Top Ten Reasons for Not Giving Blood

Reason #5. “They wouldn’t want my blood because of all the illnesses I’ve had.”

Blood donations are vital for the health and welfare of our community.

It’s true that you will not qualify to give blood if you have a cold, the flu, a stomach bug, fever or sore throat. But each donor is given a mini-check-up at the beginning of the donation process to make sure they can safely donate for our community blood supply. 

Many medical conditions result in only a temporary deferral, and the criteria for blood donation is continually changing. 

Lots of people wonder how long they need to wait after surgery.  If you’ve made a complete recovery (which we hope you have), you are no longer under a doctor’s care for the condition that required surgery and you didn’t receive a blood transfusion, you are likely able to give blood. However, be aware that recent surgery patients are individually assessed by a staff member.

Are you a new mom? As long as it’s been at least six weeks since you’ve delivered your newborn, you aren’t under a doctor’s care and a blood transfusion wasn’t needed, you are free to donate.

Potential donors who have diabetes may give blood, as long as they haven’t taken insulin made before 1990, which may have been bovine insulin.  Donors who have always taken oral medication or recombinant insulin are eligible to donate.

If you’ve recovered from heart, lung or vascular surgery and have no physical restrictions, you may be able to give, with clearance from your doctor.  People with heart or lung disease who have activity restrictions will not qualify for donation.

Individuals who have blood cancer should not give blood.  Donors with other forms of cancer are typically eligible to donate one to five years after recovery.  Skin cancer doesn’t necessarily make someone ineligible for donation.

People who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease who’re no longer under a doctor’s care are eligible.

Donors with sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis or gonorrhea, are deferred for one year after their treatment is completed.

While potential donors should regularly check back to see if they’re eligible, certain conditions and/or medications may permanently prevent someone from giving blood.

For the safety of transfusion recipients, anyone who has HIV/AIDS, has tested positive for HIV/AIDS, or has come into sexual contact with someone diagnosed with HIV/AIDS will not qualify to donate blood.

For a more complete list of donor eligibility guidelines, please visit: http://giveapint.org/information/donate_eligibility.php

A resident of Easton, Sarah Peters is a junior at Penn State University, and a Public Relations Intern at Miller-Keystone Blood Center.

Top Ten Excuses for Not Giving Blood

4. "I'm afraid of catching a disease."

Believe it or not, donating blood can actually help you lower your risk of disease.  High blood iron levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, a leading killer in our country.  Giving blood helps remove iron from the blood stream — so you’re actually doing yourself a favor by donating blood.  Both your blood pressure and cholesterol are tested when you give blood, and since high blood pressure and cholesterol are commonly linked to heart disease, donating blood can help you and your physician prevent and deal with heart health issues.  Recent international studies also suggest that giving blood frequently may lower the risk of cancer. 

Giving blood is extremely safe — there’s no chance of getting a disease by donating blood. All equipment is sterile and used only once.  Plus, as soon as the disposable equipment has been used to collect a donation, it is discarded in a container labeled as bio-hazardous.

That being said, there are a few steps you can take before and after blood donation to make it as safe and pleasant an experience as possible. Not only are blood donations vital – saving up to three lives, but donating gives you an excuse to eat a big (but still healthy) meal and take a day off from your workout routine!  Taking a break from physical activity is recommended for a few hours up to a day after giving blood.

Drinking plenty of fluid before blood donation helps the process go faster, and drinking water or juice after donating will help you recover — so you can get back in action sooner rather than later.  The Blood Bank of Hawaii reports that if you stay hydrated, the fluids you lose in blood donation will be replaced in less than a day!  But the recipient of your donation will be thankful for a lifetime.

Donated blood is safer than ever, due largely to the careful screening of donors, who are privately screened to make sure they meet eligibility standards.  Donated blood is also lab tested, which may help detect health issues that donors were previously unaware of so they can seek medical treatment. 

In addition to being licensed and accredited by the FDA, Miller-Keystone Blood Center is accredited the American Association of Blood Banks, and the state departments of health in PA, NJ, NY and MD.