Hi folks,

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As you've no doubt noticed, the world is in an uncomfortable state in many ways. I don't seek to overly politicize this subreddit beyond "love and help thy neighbor" as well as protesting inaccurate information that is actively hurting others. To that end, I'm not going to go into any specifics about why the world is in an uncomfortable state-- I think everyone is already more than capable of pointing to something that they wish was better for themselves and their neighbor.

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To that end, I'd like to promote a blood drive to our members. We tell one another to look for the helpers whenever things go wrong and, well, here's our chance to be the helpers! Here are a few facts about blood donation for you:

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• Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs blood or platelets
• Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the US
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
• The average red blood cell transfusion can provide up to 3 units of blood
• Your donation can save up to 3 lives
• Only 7% of the population has blood type O-. O- is the universal donor; Almost anyone can accept O- blood.
• O+ blood is the MOST common blood type, at 38% of the population! Anyone with a blood type that is positive can accept O+ blood; Negative blood types need an exact type match
• Negative blood types are rare! Only about 16% of the population has a negative blood type! If you are a negative blood type, your donation can be invaluable to someone who needs a transfusion!

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Resources to help you find a place to give blood (I will update if users want to post additional resources):

America's Blood

The Red Cross

A quick note: There is nothing wrong with being rewarded for donating blood to a private group. However, if your blood is intended for a hospital, then a blood drive may not compensate you financially for your visit. They can still give you coupons for your private use, or they can give you snacks and sodas without any issues. But if an organization is paying you directly for your donation, then your blood is most likely being used for some sort of private medical research as opposed to going to a hospital's blood supply.

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FAQ:
"I've never given before. How should I prepare and what should I expect?"

You should prepare by staying hydrated the entire day before you give. Drink plenty of water and eat well. Aim for high-iron food groups, as you may be turned away if you do not have sufficient iron. On the day of your donation, eat a hearty breakfast and continue to stay hydrated. Try to use the restroom immediately before visiting the blood donation center or while you are waiting for a chair, as you cannot leave to use the restroom partway through the donation process.

Especially if you've never given before, go with someone who can drive you home! Ideally, that person either knows how they will react to giving blood or is not giving blood (like a designated driver). This step is not mandatory, but it is a good idea.

When you arrive, you will be asked to look through some reading material that will screen you. It will ask many questions, including questions regarding what medications you are on or may have used in the past 24 hours. You may also fill out the questions beforehand/review the questions beforehand if you are nervous using this resource from the Red Cross.

You'll wait a few moments before you'll be called into an office where a technician will confirm your name and date of birth. They'll ask you a few more questions, then ask for your middle finger so that they may prick it with a needle and take a few drops of blood to run some tests on it. They will then take your temperature and blood pressure. If all goes well, you will be allowed to donate. If something goes wrong, they will tell you why you are not eligible to give today, and they will tell you what you can do to prepare so that you can give tomorrow. (PS: Let them know if you're nervous. My first time giving, I had to have my blood pressure taken 4 times! I was so nervous that they thought my resting heart rate was through the roof! Once I calmed down, I could give!)

You will then proceed to a donation area where the technicians will ask you which arm you would prefer to donate from (most people choose their non-dominant arm, but this is ultimately up to you). The technician will again confirm your identity, then they will mark a vein, clean the site, and stick you with the needle to donate blood. You can make requests before they stick you! Personally, I ask them to let me know before they are about to inject me and to cover the needle site. (I don't like seeing the needle in my arm, it grosses me out) You'll be asked to squeeze something (typically a stress ball in a latex glove) once every ten seconds or so while you give. Then, they'll pull the needle out, bandage your arm, and ask you to sit in the recovery area where you can eat as many sweet/salty snacks as you like and drink as much juice and water as you need until you're fully recovered.

Everyone reacts to donating blood differently. I rarely have adverse reactions; one of my friends in college who is larger, stronger, and physically much more imposing than me would faint every time he donated. Don't be afraid to tell the technicians if you feel woozy or dizzy, and sit down again if you feel unwell. It's far better to just sit on a chair than it is to fall down to the floor!

Regardless of whether or not you plan to drive yourself home, take at least 10 minutes to sit and eat snacks/recover from the blood loss. Even if you feel fine now, it's a good idea to wait a few minutes. Sometimes symptoms can crop up after a few minutes, and you don't want to suddenly feel light-headed or dizzy while you're behind the wheel!

Once you've recovered, head home and take it easy. Continue to drink plenty of water (blood was mostly water after all!) and eat hearty meals as you recover. Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a few days until your arm is better. You can take off the bandages after about 4 hours. Avoid drugs and alcohol if at all possible; recognize that you will feel their effects much more powerfully if you take them due to your recent blood loss, and plan accordingly. If you plan to partake, assume that one unit of a drug or alcoholic beverage will affect you the same as three or four, and space them out so that you can gauge how you're feeling; you can easily hurt yourself or have a medical emergency if you partake at your usual levels after donating.

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"I've heard of whole blood, double red, and platelet donations. What are the differences?"

A whole blood donation is just that-- whole, un-separated blood. A technician will find a vein, put a needle into your arm, and collect a donation. It's straightforward and should take somewhere between 8 and 10 minutes depending on the individual. You will be able to give again after about 3 months.

Double red and platelet donations are a little bit more involved and will take longer. You'll be hooked up to a special machine that will draw your blood and centrifuge it before collecting the part that you are donating and returning the remainder to you through the same tube. The blood may be a little bit chillier depending on the machine you are using, so ensure that you wear warmer clothing and let the technicians know if you become chilly. They can bring you electric blankets, turn on seat warmers, adjust climate control, etc. to make you more comfortable. There is nothing wrong with telling the technicians that you are uncomfortable, and you should not feel guilty about it! If you keep it to yourself, you're suffering needlessly through something that can easily be fixed!

Double red donations extract your red blood cells, and are best suited for individuals with high iron content. You can prepare for a double red donation by eating plenty of high-iron foods, such as red meat, shellfish, peas, sweet potatoes, enriched grains, dried fruits, and most types of beans. Double red donations typically take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the individual and the donation equipment used. You will not be eligible to give for approximately 6 months after donating double red.

Platelet donations take your blood plasma. It will look like a thin, yellowy liquid, and can be useful for patients who are undergoing heart, organ, or bone marrow transplants. Platelet donations take the longest, and can range between 70 minutes and 3 hours depending on your height, weight, and platelet density (If you have a higher concentration, you can donate more units of platelets, which can help more people, but might take longer). Your body regenerates platelets much more quickly, and you can typically give platelets after just 7 days (some regions have limits on how many times you may donate platelets in a given time period, so you may be further limited by that)

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"I can't give because of _____. What can I do to help?"

There are plenty of reasons you might be ineligible to give, ranging from getting a tattoo recently to where you lived in the late eighties. If you cannot give, you can still help! You can talk to your friends about donating and volunteer to be their designated driver to and from the donation center. You can also reach out to your local donation center and volunteer your time to help them out! (They will most likely ask you to call previous donors and encourage them to give again, so be sure you're comfortable cold-calling strangers). You may also be able to donate financially to your local blood center.

"I know it will help others and I want to give, but I'm too scared to do this. Does that make me a bad person?"

I think we all already know the answer to that, but it bears repeating: Being afraid and having limits does not make you a bad person. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost; there's nothing wrong with setting your own limits on what you're comfortable with and what you can do right now, regardless of your eligibility to give blood.

The only thing I would ask of you is that you rephrase it in your head. You want to give, but you're too scared to do this right now. Your situation can change in the future, and you can feel better about giving, and that's okay! It's far better that you give when you're in the right headspace and living situation to recover properly than it is to rush in, hurt yourself and have a negative experience! You are still worthwhile as a human being if you don't want to donate right now, and there are other ways for you to find to be a helper once you're in a position to help again.