All you need to know about donating blood
My Weekly’s favourite GP Dr Sarah Jarvis from TV and radio writes for you
We don’t live in a war zone, thank goodness, but people still need blood and blood products every day. Whether it’s a transfusion for those who’ve had an accident or lost blood through childbirth or surgery, platelets for people with life-threatening clotting problems, or plasma (blood proteins) for people with conditions like liver disease, your donation saves lives. The NHS needs over 6,000 blood donations every day, from a wide variety of people – could you help?
We need new donors all the time – each year, over 150,000 new donors are needed. That’s to replace people who are no longer eligible, and to make sure there’s a wide enough variety. People need to be given blood of the correct group, and we always need more donations from people from black and minority ethnic groups.
Most people can give blood if they are fit and healthy, weigh more than 50kg (7 stone 12lb) and less than 160kg (25 stone), are aged 17-65 (or 70 if you’ve donated blood before). You can donate blood if you’re over 70, as long as you’ve donated in the last two years.
If you have ever had any medical problems, it’s worth checking the easy online questionnaire at my.blood.co.uk/Check. Here are some of the common queries I get from patients:
Blood transfusion: If you’ve had a blood transfusion since January 1, 1980, you’re not eligible to give blood. This is because of the tiny risk of passing on a condition called CJD (known as “mad cow” disease).
Dental treatment: If you’ve been to the dentist, you may need to put off giving blood. You can donate any time from 1 day after fillings and descaling, a week after root canal, crowns or tooth removal. The exception is if you’ve had any infection.
Diabetes: If you’re on insulin (everyone with type 1 and a few with type 2) you can’t donate. The same is true if you have kidney problems, ulcers or circulation problems due to diabetes. However, if you have type 2 diabetes without these complications, you can give blood as long as you’re feeling well and have been on the same treatment for over a month.
‘‘ WITH 23 FIXED AND 50 MOBILE UNITS ACROSS ENGLAND ALONE, IT’S EASY TO FIND A CENTRE TO GIVE BLOOD ’’
Heart conditions: If you have high blood pressure, you can donate as long as you’re not on treatment, or you’ve been on the same medication for at least a month. People who’ve had a heart attack or heart failure can’t give blood. You can’t give blood if you have abnormal heart rhythms and get dizzy or breathless, or are on medication to control your heart rhythm.
Infections: If you have had any sort of bacterial infection, you need to have been off antibiotics for at least a week and fully recovered for 2 weeks. If you have a cough or cold, you should wait until you’re completely recovered before you donate.
Tattoos and piercings: you need to wait 4 months after a tattoo or piercing, including ear piercing, before giving blood.
Giving blood is easy. When you attend, you’ll start with a health assessment by a nurse, to check you’re fit to give blood. You’ll also have a fingertip blood test to check you’re not anaemic. If the test if borderline, you’ll have a normal blood test, taking a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm.
Once given the all clear, you’ll sit in a comfortable chair and blood pressure cuff put on your arm. This is to increase the pressure in your veins slightly, making it easier to insert the needle and draw blood. The process of taking blood lasts only 5-10 minutes, with drinks and a snack waiting for you at the end. You should relax for at least 15 minutes, and have at least two drinks, before you leave. NEXT WEEK: Is a tremor serious?