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Donating Blood Could Save Your Life

One of the greatest gifts a person can give is the gift of a second chance at life. Whether in the event of a disaster or just when a local blood drive occurs, people head over to the blood donation centers to have their arms pricked by a phlebotomy specialist and do their good deed for the […]

donating blood could save your life

One of the greatest gifts a person can give is the gift of a second chance at life. Whether in the event of a disaster or just when a local blood drive occurs, people head over to the blood donation centers to have their arms pricked by a phlebotomy specialist and do their good deed for the day.

Countless classes have taught the benefits of donating blood to help other people; however, giving blood may also help to save your own life.

Health Benefits of Donating Blood

Donating blood helps to reduce large amounts of minerals and potentially harmful metals such as iron that accumulate in the body over time. Seeing a phlebotomy specialist and donating blood can be even more helpful for men, as they do not have the opportunity to lose blood monthly due to menstruation. This loss of blood is thought to contribute to the lifespan gap between men and women.

Blood Donation Can Help With Type II Diabetes

It is believed that donating blood can help reduce the risk of a handful of diseases such as Type II Diabetes. A number of studies covered in phlebotomy classes have shown that donating blood helps to reduce large amounts of stored-up iron. This reduction of iron buildup in the blood increases the amount of insulin sensitivity, thus reducing the chances of Type II diabetes.

In a study performed by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, researchers found people who had donated blood two to 10 times a year within a five-year time frame had lower levels of iron and better glucose sensitivity. Studies do not yet know why low blood stores increase glucose sensitivity; it could just be a correlational effect.

Donating Blood Can Also Reduce Cancer

Not only can donating blood help to reduce the chances of Type II Diabetes, but it has been also shown to reduce the chances of cancer. Iron is temporarily released from the blood. While iron is necessary for bodily function, excessive levels of iron can be toxic. Iron is linked to aging and cancer due to its ability to increase free-radical damage in the body.

In another study, one group reduced their iron stores by bloodletting twice a year; the control group did not release any blood. By the end of the study, those that had released blood and lowered iron levels were at a much lower risk of cancer than the control group.

Conclusion

Studies suggest that blood donation can reduce the risk of life-threatening diseases, thus increasing life expectancy. Although it is not guaranteed to save your life, blood donation can not only help the lives of others but yours as well.

Gay Men Now Allowed to Donate Blood in Most Countries

Phlebotomy courses prioritize the safety of blood donation patients. For many years, American health experts have been concerned about the risk of AIDS and HIV viruses being transmitted via blood transfusions. It was for this reason that they ultimately banned gay men from donating blood in the 1980s. In those days, HIV had only recently been discovered, and […]

Gay Men Allowed to Donate Blood

Phlebotomy courses prioritize the safety of blood donation patients. For many years, American health experts have been concerned about the risk of AIDS and HIV viruses being transmitted via blood transfusions. It was for this reason that they ultimately banned gay men from donating blood in the 1980s.

In those days, HIV had only recently been discovered, and remained poorly understood. Without any treatment methods, the virus killed thousands. Fear of the disease ran through every level of the healthcare system, from phlebotomy courses to the Mayo Clinic. For doctors and policymakers, the ban made sense at the time. Many countries followed suit.

Now, more than two decades after the ban was passed, lawmakers are beginning to reconsider.

?Today it?s not a question of passing judgment on this [ban], which was made in an era marked by the dramatic development of AIDS and contaminated blood, and in which only safety of the blood was taken into account,? says Marisol Touraine, the current French health minister. ?Yet today no one can deny that this exclusion is seen as the presumption of homosexuals being HIV-positive.?

France recently became the latest country to lift the ban on gay men donating blood. Advances in medicine revealed much more about the nature of HIV than doctors initially knew. Although phlebotomy courses emphasize patient safety as much as ever, many are beginning to accept the idea of homosexual people donating blood. The FDA states that blood donations from gay people are not inherently unsafe.

In countries like France and Australia, the ban on gay men donating has been replaced with a deferral period. After 12 months without a homosexual relationship, men are allowed to donate if they desire to do so. France believes the waiting period to be a necessary precaution against the transmission of disease.

Some countries have a shorter waiting period, but every nation that allows gay men to donate requires them to abstain from sex for a set period before donating. For Americans, the ban remains in place in most states, but many hope it will be lifted soon.

Phlebotomy courses will continue to prepare students to safely draw blood. The FDA is currently reviewing data that it has collected over a yearlong survey. After concluding that the blood of homosexual men posed no great health threat, they ran opinion polls across the country about the issue.

In coming years, Americans of all sexual persuasions may be able to donate blood. Until then, donations remain vital for those involved in accidents. Everyone that is able to donate blood should do so regularly.

How To Put Blood Donation Patients at Ease

Putting Blood Donation Patients at Ease It is not uncommon for even the biggest, toughest guy in the room to be afraid of needles. Virtually nobody likes to get poked with a sharp needle, and watching blood drain out of the body can make some people feel very uneasy. Helping blood donation patients feel at […]

blood donation

Putting Blood Donation Patients at Ease

It is not uncommon for even the biggest, toughest guy in the room to be afraid of needles. Virtually nobody likes to get poked with a sharp needle, and watching blood drain out of the body can make some people feel very uneasy. Helping blood donation patients feel at ease is a necessary skill for phlebotomists.

Although phlebotomy technicians are highly trained through comprehensive phlebotomy classes, making patients feel a little better about blood donation is just as important as the procedural skills themselves. After all, a nervous or anxious patient will have a harder time donating blood than someone who is relaxed.

Making Blood Donation Patients Feel Comfortable

One of the most important lessons learned in phlebotomy classes is how to be calm and confident during a procedure. Simply talk to a patient calmly and assuredly, and the patient will be much more relaxed than if the phlebotomist was acting in a nervous manner.

Another good skill for phlebotomists to know is how to identify patients who may be uncomfortable donating blood. If a person is uncomfortable, a phlebotomist will need to be more patient and comforting than for someone who is unperturbed by needles.

Working With Nervous Patients

A tactic taught in phlebotomy classes in Denver and across America is the three-count. When dealing with someone who is nervous, counting to three can help alleviate apprehension. Instructing patients to take a long, deep breath can also help. Distracting the patient allows the phlebotomist to find a good puncture quickly and more easily.

It is important not to hesitate. The quicker the procedure is done, the less painful it will be for the patient. The three-count and deep breath techniques can also be used during the removal of the needle. Once the procedure is finished, all that is left is to thank the patent and ask if he or she needs any help or has any further questions.

How To Have A Successful Blood Donation

Many people know how important donating blood can be. The blood phlebotomists extract can save lives, help cure the sick and so much more. This being so, many people are willing and ready to donate blood. However, before you donate, there are same facts that you should know to keep you healthy and help the […]

donating blood

Many people know how important donating blood can be. The blood phlebotomists extract can save lives, help cure the sick and so much more. This being so, many people are willing and ready to donate blood.

However, before you donate, there are same facts that you should know to keep you healthy and help the donating process run smoothly for you and the phlebotomist.

Phlebotomy classes teach their students how to help donors prepare to give blood. Here are some of the tips that are often shared in these classes to help you before, during and after your blood donation.

Before Your Blood Donation:

  • Make sure you have enough iron in your diet. Iron rich foods include, but are not limited to, meat, beans and spinach. Also, make sure you eat a healthy meal before you donate.
  • Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before you donate.
  • Drink an extra 16 oz. of water.
  • Make sure you have a valid ID.

During Your Blood Donation:

  • If you decided to wear clothes with longs sleeves, make sure the sleeves can be easily rolled above the elbow.
  • Let your Phlebotomist know if one arm is better than the other for drawing blood.
  • Remember to relax. You can listen to music or read during the donation. If it helps, you can talk to other donors as well.

After Your Blood Donation:

  • Avoid alcohol for the next 24 hours.
  • Avoid exercise or intense activity for the rest of the day.
  • To avoid a rash, clean the area around the bandage with soap and water.