Medical Guide April 2024

Medical Guide, April 2024— 15 Give life with blood and plasma F inancial donations and volunteer- ing are popular ways to give back to nonpro fi t organizations. However, there are many additional ways to give back, including donations that can help save lives. Donating blood can be a worthwhile e ff ort for someone looking to make a dif- ference. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says every two sec- onds someone in the United States needs blood or blood products. When people think of donating blood products, they may think about donating whole blood. However, there’s a need for other com- ponents, namely plasma. Here’s a deeper look at what’s involved in the blood and plasma donation process. Blood versus plasma Whole blood donations include do- nating all four blood components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Whole blood is used to treat blood loss that occurs during an injury or surgery. Patients in need of plasma may have cancer, immunode fi ciencies or rare diseases that can bene fi t from plasma treatment. Additionally, there is a global demand for plasma-derived medicine, such as immunoglobulin, according to the Immune De fi ciency Foundation. One patient who needs Ig for a year re- quires 130 to 1,200 plasma donations to procure enough plasma. Plasma is separated from whole blood, and there is not enough plasma in the whole blood supply to cover the de- mand for whole blood as well as plasma separately. Eligibility Donors must meet some eligibility requirements, according to the Ameri- can Red Cross. Blood: Blood can be donated once every 56 days. Individuals must be in good health, at least 16 years old in most areas, and must weigh at least 110 pounds. Plasma: All blood types can give plasma, but only AB plasma type is uni- versal. People with AB blood are con- sidered elite plasma donors. Plasma can be donated once every 28 days. Good health is required and donors must be at least 17 years old and weight no less than 110 pounds. Donors also can donate red blood cells and platelets separately from whole blood or plasma. There are dif- ferent eligibility requirements for these blood components. Time commitment It takes roughly 60 minutes to make a whole blood donation, says HHS. Plasma donation wait times can vary. An initial donation can take about two hours, while subsequent donations may be 90 minutes. Bene fi ts Apart from the feeling of satisfac- tion from helping others, donating blood can help save the lives of up to three people. Since plasma dona- tions are so important, and there is a greater time commitment to donation, some plasma donors are fi nancially reimbursed. Preparation Individuals interested in donating blood products are urged to main- tain a healthy lifestyle. Twenty-four hours before the appointment, the American Red Cross recommends drinking nine to 13 cups of water, and an additional two cups prior to the donation. Meals full of iron and protein are essential, and caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and fatty foods should be avoided. Donating whole blood, plasma and other blood products can make a difference in the lives of many. Visit www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about becoming a blood donor.