We Need More Heroes

By Emily White, Staff Writer170x200 pixels

Only one in twenty people regularly give blood. For every person in need of blood, the simple act of giving is heroic! With this being said, IAHS will hold its first blood drive of the new school year on September 16, 2008. The blood drive will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. The blood mobile will be parked behind the gym in the teacher's parking lot. Anyone wanting to give a donation should sign-up in room 105 or see any student council member. For further information please contact Marcie Ramey or Shannon Christian. A list of frequently asked questions and donor qualifications can be seen below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it like to donate blood?

The blood donation process is easy. Most donors find it a painless and heartwarming experience.

What happens when I donate?
A brief interview is the first step. You'll be asked about your medical history and current health. We'll check your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and blood iron level. You'll relax in a comfortable chair while a technician collects your blood donation. After donating, you'll be invited to rest and enjoy a light refreshment. You may then resume your usual routine.

How will I feel after I donate?
You should feel fine! Since the human body averages 10-12 pints of blood, it's easy to spare some.

Is it possible to get a disease while donating blood?
Absolutely not. All materials used during the donation process are sterile and used only once. You cannot get AIDS or any other disease by donating blood.
 

Donor Qualifications

We welcome your blood donation. . .
If you are 17 or older*, weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated in the past 8 weeks (16 weeks for double red cell donors), are healthy and are not currently taking antibiotics, we welcome your blood donation! You may not donate if you:

  1. have cold or flu symptoms on the day of donation or do not feel well
  2. have ever used a needle to take nonprescription drugs
  3. had hepatitis after the age of 11
  4. ever had a positive Hepatitis B or C test
  5. are at risk of catching or spreading the AIDS virus.

Again, these are the general donor qualifications. Everyone's health situation is different, so if you have questions about your eligibility to donate blood or if you've recently been ill, please contact the Blood Center. Click here for a  list of blood center locations and phone numbers.

You cannot get AIDS or any infectious disease by donating blood.

Donors must show identification. . .
United Blood Services requires donors to show identification containing a legal name and one of the following: date of birth, social security number, United Blood Services assigned donor number, or photo of the donor. We prefer picture ID that has your photo and full name. Some types of identification are: driver's license, security badge (picture and donor's name) and passport. Bringing along your Blood Donor Card will help you get through the registration process quickly. If you don't have one, please ask our staff to order one for you.

Download a FastTrack Form. . .
If you would like to download a form which will outline the requirements for blood donation and can help speed up your interview process, click here.

Questions about your eligibility?
If you have questions about your eligibility to donate blood, please contact the Blood Center. Click here for a  list of blood center locations and phone numbers.

*Some restrictions may apply to 17-year-olds. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility to donate please check with your Blood Drive Coordinator or United Blood Services.