80% of the population will need blood or blood products at some stage in their lives. That means that someone Close to you (or even yourself) at some stage may rely on blood and blood products for survival.
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You will be someone’s hero- you may help a newborn, a child, a mother, an accident victim or someone with cancer get another chance at life.
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It feels great to donate!
What Happens When You Give Blood
I want to give blood, what do I do?
First of all, Contract Nepal Red Cross Society, Blood Bank, Kathmandu to make an appointment. When you visit Blood Bank, one of our friendly staff will also ask you a few pre-screening questions to evaluate whether you meet the main criteria to give blood. Your ultimate eligibility is determined on donation day.
The Medical Questionnaire has to be completed prior to each donation. It covers health, lifestyle and medical questions used to assess your eligibility to donate, and to ensure the donation is safe for both you and for recipients. All information provided is strictly confidential.
Donation Day
The Blood Service wants you to have a safe and pleasant experience when donating blood. Please ensure that you drink plenty of fluids (at least four glasses) in the hours leading up to your donation and that you eat something healthy and substantial beforehand.
Arrival at the donor centre
When you arrive you will have to show some proof of identification. Once you are registered you will be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire. Remember, if you are 16 or 17 years of age you must have parental consent (except in Tasmania and the Northern Territory where you are required to be 18 years of age).
Health check
After you have completed the medical questionnaire, you will have the opportunity to discuss it in greater detail with one of our nurses during a confidential interview. The nurse will also check your hemoglobin (iron level) and blood pressure to ensure that you are in a healthy state when you give blood.
Blood donation
The donation generally takes between 8 and 12 minutes and you usually donate 470 ml of blood. Oh yes, the needle. It really is no big deal - pinch the inside of your elbow to feel what it is like.
After the donation
Relax and enjoy the refreshments on offer and remember to take it easy for the next 24 hours. Drink lots of fluid and your blood will be fully restored after 48 hours.
It is recommended that donors avoid vigorous use of their arm for a few hours after donating. Additionally, alcohol should be avoided for at least eight hours.
Many donors have a feeling of accomplishment and self -satisfaction after the donation. We’re proud of you too. With every donation you can save up to three lives or contribute to 15 different forms of life saving or life improving blood products.
Click here for more information on donor well being.
How long does the whole donation process take?
Differing from centre to centre the whole process from entering until leaving, allowing sufficient time for relaxation will take between 45 to 90 minutes. So it is best to allow 90 minutes for your first donation and you will see from there.
The benefits of giving blood
Giving blood is a great thing to do. By making a blood donation, you are not only helping save the lives of people you will never meet; you’re also doing yourself a good turn.
A regular check-up Each time you make a donation, we check your blood pressure and hemoglobin (an indication of your iron level). This is an easy way to keep track of your health as any changes to your blood pressure or hemoglobin are picked up during our screening process. Blood Bank staff (Doctor, Nurse) can advise you about changes you can make to your diet or refer you on to a medical practitioner to have any changes checked out in greater detail.
Looking after your heart Some studies have shown that regular blood donation can help prevent the build-up of iron in the body over time, reducing the strain this places on major organs including the heart. The benefits are thought to be most pronounced in middle-aged men and amongst people prone to haemachromotosis. We also think that regular acts of kindness, like giving blood, are good for anyone’s heart.
A donation you can afford Many of us like to feel part of the community and contribute to charities whenever we can. It’s not always possible to give money, even when the need is great. One way you can really make a difference to your community without going to great expense is to give blood!
