Be a Volunteer Blood Donor

Being a blood donor is often something people don't think of until they or someone they love need it. Right now somewhere in your state, perhaps even your town, someone is being saved with a blood donation. Not just accidents but surgery blood diseases, poisoning and burns are just a few situations that may call for blood.

January is volunteer blood donor month and it brings up the importance of those who donate blood. After a car accident or farming accident is too late to say "I should give back." The person undergoing open heart surgery needs about six units of blood.

For this reason it's important to consider "what if" now. Knowing your blood type and other details is important from a donor and recipient standpoint.

Blood types are important as incompatible blood types can result in serious health issues. Blood groups are put in two types for classification - the ABO group and an Rh group. The ABO has four classifications - A, B, O and AB. The Rh group is known as Rh-positive or Rh-negative.

This means that generally your blood type is categorized as, for example A+ or B- or O+. Each ABO classification is paired with the Rh factor. The donor and recipient must match - for example someone who is O can only take blood from an O donor, never from A or B. Equally a type A blood can't receive B blood. Moreover the positive and negative must never be mixed.

Incompatible blood types quickly can result in shivering nausea, vomiting, shock, increase in respiration and pulse and falling blood pressure. Shock and death can follow. This shows the importance of having every blood type available in case it's needed.

Technology allows much better processing of blood. Blood can be stored up to 35 days and demand is high enough it is normally used before expiring but the need is ongoing. Blood can also be processed to separate plasma which can be stored for longer. Platelets can also be stored.

Generally if there is a compatible family donor a blood donation can be done on the spot but an individual can only donate so much. Voluntary blood donations insure that there is enough blood stored to meet the need.

Anyone between 18-60 can donate as long as a minimum weight and hemoglobin content. Eat normally and drink plenty of fluids before donating. The blood donated does not result in health issues but after donating the donor should take it easy for a half hour or so until the blood volume replaces itself in the body.

Many don't realize that dogs can also be a blood donor, helping those dogs that at one time would die because of blood loss. Greyhounds are said to be universal donors. For much of the same reasons humans need blood so do dogs. Modern veterinary medicine makes it possible to save many who, like their human counterparts, would have been lost not so many years ago.

Being a voluntary blood donor is among the most selfless of ways to "pay it forward" and help someone anonymously. You never know if the blood you donate will help a loved one, return a soldier home to their family, make possible a police officer's recovery or save a child battling a blood disorder.

Consider being a blood donor this year. It's truly a way to give life without taking anything from you that isn't replaced.