Help Local Hospitals Save Lives With Blood Donation Charlotte

North Carolina hospitals have a constant need for blood products and rely on donations from the local community. About a fifth of hospitalized patients undergo procedures involving transfusions. They include trauma victims, transplant recipients and those being treated for cancer and heart disease. Practically anyone can help those in need by visiting a center for blood donation Charlotte.

You are eligible to donate if you are 17 or older or 16 with parental consent. You must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. You will not be allowed to donate if you have a history of drug addiction or test positive for HIV/AIDS. If you have had hepatitis, heart disease or cancer, a health professional will determine whether you are a suitable donor.

Preparing for a donation is a simple matter of drinking plenty of water and including enough iron in your diet. Starting the day before, eat iron-rich foods such as liver, meat, eggs, tuna or shell fish. Vegetarian sources of iron include dried beans and fortified cereals.

When you register as a donor you will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire. You will also receive a physical examination. Your temperature will be taken, your blood pressure and pulse rate will be checked and your iron levels will be measured. The questionnaire and exam ensure that you will not put your health at risk by donating.

Donating whole blood is a simple procedure that only takes around ten minutes. All you have to do is relax while a health professional goes about their routine. Donating platelets is more complicated, but the body actually takes less time to recover from it. You are connected to machine that collects plasma and platelets and then returns the red cells to your circulatory system. The whole process can take about two hours.

Each time you donate, you could be benefiting three different hospital patients. After a donation is screened for diseases, it is divided into its component parts. The plasma is required for transfusions and organ transplants. The red cells are used to replace those lost through bleeding from injuries and to treat people with certain illnesses. The platelets are used in cancer and leukemia treatments and in heart and transplant surgery.

If you are interested in blood donation Charlotte, contact a local center to make an appointment. Your own family members, friends and neighbors could be the ones who benefit from your generous gift of life.

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