Frequently
Asked Questions
*
Is it safe to donate blood?
Absolutely! A clean, sterile needle is used only once - for you!
- and then properly discarded. The
donation process...
* How much can my donation possibly help?
You could be saving or enriching the lives of three hospital patients
with your single donation. Most donations are separated into components.
That means your plasma could help a burn victim in shock; your
platelets, a clotting factor, might be given to a child with leukemia;
and someone undergoing hip replacement surgery may receive your
red blood cells.
*
Why not wait until someone I know needs my blood?
There isn't time to give blood and have it given directly to someone
in an emergency. Blood must be processed, tested and transported
to the hospital before it is transfused. In an emergency, blood
has to be already on the shelves ready to go. If everyone waited
to donate, there would be no blood for trauma victims or other
hospital patients needing an immediate transfusion. What
happens to your blood after you donate...
*
Will it hurt?
No, not really. Try this: Give the inside of your elbow a quick
but hard pinch. That's about as much pain as you will feel when
you donate blood. The donation process...
*
I'm Type O-positive, the most common blood type, so you don't
need me, right?
Wrong! There is a constant need by hospital patients for Type
O-positive blood. Nearly half of the population has this blood
type. This means your blood type is in constant demand. About
blood types...
*
Why are platelet donations needed?
Different parts of your blood offer specific benefits to patients.
Patients needing a blood transfusion do not necessarily need all
components of whole blood. Children and adults with cancer and
leukemia need platelets after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Bone marrow and organ transplant patients also rely on platelets.
Many patients need daily platelet transfusions and could suffer
life-threatening hemorrhages without them. With new treatments
and procedures, the demand for platelets has grown dramatically.
Giving platelets...
*
How long does it take to give whole blood or platelets?
Giving whole blood takes about an hour, which includes registering,
medical history, health screening and the blood donation. The
blood donation itself only takes about six minutes. (More...)
Giving platelets requires advanced equipment and, currently, can
only be donated at the Tulsa, Dallas, Wichita Falls or Waco blood center. This special donation
takes about two hours, which includes registration, medical history,
health screening and the platelet donation. (More...)
We
want to hear your question! Please contact
us. We will respond in a timely manner.
