Blood Donor Program

MONEY can't buy it. SCIENCE can't duplicate it. PEOPLE can't live without it. But, in one brief, simple gesture, many of the members of your American Legion Post-and its Auxiliary Unit-can join with others who are able to give life's most important asset-actually, a gift of life-a pint of blood.

1. Community Service. Through your Post's organized, continuing blood donor program, the citizens of your community know that this valuable lifeline is available in time of need.

• 2.Improved Public Relations. The exposure your Post receives in its promotion of, and participation in, such an activity will enhance The American Legion within the community.

• 3.Membership Growth. An American Legion Post with a well-organized, continuing blood donor program provides its membership workers with another strong talking point when approaching non-member.

The American Legion's interest and participation in organized blood donor campaigns dates back to World War II when the need for plasma for our wounded became so intense. Hundreds of American Legion Posts became sites of community visits by Red Cross Blood mobiles. Legionnaires and Auxiliary members by the thousands rolled up their sleeves to provide the gift of life for a new generation serving in our fighting forces. The need for blood and blood products has not diminished in the decades since patriotic fervor motivated so many Americans to respond to this cause. Today's demand for whole blood and its by-products is even greater. Unfortunately, the response to the need has not been inspiring.

It is estimated that only 5 percent of those eligible to give blood do so. Is your American Legion Post and its membership among the other 95 percent? If so, would you consider organizing your Post's blood donor potential to share in your community's responsibility for supplying this most precious gift?

You as Blood Donor Chairman should check with the blood collection agency serving your area (most have someone serving as blood donor recruiter) for its recommendations as to the type of donor program which will be of greatest benefit. The agency may also be able to provide informational and promotional materials on the need for blood, who may donate, etc. In some instances, the agency may be able to provide a qualified representative to present a program on the subject at a Post/Unit meeting.

Donor Program to Fit Every Post

THERE ARE several systems for American Legion Post/Auxiliary Unit participation in a continuing blood donor program. This is an area which you as Post Blood Donor chairman should discuss in detail with the donor recruiter of the blood collection agency serving your area.

Because the need for blood varies in its intensity from one area or region to another, it is impossible to state categorically which one system is the most preferable and practical. It's up to each blood collection agency and the volunteer donor organizations to work out a program that is mutually convenient and beneficial.

The system which probably is most popular and effective is THE GROUP DONOR PLAN. This system calls for the development of a file of Legionnaires and Auxiliary members (and other volunteer donors if you can recruit them) who are willing and able to donate blood on a periodic basis. Once you have established these records, set a time for your group to appear either at the blood collection center or at the post, if a mobile collection unit is necessary.

The group donor plan requires the services of someone to draw up and maintain the records necessary on the available donors. It means that the Post blood donor chairman, perhaps with the help of other volunteers, will need to make whatever inquiries are necessary to get the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and blood types of those willing to donate blood.

What good is a blood donor?

A Blood Donor is good for...

• ... people who go through windshields.
• ... somebody with leukemia.
• ... people being operated on.
• ... barefoot kids who aren't careful.
• ... people into feudin' and fightin'.
• ... hemophiliacs so they can be as normal as possible.
• ... daredevils.
• ... people undergoing dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant.
• ... people who fool around with guns.
• ... little kids who manage to uncap a bottle of something poison.
• ... people who are burned pretty bad.
• ... new mothers needing a transfusion.
• ... new babies who need a complete change of blood supply.
• ... people having open-heart surgery.
• ... cancer patients.
• ... people with a severe case of hepatitis.
• ... kids who fall out of trees or whatever.
• ... anybody any age with bleeding ulcers.
• ... people in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• ... the very tired with severe anemia.
• ... people who run into things.
• ... people who are in worse shape than most people you know.

"A blood donor is good for life."

Apheresis

What is Apheresis?

Apheresis is a process that allows donors the ability to give only special components of the blood and returning the rest back to the donor. The component most often needed and given in our area is donor platelets.

What are Platelets?

Platelets are the clotting factor of the blood.

How does Apheresis work?

Each donor is issued his/her own disposable, sterile kit for an Apheresis procedure. The sterile tubing of the kit goes from one arm through the aphaeresis machine, into a centrifuge and then back to the donor through the other arm. The centrifuge is fitted with special chambers that hold a pouch attached to the kit. These different chambers can be changed to collect whatever component is needed. After a specific component is collected then the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. NO BLOOD EVER TOUCHES THE INSIDE OF THE MACHINE.

How will giving platelets effect me?

A donor only gives about 10% of their platelets at one donation. Your body rebuilds your platelet supply very quickly. In fact, you could give platelets again in as little as three days if needed.

Who will benefit from platelet donations?

Severe trauma patients use platelets to stabilize and control bleeding.

Most of the platelets go to help cancer patients. Chemotherapy kills the cancer cells in patients but, also can kill their platelets as well. Cancer patients need platelets to keep them from bleeding internally until their own platelets can rebuild.

Who can donate?

You must be at least 18 year old, qualify as a regular blood donor, and be able to spend approximately two hours for donation. They will check your arms and platelet count to see if you can be a donor. You will be able to make appointments that will suit your schedule and be able to know that those two hours saved a life.

Awards For Volunteer Blood Donors

AN IMPORTANT element in the success of your Post's continuing Blood Donor Program is the recognition given to the donors and volunteer workers.

Your donors need to be aware of just how important their contributions really are. Keep adequate records of all donations. Publicize the program by listing the donors of each collection in your Post publication. Display their names on the post bulletin board.

There are special American Legion Blood Donor pins which should be presented to individual donors and those who reach significant quantity donations over an extended period. There are also individual Blood Donor Certificates which may be presented at the discretion of the Post. Consult your current Emblem Sales Catalog for description and prices.

Adequate recognition of both the donors and those volunteers who help with the program helps retain your participants and serves to recruit others.

Rules For Competition For Awards

• 1. The National Consolidated Post Report and Department Addendum must be on file with the Department.
• 2. The report for judging must also contain the narrative explaining what you did to have a successful Blood Drive, the number of donors and number of units of blood produced.
• 3. A Letter of Verification from your blood center on their stationary.
• 4. The report should be in a report folder and should include a copy of the Consolidated Post Report Addendum.
• 5. The report must be on time based on the due date in the Post Administrative Manual.

Facts About the Volunteer Blood Donor

• Healthy volunteer donors contribute 98% of the blood and blood products transfused in the United States.
• Donors cannot contract AIDS by donating blood.
• Volunteer blood donors contribute between 11 and 12 donations of blood resulting in the availability of nearly 15 million components for transfusion annually.
• Each day, 15,000 donors are needed to meet the ongoing need for blood and components.
• The number of donors volunteering to commit 2-3 hours to donate platelets by a apheresis is increasing steadily.
• Many lives have been saved by blood voluntarily donated by caring individuals.
• Approximately 40% of the population are medically eligible to be donors, however, less than 10% are the "quiet heroes and heroines" that provide the blood needed for the entire population.
• Blood donors come from all walks of life. They are people just like you.
• Teenage donations have increased rapidly in the past ten years, due to state legislation lowering the age requirement to 17 years.
• Thousands of blood donors discuss with their families their desire to be an organ and tissue donor.

Donor Requirements

• Must be 17 years old. (No upper age limit as long as healthy.)
• Weigh at least 100 pounds.
• Never had Hepatitis.
• Be free of ALL cold and flu symptoms (or infection) on the day of donation.
• Not have been pregnant within past 6 weeks (or pregnant now).
• No recent surgery.
• No recent blood transfusion.
• Cancer - 5 year wait and must be medication and symptom free.
• Heart disease or heart medication - Must have a written doctor's permit stating it is OK to donate. (If you are on a blood thinner, you will not be able to donate.)
• Diabetes - Diet controlled or taking oral medications, OK to donate. Insulin injections require a doctor's permit.
• Blood pressure medication - OK to donate but must wait 2 hours after taking or take medication after donating.
• Must eat breakfast and/or lunch before donating. DO NOT donate on an empty stomach.
• Aspirin - OK to donate, just let staff know how much and when taken.
• Antibiotics - must wait five days from last dose before donating.
• Must not have exposure to anyone with AIDS. Exception: nurse, doctor, paramedic, etc.
• Malaria - Must wait 3 years and be medication and symptom free.
• Travel to Malarial area - Must wait 6 months before donating.

Top 10 Common Excuses To Not Donate Blood

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AT YOUR POST!!!

• 1. I'm AFRAID OF NEEDLES -- Contrary to popular belief there is very little pain in the actual donation process. The feeling is no different than pinching your arm.
• 2. 0THER PEOPLE MUST BE GIVING ENOUGH BLOOD -- Only five percent of the eligible donor population actually bother to donate. New donors are needed to replace those who become ineligible due to medical reasons, and to keep pace with the rising need for blood each year.
• 3. MY BLOOD ISN’T THE RIGHT TYPE -- Every type is the right type. The rarest blood is the type that's not available when you need it. All types must be on hand when they are needed.
• 4. YOU WOULDN’T WANT MY BLOOD -- The nurses on duty review each donor's medical history before drawing the blood to protect the donor as well as the person who will receive the blood. Very few past illnesses exclude a person from donating.
• 5. I DON'T HAVE ANY BLOOD TO SPARE -- If you are in generally good health, you have 10 to 12 pints in your body. You may safely donate one pint of blood every eight weeks.
• 6. I'm TOO OLD TO DONATE -- If you are in good health and 17 years or older, you are able to donate safely. There is no upper age limit to donating blood.
• 7. I DON’T DONATE UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY -- If people wait until a relative or friend needs blood, it could be too late to donate. It takes 12 to 18 hours to do the necessary typing and testing of the blood after donation. Blood has to be available before it is needed.
• 8. THEY THROW AWAY A LOT OF BLOOD -- The blood collected by Central Florida Blood Bank is generally delivered to a hospital for patient use, on the average, 48 hours after you have donated.
• 9. I CAN PAY FOR ANY BLOOD I NEED -- If dollars could be transfused, there would be no need to donate. However, only blood can be transfused and only people can donate. All the money in the world is useless if no blood is available.
• 10. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DONATE -- Positively the poorest excuse ever invented. It only takes 30 minutes to give a pint of blood...the donation itself takes five to seven minutes on an average.

Contact your local post if you are interested in participating in the Blood Donor program.

             

Any questions on this web site, please contact the Web Master Jay Conti at American Legion Post #155 by email at jconti3547@aol.com.