Don’t forget: City of Wyoming’s blood drive is TODAY

give-blood

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

 

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 12. City of Wyoming welcomes blood donors from 8 am-2 pm at City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW in Wyoming.

 

For more info and to schedule a time, visit miblood.org.

 

Donating Blood
Blood donors make a lifesaving difference. More than 4.5 million patients need life-saving blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada. And blood is a perishable resource that can be stored only for a short time. That’s why blood donors are needed every day.

 

Donor Requirements
You may be eligible to give blood every 56 days if you are a healthy person age 17 or older (or 16 with parent’s/guardian’s consent), weighing 110 pounds or more.

 

Before You Donate

  • Get plenty of rest, drink extra fluids, eat a good meal (including iron-rich foods) and avoid alcohol.
  • Eat more salty foods than usual 24 hours before you donate (check with your doctor first if you have certain medical conditions).
  • Avoid smoking right before you donate.

Donating

The entire process takes about 60 minutes. Healthy people are eligible to donate every 56 days. Here’s what to expect:

  1. Registration
    Sign in.
    Present photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID.
    16-year-old donors will also need to present a parental consent form.
  2. Screening Area
    Answer questions about your health.
    Mini-physical: Temperature, pulse, and blood pressure are all checked. A small drop of blood from your fingertip is taken to test your iron level.
  3. Hydration
    Drink a bottle of water to hydrate before you donate.
  4. Donation
    A tourniquet goes on your arm above the elbow.
    A phlebotomist cleans your skin.
    The blood is collected (usually takes about 5-7 minutes).
  5. Post-Donation Station
    Take 15 minutes to sit, relax and enjoy a snack.
    Drink plenty of fluids.

Most people feel fine. Drink more nonalcoholic liquids than usual. This is important because your body replaces the liquid volume of the donated blood within 24 hours.

 

Eat more salty foods than usual 24 hours after you donate (check with your doctor first if you have certain medical conditions).

 

Avoid smoking for 30 minutes.

 

Delay strenuous exercise until after your next regular, full meal.

 

Leave the bandage on your arm for 3-4 hours to protect your skin against infection.

 

If you feel light-headed after donating, sit down or pull off to the side of the road if you’re driving and wait until you feel better before continuing.

 

Call 1-866-MIBLOOD (642.5663) if:

  • You have any concerns about your donation OR you don’t feel well.
  • You have a fever above 101°F within the next 24 hours.
  • You have an unexplained fever with headache or flu-like symptoms in the next 14 days.
  • You have severe diarrhea within the next 48 hours.
  • Someone in your household develops hepatitis or jaundice in the next three months.
  • You think for any reason your blood should not be given to a patient.

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