Page 8 - June 2018 Healthbeat

A-POSITIVE
IMPACT
Tips for new or experienced blood donors
Unlike other marvels of modern medicine, quality blood is an important health component that cannot be created synthetically. Blood shortages continue to plague medical establishments around the globe.
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
EMILY PARTRIDGE/ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Top: Lindsay Chavis prepares a blood machine to draw platelets from Tony Calkins, from Conway, at the Arkansas Blood Institute in Little Rock. The Arkansas Blood Institute in is now handling all blood donations in central Arkansas instead of the American Red Cross. Bottom: Penny Pippins, left, and Jamye Johnson situate the needle for Cody Graves at the Arkansas Blood Institute in Little Rock.
Blood Institute said people should avoid performing any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for the rest of the day after donating blood. It’s also advisable to drink an extra four glasses of liquids and avoid alcohol during the day following a donation.
Donors often receive rewards such as T-shirts for giv- ing blood, but this summer offers a special type of treat. “June 1 began the first day of our promotion with Magic Springs, and everyone who comes in to donate gets a free day pass [to the theme park] and a trendy T-shirt,” Nieuwenhof said. This promotion will end on
June 30.
Donating blood can save lives and doing so reassures
donors that they’re doing their part to help others. For more information on donating blood, visit www.arkbi. org or www.redcrossblood.org.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Emily Partridge, special sections writer
8
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018 // HEALTHBEAT // ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
For those who require transfusions, blood from volunteer donors can be the difference between life and death. However, many people are apprehensive about donating blood because of their own unique fears of the unknown or from past experiences with the process. With a little knowledge and some preparation, donating blood can be made much easier.
CONFIRMING DONORS’ HEALTH
One of the first steps to donating blood is to determine donors’ eligibility. Potential donors undergo a mini physical and are asked various questions to determine their eligibility to give blood. The presence of certain illnesses or other disqualifications helps ensure that the blood will be healthy and that the blood drawn will not have a negative effect on the donor.
The Arkansas Blood Institute’s website states that potential donors will undergo a pin prick on the finger to test for iron levels in their blood. This is to ensure that donors will not be made anemic by giving blood.
Frequency of donation, weight and age will also be considered before prospective donors are allowed to donate blood. Many organizations urge prospective donors to avoid giving blood if they have had simple dental work done within 24 hours or major dental work in the past month. Dental work in general can dislodge bacteria, which can get into the blood stream and cause systemic infection.
PREPARING TO DONATE
Potential donors are urged to eat a healthy diet full of iron-rich foods, including red meat and green vegetables, said Paulette Nieuwenhof, executive director of the Arkansas Blood Institute, adding that
properly hydrating plays a large role in a successful donation experience.
“When I go to donate blood and my iron is too low, the culprit is often sweet tea,” she said. “The tea tends to decrease iron, so I try to avoid tea when I know I’m going in to donate.”
It is advisable to drink an extra 16 ounces of water or other nonalcoholic fluid prior to donating blood. A healthy, low-fat meal prior to donating is also recommended, as fatty foods can adversely affect blood tests that check for infectious diseases, and the blood may not be used as a result.
NEEDLES ARE NO BIG DEAL
Dr. Justin Kreuter, medical director of the Mayo Clin- ic Blood Donor Center in Rochester, Minnesota, said that while the needles used to collect blood are slightly larger than those used for immunizations at the doc- tor’s office, the needles have silicone on them to make the process of donating more comfortable for donors.
DONATION DURATION
Donating blood does not take a long time. It may take 15 to 20 minutes for donation-center workers to extract one’s blood. Donating plasma or platelets may require more time. Allocate at least an hour to undergo the medical exam and to rest after the donation. Don- ors are asked to make a fist and squeeze to increase blood circulation.
POST-DONATION
Donors are urged to rest for a few minutes after giving blood and to enjoy the snacks and beverages that are offered. The Red Cross and the Arkansas