20+ questions about blood donation - a guide on how to become a donor

Oil is said to be black gold because of its value. But there is a more valuable substance with a different colour - red. It is blood.

"I had a motorbike accident. My pelvis was in pieces, which caused massive bleeding. I got blood already on the operating table. If it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't be here," Konrad recounts.

It's the 21st century.

We are in the 21st century: the first passenger space flight recently took place, and we still don't know how to produce artificial blood. The only way to obtain this precious medicine is to collect it from a donor. Would you like to become one of them? Find out all about how to donate some of your red gold below.

See also:

• Bone Marrow Donor Day
.
• Clean Air Day
• Tobacco Cessation Day
• Fish Day
• What is anaemia
• What is carbonation
• Blood tests
• Cervical cancer
• Lung health after a pandemic
• How to take care of your health
• Aspartame on the WHO blacklist

What kind of blood is most in short supply?

All over Poland the most urgent need is for type 0 Rh- blood and. If you have this blood type and want to do some good, pull up your sleeves and march to the donation point.

How many people in Poland donate blood?

According to the Central Statistical Office, more than 612,000 people in Poland had the status of an honorary blood donor in 2017and. In 2021, overall, the highest number of blood donations were made by residents of Warsaw, Katowice and Krakow.

We know - big cities, lots of donors. However, when we look at the number of blood donations per 1,000 inhabitants, other towns come to the fore: Racibórz, Kalisz and only Katowice maintains its place on the podium. Bravo!

How has COVID-19 affected Polish blood donations?

Since 2011, the number of whole blood donations in Poland has remained above 1 160 000 per yearand. With the exception of a few years of slight decline, the upward trend continued. The collapse came with 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic raged.

Happily, the situation is returning to normal and, according to the latest statistics, 2022 could be a record year for donations.

Who donates blood most often?

The average Polish blood donor is a man aged 25-44. In 2021, this group accounted for almost half of all donors. Leaving aside the age criterion, two-thirds of donors are menand.

Who can donate blood?

According to the Public Blood Service Act, you can become a blood donor ifand:

• you are between the ages of 18-65,
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• you have given written consent for blood donation,
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• you have no contraindications (which you will read about below).
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In exceptional circumstances, blood can also be drawn from a person who is 17 years of age or older and whose legal representative (usually a parent) has given their consent.

What are the contraindications to blood donation?

Unfortunately, not everyone can become a donor. Serious chronic illnesses in particular may disqualify you.

Responsible donors are.

When do you need to hold off on donating blood?

Some medical conditions and conditions do not exclude you from being a donor, however, they do make it necessary for you to wait a certain period of time before you can donate bloodand.

5 years after cure

How to prepare for a blood donation?

Before you go to a blood donation centre, check that you have no permanent or temporary contraindications to donating blood. If you are going to donate blood for the first time, also read the donor candidate questionnaire.

Are you healthy and of legal age? Great. Find a blood donation centre where you are most comfortable. Most points are open in the morning and early afternoon.

Street

Wazów street 42

Think about and choose the date on which you will donate blood. This is important because you should be sleepy on the day and your body fully recovered. You will also need rest after donating blood. So do not choose a time when you will be before or after a lot of physical or mental exertion (e.g. during a period of important examinations).

Remember to hydrate! You should drink around 2 litres of fluids (preferably water and fruit juices) on the day before you donate blood.

Please make sure you are well hydrated.

If you are going to donate blood for the first time, consider taking a companion with you. It will make you feel more comfortable and there will be someone to look after you if you feel weak after donating.

And if you don't feel well, there will be someone to look after you.

On the day you will be donating blood, eat a low-fat, nutritious mealand. Ideally, you should do this about 2 hours before your visit to the blood collection centre. What can you eat?

Recommended foods include:

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• lean dairy products (cottage cheese, yoghurt, milk),
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• lean cold cuts (preferably poultry or beef),
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• cooked lean meat (poultry or beef)
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• fish,
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• bread,
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• fruits and vegetables,
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• jams and honeys,
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• oat flakes,
oats.
• cereals, pasta and rice,
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Before donating blood avoid:

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• cream and mayonnaise,
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• fatty meat,
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• eggs,
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• butter, margarine and oil,
• fatty foods
• yellow cheese,
• fatty foods,
• cookies with cream,
• fatty foods,
• fatty foods,
• fatty foods.
• cream cakes, ice cream,
.

Wear non-restrictive clothing for your visit to the collection centre. Ideally, choose a short-sleeved blouse (in the autumn/winter season, wear a blouse or jumper over this). Remember that easy access to your elbow bends will be necessary.

If you smoke, try to cut down on cigarettes on the day before donating blood, and refrain from smoking on the day of donation.

How to donate blood?

When you arrive at the donation point, first go to registration. This is where you will fill in a donor candidate questionnaire and sign a consent form for blood donation. You will also receive a wrist band with your individual donation number. You will later be directed to an initial blood draw.

Staff will draw a small amount of blood to test your haemoglobin level. If you are donating blood for the first time, blood for the test will be drawn in the traditional way - from a vein in the forearm.

If you are donating for the first time, blood will be drawn in the traditional way - from a vein in the forearm.

If you have already donated blood, this test can be carried out using a device to measure haemoglobin levels by finger pricking. An increasing number of donation centres also have equipment that does not require a prick at all.

If you have already donated blood, the test can be carried out using a device that measures haemoglobin levels by finger prick.

If the haemoglobin level in your blood is within normal limits, i.e. >125 g/l (in women) or >135 g/l (in men), you can donate blood.

When you make your first donation, your blood type will also be determined.

The final stage you need to go through is a visit to the doctor's office. The doctor will assess your general health and ask you some additional questions. He will also measure your blood pressure, pulse and temperature. He or she will make the final decision on whether you will be able to donate blood.

If the doctor has ruled that blood can be taken from you, you will be directed to the collection room. There you will find, among other things, a sink and washing and disinfecting agents. Near the sink you will see graphic instructions on how to wash your hands and the bends of your elbows. Once you have complied with it, you can sit down on the blood collection chair.

The nurse will prepare the equipment and blood containers and label them with the donation number you were assigned at registration. She will then disinfect the area where the needle will be inserted. From this point onwards, you can no longer touch it.

When the bend of your elbow dries, the nurse will insert the needle into the vein and the blood will start to flow into the container on its own.

How long does it take to donate blood?

Donating a full unit of blood (450ml) takes less than 10 minutesand. However, you will need to set aside more time for your visit to the collection centre. Usually the registration, testing and collection takes about an hour in total. Also bear in mind that you will need to sit in the waiting room for 15-30 minutes after donating blood to make sure you feel comfortable.

How much blood is collected during one donation?

For full blood donations, 450ml, or a full unit, is taken at one timeand.

If you choose to donate plasma, the maximum amount is determined by your gender, height and weight. Averaging this is about 10 ml for every kilogram of body weight, but no more than 650 mland. Taking more carries with it the need to replenish circulating blood volume.

To replenish the energy expenditure, after donating blood you will receive:

• 8 chocolates,
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• waffle,
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• juiceand.
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The waffle and juice are perfect to eat before you even leave the collection point. Eat boldly and with impunity.

What are the rewards for donating blood?

Blood donors typically cite as the greatest reward the joy of selfless help and the knowledge that their gesture saved someone's health or life. 

When Agatha was leaving her mum at the hospital the previous day, all she heard from the doctor was: "We will roll. We'll see." Now, opening the hall door, she had a soul on her shoulder. Sepsis is a virulent disease. Fortunately, a blood transfusion helped.

"When I saw my mother, it was like seeing a different person. She even had a slight blush and her condition improved enough for me to talk to her normally. It was the first time in many days".

However, blood donors are also honoured in other ways. You will read about that below.

How to become an honorary blood donor?

It is very simple - anyone who has donated blood free of charge at least once is an honorary blood donor. People who regularly donate blood can be awarded the Badges of Meritorious Honorary Blood Donor of the 3rd, 2nd or 1st degree. Whether and which badge you get depends on how much blood you have donated. See:

These badges, along with the Distinguished Honorary Blood Donor card, are issued by the Polish Red Crossand.

Other privileges

Everyone who donates blood is entitled to:

Free at work and school for two days

From 20 April 2023, anyone who has donated blood is entitled to two days off.

You will obtain the exemption at the registration desk of the collection centre where you donated blood. It applies to the day you turned up for the collection and the following day. If, for medical reasons, your blood donation did not take place, you will obtain a release for a few hoursand.

Please note that you will not be able to take any more time off.

Remember to give your employer advance notice of any planned absence related to blood donation.

Reimbursement of travel expenses

You may be reimbursed for the tickets you bought to travel to the nearest donation centreand. You will usually get a refund at registration. PS. This is a free one-way trip only. You'll have to pay your own way back.

Tax relief

You can deduct donated blood from your tax on your PIT. You calculate the amount of the deduction by multiplying the amount of blood donated in a given tax year by a specific amount (currently £130). This amount is the cash equivalent for 1 litre of blood. If you donate 2 litres of blood this year, you will be able to deduct PLN 260 from your tax.

The amount of the blood donation deduction cannot exceed 6% of the income you reported on your PITand.

Blood test results

After donation, your blood will be tested for:

• haemoglobin level,
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• fibres,
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• HIV,
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• hepatitis B and C,
.

You can get your test results free of charge within a few days of donation. All you need to do is request this when registering at the point of collection.