Giving Blood

Giving Blood

Process Essay

Every hospital needs large supplies of blood for transfusions. It is given by donors.

Before giving blood, the donor is given tests to determine his blood type and make sure he is not suffering from certain diseases, such as AIDS, Hepatitis, strokes, cancer, etc. The new age limit, for the donor, as of March 30, 2005 is sixteen. The required weight, for the domor, is one hundred and ten pounds. When his/her testing has been done, and he/her has passed the requirements, his blood can be taken.

First, he lies down with his arm on a pillow. Next, the nurse puts the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around his upper arm, and inflates it to compress the veins. At this stage she cleans his skin with rubbing alcohol and inserts the needle into a vein. As she does this, the blood begins to flow into a vile until it is full, approximatly one pint. Meanwhile, the donor opens and closes his hand to increase the flow.

As soon as the vile is full, the nurse takes off the sphygmomanometer and withdraws the needle. The donor is given juice, cookies, or crackers, to bring his/her blood sugar level up to the normal level. The donor is asked to rest, and not lift heave objects for at least twenty-four hours. Finally, she puts a dressing on the donor's arm. The blood is immediately labeled and refrigerated.

Blood can only be taken from a donor as often as eight weeks.

It is a priveledge to be able to donate blood and help people in need.