Evan Rogers

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in the Lares building  on  Thursday, October 17th between 9 A.M.-2 P.M.

Here is what donors can expect:.

The first step will be to register.  Bring a form of I.D.  You will then supply for a brief medical history and short physical which involves checking your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin level.  The donation is a quick pinch with a sterile needle.  It takes about 8-10 minutes to draw a pint of blood for the donation. Donors are provided a snack and a drink, and are recommended to rest for a 10-15 minute waiting period  before they leave.

How to Prepare

Donors will want to ensure they’re getting prepared; according to WebMD, “you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a healthy amount of iron from your food.”  Foods high in iron include:

-Meat and seafood

-Vegetables, specifically spinach and sweet potatoes

-Certain breads

-Fruits

-Beans

-Tofu

You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of fluids in your system before donating blood.

Who Are You Helping

The American Red Cross states that blood donations, “help people from all ages,” and that, “every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.”

Dr. Robert DeSimone, the director of transfusion medicine at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornel medical center states, “One blood donation can save up to three lives.”

Donating blood doesn’t just help others.  People donating blood reap the benefits as well, according to DeSimone.

Benefits of Donating Blood

-Free mini-physical that can detect a medical condition that needs to be checked.  It also screens for infectious diseases someone may not know they have.

-Regular blood donation is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attack. [you really need a source for this] 

-Mental well-being: Makes you feel good knowing you are helping others and volunteering is linked to positive health outcomes.