Giving the Gift Only You Can Give


by Officer Phil Konstantin, I.D. 11643


Through one simple act, you can save somebody's life without risking 
your own, help victims of natural disasters and violent crimes,
provide a form of insurance for yourself and your family, get an
amazing number of services for absolutely no cost, and be treated
like royalty the whole time. You can do all of this just by donating
blood.

Giving blood is rewarding, risk-free and very simple. Following is
the course the average blood donor travels. I've traveled it many times.

It was a Thursday morning when I walked into the offices of the San
Diego Blood Bank. I was here three months ago, although a person can
donate a pint of blood as often as every eight weeks.

I checked in at the front desk and filled out the standard medical
history questionnaire which asked basic questions about my recent
health. Have I used any drugs recently? Have I ever had any diseases 
such as AIDS, malaria, hepatitis or venereal diseases? Any of
these problems are reasons to be disqualified as a blood donor,
sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently.

When my turn came, I sat down with a nurse who reviewed the
questionnaire with me. She pricked my finger to check my iron level
and then took my blood pressure and temperature. Since everything
was within acceptable limits, I went over to the next station.

The next step was to consult with the Records Department. Here
they checked my "blood assurance" plan status. When one person
donates blood, his/her immediate family is covered for blood 
transfusions for an entire year (some blood banks offer different plans).

Having donated 23 times before (today's pint would give me a total
of 3 gallons donated), I qualified for a special program that allowed me
to establish a blood assurance program for anyone that I wanted. So,
with this donation, I established a program for a friend that is unable
to donate blood. Other plans allow you to "replace" blood given to
someone not covered by an assurance plan.

After finishing the paperwork, it was time to get down to the
actual donation. A nurse cleaned my arm thoroughly and attached
me to a one-pint bag. In a little over 10 minutes the bag was full. To be
absolutely honest, the sensation is slightly uncomfortable, but 
considering the results, it is well worth the minor discomfort. My one pint
was then typed (O positive) and tested for various bloodborne diseases. 
If you do not know your blood type, this is an excellent way
to find out what it is. In an emergency situation where seconds can
mean the difference between life and death knowing your blood type
(and carrying the card with you) could save your life.

When I was done, I then rested for 15 minutes in the lounge, where
I was treated to juice and snacks and advised not to do any strenuous 
work for the next few hours (what a great excuse not to wash
the car or mow the lawn). And that was all it took.

Though I was finished, my blood now had many places to go. It was
first broken down into its basic component parts: red blood cells,
plasma, white blood cells, platelets and cryoprecipitates.

The red blood cells might have gone to treat a little girl suffering
from a life-threatening case of anemia. Red cells are also used to
help victims of major trauma, such as gunshot wounds or traffic collisions. 
The plasma could have gone to help treat a person who needed
improved blood clotting capabilities or who had lost a great deal of
blood. A mother may have received my platelets to help her control
bleeding caused by leukemia. The cryoprecipitates may have been
used to help treat a young hemophiliac while the white blood cells
are used to help fight some forms of infections. And, of course, whole
blood is used in many medical procedures.


Nationally, 5 to 9 percent of the population has donated blood. One
major reason that a regular supply of donors is needed is that blood
(being organic) has a limited shelf life. Another reason for maintaining 
a supply of blood (as the pictures and stories in The California
Highway Patrolman so graphically depict) is the unpredictable nature
of traumatic injuries due to collisions, criminal violence and other
accidents and natural disasters.

Some needs for blood can be predicted, however, as in the area
of elective surgery (you can even donate blood to yourself in 
advance). Hip replacement surgery (usually in senior citizens) is the
single largest user of donated blood, although approximately 5 percent
of all hospitalized persons receive some blood products.

Currently, human donors are the only real suppliers of blood. Some
advances have been made recently in the development of synthetic
blood, but for now synthetic blood remains only in the experimental
stages.

One of the major concerns voiced by potential donors is the fear that
they might contract AIDS while donating blood. Nothing could be
further from the truth! Every piece of equipment that comes in contact 
with the donor is disposed of after its one-time use. It is virtually 
impossible to get AIDS from donating blood.

If you have never given blood, try it one time. Take a friend with
you and it may seem a little easier. Most of all, remember that only
people can give other people this special gift. 


January 1990