Did you know that more than 4.5 MILLION patients in the U.S. and Canada need a blood transfusion each year? Neither did I until I started researching about donating blood. It amazes me that only five percent of people that are able to give blood actually do it. Now that I have your attention, it’s time to tell you what you can expect to be reading in the following paragraphs. First, I will explain all the risks associated with donating blood. Second, I will tell you how donating your blood may save an individual who may have died if you didn’t. Third, I will tell you what you can expect to happen when you walk into a blood bank and ask if you can donate. Lastly, I will explain most (too many for me to name ALL) of the benefits that you receive while, and after donating blood. Start reading.

          Let me be the first one to say that there ARE some minor risks included with donating blood. Although they are mostly minor, rare occasions do happen where further hospitalization is required. Two minor risks in donating blood are that one may bruise or faint for a few seconds. Two more minor risks in donating blood is that one may get a cold feeling in their arm when red blood cells are being returned, or if the cell separator machine fails, the patient would remain unharmed because the machines are fail-safe and the most blood that you would lose in this unfortunate event is about half of a pint, and because of this you may have to wait two full months before donating again. One last risk that everyone should know about donating blood is that when an anticoagulant is put into the machine and a little is released into one’s own red blood cells, one may get “a tingling sensation around the mouth and fingers, or a metallic taste or feeling of vibration.”(The National Blood Service) To me, the last one mentioned would be my least favorite.

          Let’s just say Bob got burned in a house fire and is losing blood at a constant rate.  The ambulance shows up and takes Bob to the hospital.  The doctors are looking for blood for a transfusion to be made.  They can’t find any blood ANYWHERE.  When at last, they find a pint that they need to save him, and it has the name of (your name here) on it.  Now, wouldn’t that feel good to know that you may have saved someone’s life?  Of course it would.  That is just one scenario in which a patient would need blood that may have been donated by someone like you.  Other situations in which patients need blood transfusions include cancer patients, burn victims, heart transplant patients, Sickle cell disease patients, and a variety of other transplants and rare blood diseases and cancers. “Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.” (“56 facts about blood and blood donation”)

Someone’s blood donation is all that is needed to enhance or save the lives of up to three others.  Blood is always a constant need because an estimated amount of 43,000 units of blood are used daily in the U.S. and Canada alone. “Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.”(“56 facts about blood and blood donation”). The time when blood is needed the most (statistically) is during the summer and winter holidays because shortages of all blood types occur. One more little tidbit of information is that over 500,000 people donated blood after the 9-11 attacks on the twin towers.

          When someone walks into a blood bank or goes to a blood drive, they may be wondering what is going to happen. The first thing that happens is whoever happens to be sitting at the front desk is going to ask for your driver’s license or birth certificate as a form of identification. Once that is cleared, one must proceed and fill out a questionnaire that is about 50 questions related to your health. After they are done with the questionnaire, they get somewhat of a mini-physical to make sure you are an eligible candidate for donating blood. A few things they do is check your blood pressure, pulse, iron level, and plasma count of your blood. Next is the fun part, the NEEDLE. The needle is shaped almost exactly like a straw you would get from a Capri-Sun juice box thing, what with the needle  being pointy and round. Before the blood doctor person inserts the needle, they find the vein and scrub the area for approximately thirty seconds. Once this is done, they tell you you should look away now if you want, but in my opinion, it’s pretty cool to watch. Once the needle (which is attached by a tube to a plastic bag into which your blood flows) is inserted, blood starts being extracted and you can watch it travel through the tube into the bag. After about ten to fifteen minutes, the bag SHOULD be full and it should be about time for you to go. The blood doctor person asks you to look away again as they take the needle out. Once it is released, they wrap a bandage around your arm, and you are welcome to refreshments. Once you are done you are free to leave and are encouraged to eat a good supper and drink extra liquids (non-alcoholic).

          The most obvious benefit (I would like to hope so) of donating blood is the feeling you get from knowing that you are helping someone other than yourself. One benefit you receive right after you give blood (on some occasions) is that you get to pick what color of bandage you want on your arm! Another benefit you receive after giving blood is the knowledge that you will be able to help up to three more people only fifty-six days later! One last benefit which you receive from donating blood is a possible phone call that could be life saving, regarding your health, that is found out by the doctors that test your blood for diseases.

          In conclusion, the thing that I hope people get the most out of reading my research paper is that giving blood isn’t about them, it’s about the people that need it, and that is something that they should be very proud of. Now you know the risks associated with donating blood, how donating your blood may save an individual who may have died if you didn’t, what you can expect to happen when you walk into a blood bank and ask if you can donate, and most of the benefits that you receive while, and after donating blood.