What Really Happens to Your Blood After You Donate?
Plasma gathered from your blood can be exported across the globe, but what exactly is it, and why is it in demand?
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Why Blood is Needed
“How are blood donors selected? All potential donors must undergo a screening process before donating. Medical history, medications, travel history and blood count are reviewed in donor selection. Donated blood is typed and tested for evidence of infection before released for use. A "crossmatch," or final check, is performed with the recipients' blood prior to transfusion. We advise all potential donors to answer screening and health questions carefully, to ensure the safety of the blood.”
EU-wide overview of the market of blood, blood components and plasma derivatives focusing on their availability for patients
“At the European level, numerous initiatives related to the blood and plasma sectors have been
undertaken since 1989 (initially Directive 89/381/ECC). Directives on standards were developed with
regard to quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human
blood and blood components, including traceability requirements and notification of serious adverse
reactions and events were also addressed (Directive 2002/98/EC1 and the relevant implementing
Directives 2004/33/EC2, 2005/61/EC3 and 2005/62/EC4).”
My career as an international blood smuggler
“I started my decade-long turn as an international blood smuggler in 2004 with a mundane task: packing. I gently stacked a dozen half-liter glass vials into two soft-sided picnic coolers. The bottles held the components of a syrupy mix, a powerful medicine made from the immune system particles collected from thousands of people. A nurse would infuse the syrup into my veins, a treatment to keep my immune system under control, to halt its potentially paralyzing attacks on my nerves.”
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I’m B+ I don’t donate but I receive blood every 3 weeks (Sickle Cell Anemia). Nothing else would keep my Hemoglobin up and trust me. We tried. Thank you to all the donors out there helping me live a relatively normal life.
Eat meat it heals. #meatRX #eatmeat #meatHeals #judyChow
I’m b+ and just done my 4th donation.more should do in uk
@pikachurin Why u say that?
I have B+ blood too!!!! I just donated yesterday ?
Here in Croatia we get a free meal after every donation and when you donate blood for certain amount of times you can get stuff like free public pool usage and free public transport. I doubt anyone does it for the benefits but it’s still encouraging.
Those are good ideas.
I got cookies, juice, and one time I got a t-shirt.
Hrana,pice i slobodan dan na poslu izbor datuma po zelji.Slavonija.
Not in my province. They don’t even give you a cookie anymore. You’re lucky if you get a juice.
In Poland you have a day off work from what I heard
I am a frequent blood donor. I donate every 3 months and am proud to do so. My sister passed away in 2014, she was a blood donor and she also donated her organs. I couldn’t be more proud of why I choose to donate every time I can.
How did your sister passed away??
I donate every 3 months too, mostly because I get free pies and cake afterwards XD but ya know, also cos it goes to someone who needs it. Win win!
If you would be so kind Yes Please give the advice 🙂
@Jessica Johnston please where are you?
@sagittarius aries Probably not. I have donated a lot and they require you to stay for 15 minutes after you donate to make sure you are okay. The place is very sterile and the staff is well trained. I usually get free food and a t-shirt.
I had a bad experience with red cross where the person sticking me fished for my vein under my skin for about 5 minutes. It looked wierd but it didn’t hurt. I donate at a different place and haven’t had any problems since. I do have advice on how to stay comfy while donating blood if you are interested.
As someone with O- blood I feel like I have an obligation to donate when I can ?
Sean O’Brien same. I’m donating for the first time today so I’m watching videos to help my nerves lmao
I don’t even know what mine is lol
Update, I convinced my mother and sisters to donate as well, turns out were all O- lol
We should be compensated for donating universal blood
@Raul Garcia Yea but imagine having yo pay for blood transfusions, id rather donate it.
I’m a blood donor (Canadian) and I have donated 16 units of blood so far ? I do it in honor of my brother who had cancer when he was 7 ( malignant bone cancer of his knee) he is now a healthy 29 year old thanks to the many blood donors that were needed for his operation!
Jade Mcdaniel,,, You do help me,,,
I have anemia if I don’t get blood in time my organs start to shut down I get two bags of blood every 3 months so I’m super grateful for everyone who can donate
I just donated for the first time here in Germany. I hope they send it to you if you still need it.
@Hadal Zone hey can you tell me ur experience
Also I am allergic to milk can I donate blood??
What type of blood are you?
@Megha Arora I’m lactose intolerant but I was still able to donate blood.
I had never considered donating before, untill one day someone gave a short presentation on blood donation in class and encouraged everyone to do it. That’s when I decided to go and donate myself. And the feeling of helping other people out by doing sonis already rewarding enough for me 🙂
I know that you can only list so many reasons why people need blood in a short video but I could add one more. My medication went horribly wrong when I was 17 years old and I desperately needed blood because my body wasn’t producing anything. Two units of blood save my life from an unknown stranger. Sometimes it just happens.
I donated blood the first time for free concert tickets, realized how easy it was and now feel obligated to do it a few times a year because of the people out there who really need it. Small acts of selflessness can be of huge impact to others and we don’t even realize it.
I’m thankful for blood donors. My mom receives blood transfusions once a month to help her blood counts for chemotherapy. I donate red blood and platelets as often as I can to pay it forward.
I was contacted by Blood Source in California after having donated blood a few times. They asked if I was willing to learn about donating platelets. I’ve been donating nearly twice a month for a few years now and they also take plasma when I am eligible. The simple truth is we save lives. For real. And it’s not that big of a sacrifice. I’m being honest when I say it’s its own reward. Sometimes I get a small reward as well. I’m also on the bone marrow registry and I look forward to the day they call me. It is genuinely a great feeling!
I am thankful to all the donors out there who save lives every day! ????
It’s my pleasure.
This video needs to be displayed at all donating sights very helpful and educational ????
I donated plasma a few times in Australia. I only really wanted to donate blood but as I’m AB they didn’t have a demand for AB blood.
While I really wish I could donate on a regular basis, my fear of needles makes it difficult. Also in the few times I donated, there was only one time where I didn’t almost pass out. The last time I did it, I also got this really uncomfortable pain in my arm. I’m not sure if it’s a physiological or a physical response but my body practically rejects me giving plasma. If it wasn’t such a lengthy process, maybe I’d be fine but for me it’s near impossible unfortunately.
*I love blood donation, yesterday I donated blood for the 44th time ..
*I hope many people will come donate blood someday.
*1 pint of blood you donate can save 3 lives
*=God bless everyone who has donated his blood.
What’s the difference between plasma donations and platelets donations (they look like the same processing machine)? I used to donate platelets as often as I could years ago (but had to stop because my veins kept collapsing half the way through the gathering so they couldn’t get a full session’s worth).I still donate whole blood (which allows for far less frequent donation sessions … terms of months rather than periods of mere weeks between platelet donations).
I’ve given plasma before. its cool to see what ends up happening to it, plus the incentive helped with money for a while.
Just came home after donating blood for the first time. Definitely plan on continuing to donate throughout my life 🙂
My roommate donated plasma when we were doing an unpaid internship at a wildlife refuge. I remember he donated plasma to pay for a mattress when he moved in, then later to pay for gas, groceries, and to pay back his college/grad school debt. He had to do several internships before he could get a paying job in the field he wanted.
Just donated for the first time. I had no idea that the liquid in my veins might get shipped overseas ? I hope it goes to help someone in dire need.