Prepare for Blood Donation

We cannot live only for ourselves.
A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. ~ Herman Melville

CARREFOUR No 2,Jalan Harmoni 3/KU 3, Sungai Pinang, 41000 Klang Selangor is organising a blood donation campaign tomorrow 08/05/2011 from 11am till 5pm and i was planning on getting involved. It’s something I had wanted to do for a long time.

This is my first donation, and something keep playing in my mind.... was the initial poke of a needle into my artery bearable? but I was pretty confident that I won’t be nervous cos I was ready to give away my blood!

Some tips for prior to donating blood :

1. Drink plenty of water or fruit juice the night and morning before you donate.

* If you are donating plasma or platelets, drink at least 6 to 8 glasses.
* Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, as these will cause your body to expel water.

2. Eat three hours prior to the donation.

* Eat breakfast (cereal, toast, etc.) or a light lunch, such as a sandwich and piece of fruit.
* If you think you might be nauseous during donation don't eat immediately before your appointment.
* Avoid fatty foods for twenty-four hours before you donate. Increased fat in your blood stream might make it impossible to get accurate readings on some of the mandatory screening tests conducted on samples of your blood after you donate. If they can't run all the tests, they have to discard your donation. You don't want all your effort wasted!
* Eat iron rich foods for two weeks before your appointment, for example, spinach, whole grains, eggs, and beef. Having good levels of vitamin C will help to increase iron absorption (consume citrus juice and citrus fruit, or take vitamin C pills with your doctor's advice).

3. Prepare all identification and blood donor cards you need to take the day before and put into something that you carry with you.

So if you are healthy, please donate your blood. I will do it again once I could, and that’s in three months’ time.