ORGANS

To donate blood you simply visit the Red Cross blood bank in your particular city or contact the Red Cross by phone.

Before you donate blood, you will be asked to fill in a medical questionnaire and sign a safety declaration. There are certain blood borne diseases which can make your blood unsuitable for blood transfusions and you will be asked if you have suffered from any of these diseases.

All donors must sign a declaration at each donation indicating that they are not members of a high risk group. These high risk groups include homosexuals and bisexuals, users of intravenous drugs, sexual partners of both of these groups, any person who has received a blood transfusion in the five years prior to May 1985. All donated blood is tested by the Red Cross for evidence of AIDS infection and hepatitis B. Blood which tests positive is discarded.

You cannot catch AIDS or hepatitis by donating blood; all equipment is sterile with disposable needles and collection packs.

Before you donate your blood you will be checked for anaemia and your blood pressure reading will also be taken to ensure that your donation will not injure your health in any way.

Giving blood is a safe procedure. Local anaesthetic is available on request for the initial needle insertion. the procedure takes 5 to 7 minutes and is quite painless. Afterwards you will be given a drink and something to eat. You will be informed of your blood group 3 to 4 weeks after your first donation and you can donate blood safely every 3 months.

Donating blood for yourself is called autologous donation. If you are planning to undergo elective surgery, you can ask your doctor about banking your own blood for transfusion. Blood can be stored for up to 35 days under refrigeration and the Red Cross blood bank will collect and screen your blood free of charge.

To make arrangements to donate blood for yourself, your doctor must complete a “Request for Autologous” donation form which should be presented at your first visit to the Red Cross blood bank.

Some patients, fearful of blood from the community supply ask to receive blood from family members or friends. Such directed donations can now be made by persons who are already regular donors to the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. However, this is not encouraged as recent studies have shown that blood from volunteer donors is just as safe as blood from directed donors.