By Alan & Cindy Cox, Adrian Coordinators
Almost everyone during their life will know someone who needs a blood transfusion. They may be a cancer patient, car accident and trauma victims, transplant patients and people with sickle cell disease or other blood disorders. There is no substitute and still only one source of blood for transfusion – volunteer blood donors.
What should you do to prepare before donating? Try to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before your donation. Eat a healthy breakfast or lunch or both if your appointment is later in the day. Make healthy food choices, eat proteins, (lean meat, cheese, and yogurt) or complex carbohydrates (bread, cereal and fruit). Include iron rich foods (red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals and raisins). Drink a few extra glasses of water or fluids in the days before you donate.
The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Adrian on Wednesday, November 9, from 2:00 to 7:00 pm at the Adrian High School. Anyone who is at least 17 years of age (16 with a signed parental consent form), weighs a minimum of 110 pounds, and is in good health is eligible to donate. First time donors are always welcome!
Appointments can also be made by calling Alan or Cindy Cox at 483-2218 or evenings 360-0537. Walk-ins are also welcome during the bloodmobile. We will again have two double red cell machines available at the blood drive, height and weight requirements for this type of donation have changed so that more donors are eligible to donate two units of red cells. It is important for blood donors to start adding iron rich foods to their diet before donating blood so that they are not deferred due to a low hemoglobin level. For example, eating red meat, poultry, and iron-fortified cereals will increase your hemoglobin level.
We would like to encourage everyone to stop at the American Red Cross Bloodmobile in Adrian on Wednesday, November 9, from 2:00 to 7:00 pm at the Adrian High School or at the Wilmont VFW on Tuesday, November 8th from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
