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Donating blood
When you are becoming a donor at Sanquin blood bank, you will find below interesting details about the process of giving blood, the destination of your blood, etc. Interesting links
Giving blood Your first visit to the blood bank will involve the medical examination and a number of tubes of blood being taken for the blood group determination. If all is well, you will be invited to return to give blood a few weeks later. Read more about the process of becoming a donor and giving blood... Men may donate blood up to five times each year, and women up to three times. The frequency was chosen to protect you, as the donor. Your body must be given an opportunity to recover from the donation each time. What does blood consist of? Blood contains a number of constituent parts:
The blood bank separates these various constituents as carefully as possible. It is then possible to use only those products which the patient actually needs during a blood transfusion. For example, a standard blood transfusion involves only the red blood cells. Platelets and plasma can be given when there is a problem with coagulation (or when a problem is anticipated). What happens to your blood? Besides being used in surgical operations, part of your donation may go to, among others, haemophilia and leukaemia patients. Sometimes, part of the blood donation may be used for research purposes, with a view to improving blood transfusion technology or the treatment of certain diseases. If you object to this, you can report that on the questionnaire. The blood bank will sometimes use your entire blood donation for research. The blood bank will ask for your individual written permission for this. More about the destination of your blood... Tips for giving blood Ensure that you are fit and well-rested before giving blood. It is important to eat and drink something before coming to the collection centre. At a donation you donate half a liter of blood, exclusing the blood in the samples. Give your body time to recover after you have made your donation. It is sensible to rest for ten to fifteen minutes and to have a little to eat or drink before you leave the blood bank. This will help to prevent you becoming dizzy or fainting. Especially in the summer because the body then loses extra fluids through perspiration. The visit to the blood bank, including the rest break, lasts for approximately one hour. If you practise a profession, hobby or sport which demands a high level of physical fitness and concentration (such as flying or diving) it is best to allow twelve full hours after giving blood before resuming this activity. Drinking alcohol right before and right after is strongly discouraged, because alcohol lowers the blood pressure and therefore increases the chances of fainting. Questions about donating blood? If you have any questions about giving blood or about what happens to the donations, please feel free to phone the blood bank. Identification Every time you come to donate blood, you must provide proof of identity issued by an official institution and containing at least your initials and date of birth, as well as a passport photo. Read more... Privacy Giving blood is completely voluntary, non-remunerated and anonymous. In order to protect your privacy, the screening process takes place where no one else can see what you write on the questionnaire or hear what is being discussed. It goes without saying that the information resulting from the screening and also your name, address and telephone number are treated with the utmost confidence and will never be revealed to anyone else – not even another doctor – without your consent. However, the blood bank must know the origins of all the blood it uses. Your donation will therefore be given a code. Personal injury liability The blood bank is fully insured against any loss, injury or damage you may sustain as the result of giving blood. Complaints The blood bank does everything it can to make your visit to the collection centre as pleasant as possible. If you nevertheless have a complaint, you should first contact a member of staff who will, if necessary, refer you to someone authorised to deal with your issue. If this fails to resolve the matter, you may place your complaint before the national arbitration commission. More about our complaints procedures... Questions If you have any questions or comments about privacy, liability insurance or the complaints procedure, please contact the blood bank. Further information The information that you have just read contains all the points that you need to know before your first visit to the blood bank. However if you would like to know more, please contact your blood bank. |
Donors bringing in donors |