a tight schedule, with only 1 week to find a service learning site, I decided to try a hand at the INOVA Blood Donor Center (IBDC) just 1 block south of the hospital. I was accepted immediately. I guess things do happen for a reason. I may have "lost" my chance for becoming a volunteer at the hospital itself, but I find that volunteering for IBDC supports a greater and more meaningful cause.
What do I do at IBDS?
It's well known that volunteers of the hospital only do "busy work" such as clerical tasks or working in the gift shop. So i'm glad I have been spared that fate. Granted, I'm not doing anything much more exciting, but I believe that my helps supports a greater purpose. Every Mondays, from 3-5, I devote my time to IBDC. What is it that I do there? Well, not much. I just restock the snacks, tidy up the place, make sure the donors are comfortable and try to get them to scheduel their next appointment. The last task is most important, yet I am not always successful. Studies have shown that if one makes an appointment now, they are more willing to stick with it. If the donor was left to think about it or "check their schedule", more often times than not, they will forget.
As a donor myself and a "donor liaison" (a person who supports the cause) I have realized the importance of blood donations. With the increase in life span and advancements in medical procedures, blood is more critical than ever before. Did you know that 47 pints of blood will be consumed in a typical liver transplant? But, because of fear, misinformation or time constraints, the donor pool is not as high as we'd like.
FAQ's
- Can I donate if I have a tattoo?
- Yes, but you must wait atleast 1 year from the date of your last tattoo. This is to ensure that the blood is not tainted from the ink.
- Can I donate if I have diabetes/hypertenstion, etc?
- Yes, as long as your condition is controlled and you have been ok'd by your physician.
- Can I donate if I've been to Europe/Africa?
- Please consult this guide: Travel restrictions
- How long does it take?
- Generally, 45 minutes to 1 hour, but that includes the preliminary health screening and the blood donation process which takes roughly 10 minutes in itself.
- Does it hurt?
- There may be some discomfort at first, as with any procedure involving the use of hyperdermic needles, but I find that once the needle is in, it's smooth sailing from there.
- How often can you donate?
- Once every 56 days, or roughly every 2 months. Although with platelet donations, you may do so every 2 weeks.
- If you have further questions, please call 1-866-256-6372.
Advocacy
I donate blood on a regular basis and try to convice my friends and family to do so as well. While out on the field one day, meaning I was recruiting donors off-site at the mall, a man once told me that his cardiologist recommended that he donate blood on a regular basis because the regeneration of new red blood cells could reduce his chance of heart attack. As the newer blood cells are more elastic and therefore, are able to slide through the arteries more easily, i.e., less chance of clotting. I told my father this tid bit, and to date, he's only donated once. But, just getting him to donate was a feat in itself because he's Mr. Skeptical. My mother, on the other hand, does not meet the weight requirements, so she is not able to donate blood. I was able to clarify the tattoo issue with one of my friends and so she's donated as well. I've been able to convince 3 more of my female friends to donate because I had told them that you lose 1 pound after donating blood, which is true. But you gain it back the next day. Friends that I have not been able to convince either have traveling restrictions or just can't get past the size of the needle. Well, I say, it's worth it, if you're saving up to 3 lives! While volunteering at IBDC for nearly 10 months now, I've met some interesting people, many of whom are scared of needles but put their fear aside because they know that they are saving a life. A recurring theme I found that hindered blood donation was the time factor. Many people complain that they don't have time. But, if you think about it, we're only asking that you come in once every 2 months. In addition, if location is a problem, we have 4 donor centers in the region and several blood mobiles going out to various public places, such as the library, a school, the mall, etc. for our donor's convenience. So please, I ask that you please consider taking a part in saving someone's life, by donating blood. The number again is 1-866-256-6372.
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Useful Links
- INOVA Blood Donor Centers
- American Red Cross