Becoming a Blood Donor
You need to know two essential facts about being a blood donor:
- It is an important and desperately needed thing to do.
- It doesn’t hurt.
Around three million blood donations are required in the UK every year – but only five percent of the British population are registered donors.
There are normally enough annual donations to keep pace with demand, though occasions do arise when stocks of blood fall below the optimum level.
By giving blood you will not only help keep up stocks that are an essential part of our healthcare system, but in fact you may also be less likely to suffer from heart disease yourself. Medical researchers believe that the loss of iron associated with blood donation could lead to a lower chance of cardiac arrests, artery damage and related serious complaints.
The National Blood Service (NBS) is reliant on regular donors who can give blood up to three times in every 12 months. To be able to register as a donor, you must be aged between 17 and 65, weigh more than 50 kilogrammes and be in good health.
There are also several other restrictions on people who:
- Have had a tattoo or piercing in the previous six months.
- Have been to a malaria-prevalent country in the previous two years.
- Suffer from high blood pressure.
- Have received a blood transfusion - or think they may have received one - since January 1980.
- The nurse at your local donation session will be able to give you the full list.
Making a donation should take no more than ten or 15 minutes, though your first session might be longer if you need to complete a registration form. (You can speed up this process by registering online. See below.)
The first step is to check for anaemia. A few drops of blood will be taken from a prick in your finger, and if you pass the test you will be able to donate one unit of blood. That’s 450ml (just under a pint) or ten to 12 percent of your body’s total blood supply.
The process of giving blood is almost painless. You will feel a brief sharp, scratchy sensation as a sterile needle is inserted in a vein on the inside of your elbow. Then all you have to do is lie back for about five minutes while the blood collects in a special bag.
A small proportion of people experience dizziness and lightheadedness after giving blood. To reduce the chances of this, make sure you eat within at least a few hours before your session, lie still for a few minutes after making your donation, and partake of the refreshments provided free of charge.
You will be able to make your next donation about 16 weeks later, once your body has replaced the missing blood. The NBS should let you know when they want you for another session – or you can call the service on 0845 7711 711.
The NBS has a number of websites for different parts of the UK
- England and north Wales: http://www.blood.co.uk
- Rest of Wales: http://www.welsh-blood.org.uk
- Scotland: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scotblood/
- Northern Ireland: http://www.nibts.org
Each site allows you to registers as a donor and find out where and when your next local donation session is being held. There are permanent blood donation centres in most cities, as well as many active units that make regular visits to locations all around the country.
