Every day, blood donors make a difference to someone they’ll never meet. The Association for Blood Donor Professionals estimates that one in seven patients entering hospitals will require the availability of blood. For reasons including trauma victims, cancer patients, childbirth, and a range of surgeries, blood is essential to patient care and recovery. Unlike other body fluids that can be manufactured, there’s no substitute for blood, making the need for donors essential. Each donation can save up to three lives, as one unit of blood can be separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets, each serving different medical needs. Despite the high and ongoing demand, only about 3% of age-eligible Americans donate blood each year.
Upcoming Blood Drives in Our Area
Here’s a look at some upcoming Red Cross Blood Drives in our area. To book a donation or find future drives, click here.
VERMONT:
Bennington
June 25
916 Main St.
10 a.m. – 2: 30 p.m.
Manchester
June 20
5167 Main Street
Manchester Center, VT 05255
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
NEW YORK:
Hoosick Falls
Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church
484 Hill Road
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Stephentown
August 19
Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
35 Grange Hall Road
Stephentown, NY 12168
2:00 p.m. – 6 p.m.
To those who have never given blood, the concept can sound complicated, intimidating, and time-consuming. But thanks to 85 years of experience running blood drives, the Red Cross has made giving blood as fast and easy as possible.
For example, most donations are done in an hour or less, with the actual blood draw itself only lasting for 8-10 minutes. The remaining time is spent on registration, a health screening, and a brief recovery period spent enjoying provided refreshments. Donors who take advantage of the Red Cross’ online Rapid Pass can eliminate much of the time required for registration by completing the questionnaire in advance of giving.
As for who can give, in most states, donors must be age 17 or older. Some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with a signed parental consent form. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
Other common concerns related to donating include:
Tattoos: While regulations vary from state to state, nowhere are you ineligible to donate blood simply because you have a tattoo. The only potential limitation may be how long you must wait to give blood after receiving a tattoo.
Medication: A medication will rarely disqualify you from giving. However, if you’re on a prescribed medication, the condition it’s intended to treat may prevent you from giving. For more information, visit the ‘Medications and Vaccinations’ section on the American Red Cross Blood Services page.
Blood pressure: Most individuals with either high or low blood pressure are eligible to give. For individuals with high blood pressure, if the initial health check reveals your pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and below 100 diastolic (second number), you’re good to go. For individuals with low blood pressure, if your reading is at least 90/50 you are safe to give.
If you’re a first-time donor, visit the Red Cross’ “What to Expect” page, which is filled with helpful tips for ensuring your first (of hopefully many) donations goes smoothly.
Dawn Murphy, MSN, APRN, is a hematologist with the Dartmouth Cancer Center Bennington at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.