Give the Gift of Life with a Blood Donation
Chances are you’ve seen countless blood drives advertised in your community or even in your office — but how many times have you signed up to donate? A steady supply of blood can be easily taken for granted, but for those suffering from illnesses and grievous injuries that deplete their bodies’ blood supply, donations from peers can be lifesaving. This National Blood Donor Month, learn about the different types of blood donations and how this selfless act can positively impact the lives of others.
About Blood Donations
According to the American Red Cross, about 6.8 million Americans give blood each year, equal to about 13.6 million units of whole blood. These donations can come in many different forms, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Types of blood donations may include:
- Whole blood donation — The most common type, whole blood donations collect blood either for transfusions or to be separated into three separate parts later.
- Platelet donation — Platelets are cells in the blood that allow it to clot when an injury occurs. They’re collected by separating the blood using an apheresis machine, while the remaining parts — plasma and red blood cells — are returned to the body.
- Double red blood cell donation — As the name suggests, this process collects double the amount of red blood cells than a typical whole blood donation. Like platelet donations, red blood cells are separated through an apheresis machine while the remaining parts — in this case, plasma and platelets — are returned to the body.
- Plasma donation — Plasma is the liquid component of blood consisting of proteins and water. Using a centrifuge or a plasmapheresis machine, plasma is separated from whole blood while platelets and red blood cells are returned to the body.
How Donations Help Patients
Giving blood is giving life. Donations collected through blood drives provide an ample supply for local hospitals and medical centers to perform transfusions, which can treat many different illnesses and injuries. Circumstances requiring a transfusion can include:
- Cancer — Internal bleeding, unhealthy blood cell development in the bone marrow, and anemia caused by cancer can all be treated with a transfusion, as can side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatment and surgery.
- Injury and trauma — One of the most common causes for a blood transfusion, some injuries may require a transfusion to replenish the amount of blood lost, depending on the severity.
- Operation — Like injuries and trauma, patients undergoing surgery may also lose large amounts of blood, necessitating a transfusion to replenish the body’s supply.
- Anemia — One of the most common blood disorders in the world, anemia can be treated with a transfusion of red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anemia may also be treated through transfusions.
- Bleeding disorder — Conditions like hemophilia and sickle cell anemia that prevent the body from properly clotting a wound can be treated with a transfusion of platelets or red blood cells.
- Childbirth — Sometimes childbirth can cause a great amount of blood loss — even more so if an episiotomy is required. As in the case of a traumatic injury, a transfusion can replenish the body’s blood supply.