WHAT
DO YOU REQUIRE TO BECOME A BLOOD DONOR?
-
Health:
the donor must be in good general health and body weight must not be
less than 50kg
-
Age:
if you are between 16-60 yrs and in good health you can donate blood
-
Sex:
both men and women can become blood donors
-
Resident:
you must have been in Seychelles for at least four months prior
to donation
WHAT
ARE THE PROCEDURES?
1.
REGISTRATION: At your first
appointment you will be registered. Personal information such as name,
age, work address and residential address will be needed for reference
purposes. All the information given is confidential.
2.
SCREENING:
You will be asked some questions about your medical history and lifestyle
and any procedures or treatment you are undergoing. Your weight and blood
pressure will be checked to ensure that you are well and able to donate
blood. Counseling will also be available during that period, feel free to
ask the nurse any questions you may have.
3.
BLOOD
TESTING: A sample of your blood
is taken from a vein in the arm and tested for your haemoglobin level.
Haemoglobin is a blood component that helps t carry oxygen around the
body. The test determines whether your level of haemoglobin is adequate
for you to safely give blood.
4.
DONATING
BLOOD: A trained nurse
will explain the procedure. The donor is then asked to lie on a couch and
a small area on the arm is cleaned. A new, sterilized needle is
used to remove approximately half a litre or 450ml of blood. The
needle is used once then thrown away. There is no risk of contracting the
HIV/AIDS virus or any other diseases through donating blood.
5.
REFRESHMENTS:
After donating blood the blood donor relaxes on the couch for a while. The
donor is then offered some refreshment, either tea, coffee, juice, brandy
or guiness. The whole process of donating blood
may take less than one hour. You will be given a certificate for one day
leave from work if needed. You will also be refunded any bus fares
incurred when donating blood.
WHAT
HAPPENS TO YOUR BLOOD?
Your
blood is tested for the following infections that may be found in the
blood:
·
HIV: the
virus responsible for the condition known as AIDS. The test result is
confidential and is identified by a number not your name.
·
SYPHILIS:
a disease usually transmitted during sexual intercourse.
·
HEPATITIS:
a disease affecting the liver caused by viruses.
·
HTLV-1:
this is a form of retrovirus (a type of virus), which has been
associated with a rare form of leukemia
and an unusual form of paralysis.
RESULTS
Depending
on the tests being done you could get the results within a period of one
week. If
any of your tests are positive, you will be offered counseling and medical
care at the Communicable Disease Control Unit (CDCU).
REPEAT
DONATIONS
If
your blood is suitable you will be asked to become a regular blood donor.
You can donate blood every three months if you are a man and every four
months if you are a woman. You can arrange for your next appointment with
the nurse at the BLOOD Transfusion Center.
ARE
THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
None,
but a few people may experience faintness because of anxiety about blood
donation or other psychological factors.
THE
ADVANTAGES BEING A BLOOD DONOR
·
Each
time you give blood your bone marrow is stimulated to produce new red
blood
cells. This will make your blood forming organ function more effectively.
·
You also get to know your blood group
·
After the donation you will walk away feeling satisfied with
yourself, knowing you
have contributed to someonelse’s health and happiness
REASONS
WHY YOU CANNOT GIVE BLOOD
-
You
cannot give blood if you have any of the following because it may put
your health or the person receiving your blood at risk:
-
Low
Haemoglobin level- the level of your haemoglobin must be acceptable
for you to be able to give blood ( Hb 13 for men, Hb 12 for women)
-
Medical
conditions: such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problem,
jaundice, hepatitis, HIV or AIDS and Malaria
-
Pregnancy:
women are ineligible to give blood during pregnancy and for 12 months
following delivery
-
Surgical
operation: prospective donors should not give blood within six months
after a major operation
-
Lifestyle
factors; you cannot give blood if you have had multiple sex partners,
are using drugs intravenously or recently traveled
NOTE:
You
will be delayed from donating blood if:
-
You
have had a vaccine. Depending on the type of vaccine received you may
be delayed form giving blood for four weeks
-
You
are under medical supervision
-
You
are taking certain treatments
BE
A LIFE SAVER GIVE
BLOOD TO RECEIVE BLOOD!
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