January is National Blood Donor Month. According to the American Red Cross, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood. During COVID-19, the blood supply was critically low because the country was losing blood quicker than it was gaining donors.
Each year, just 3 percent of Americans donate blood. However, when the pandemic began, a person needed blood and/or platelets every 2 seconds. This completely depleted the supply that blood banks had on hand.
Fortunately, in the spring of 2022, the blood supply was recovered because of blood donors. Their sacrifice ensures that patients will receive the medical care that they need. However, if you’re not currently part of the 3 percent, what’s stopping you from joining? As the 53rd National Blood Donor Month occurs, consider doing your part as a blood donor and teaching your children in the process. Here’s how you can talk about blood donation with your kids.
Is Blood Donation Safe?
People who have never participated in blood donation before are often concerned. They aren’t sure whether it’s a safe process. Why would they partake if it’s optional and not medically necessary? Many children may worry about how safe it is to have their blood voluntarily removed from their bodies, especially if they’ve always seen adults try to stop bleeding immediately.
However, donating blood is very safe. You can’t get AIDS or any other infectious diseases from donating because new, sterile needles are used and discarded after one use.
Additionally, donors are always screened beforehand with a mini-physical to ensure they’re healthy enough for the donation process. Their temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin are also checked.
Who Can Donate Blood?
There are a few criteria you must meet to ensure you’re eligible for donation:
- You must be in good health
- You must feel well generally (even if you’re being treated for a chronic condition)
- You must be 17 or older
- In certain states, donors can be 16 if they have parental permission
- You must be 110 pounds or heavier
- If you are younger than 18 or in high school, then there are additional weight requirements
5 Actions You Can Take During National Blood Donor Month
If you want to participate in National Blood Donor Month, here are some ways you can join in. Although your children likely cannot donate with you, you can start a positive conversation around blood donation and model healthy behavior.
- Sign up to donate blood and take them with you
This is such a simple way for your child to see how blood donation works. If you want your child to take an interest in blood donation and consider giving to someone in this way when they’re older, then put your money where your mouth is!
Sign up to give yourself and show them what the process looks like. This will give them both a visual and verbal example of what to expect. They’ll be able to see that it isn’t scary, long, or intimidating.
Remember that your child may be scared or bored at different points during this process. They may have tons of questions, or they may have little interest in what’s going on. Be patient and consistent and try to make it a positive experience.
2. Teach them their blood type
Blood donor mouth is a great opportunity to open the discussion about your child’s medical history. From an early age, it can be important to be transparent about their medical history, so they can advocate for themselves in the future. After all, you won’t always be there in a doctor’s office or hospital room…even if you might want to be!
Hopefully, you know your child’s blood type from when they were born. This is a useful piece of knowledge because knowing their blood type can speed up the search for a suitable blood transfusion. If doctors were to use the wrong blood type for a transfusion, it could be fatal.
When you discuss blood drives and donating blood, talk to them about the different types of blood and how only some people can receive blood from others. Tell them their blood type and how it’s important to remember that for any emergency. Of course, it may be hard for a 5-year-old to remember that they have type A+ blood. This is the first of many conversations, but it never hurts to have the conversation early and continue to discuss it over the year.
If you’re in a position where you don’t know your blood type, the American Red Cross will tell you whenever you donate with them. It will come back on the final report about your blood. This is an easy and free way to gain access to your blood type. Plus, you’ll save a few lives in the process!
3. Organize a blood drive in your community
Do you want to do more in your community than simply give blood once? You can apply to host a blood drive through the American Red Cross. There are a few things you’ll need throughout this process.
First, you’ll need a large location that provides enough space for donor privacy. You’ll also need volunteers that can help to schedule and support donors. Finally, you’ll need the donors themselves who are willing to give blood.
The Red Cross will appoint a representative from their organization to work with you to plan and organize the drive. They’ll offer you all the recruitment tools you need for your donors, the equipment and supplies (including drinks and snacks), and the trained staff who will screen the donors and collect the donations.
You can read more at How Hosting a Blood Drive Works to learn about the preparation and day-of requirements and apply when you’re ready.
4. Talk about the importance of giving blood with your friends and family
Your child may not be able to give blood themselves, but they can talk to others about giving blood if they’re feeling like a mini activist about the cause. If you can see that they’re feeling passionate about the topic, encourage them to “pitch” the idea of donating blood to close friends or family members.
They could facilitate their own “mini” blood drive by gathering a list of names of people willing to sign up and attend on the same day at similar times. This is a fulfilling way for them to see their impact before they’re able to donate themselves.
If this is too logistically difficult to coordinate, have them talk to an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or family friend about 2 to 3 key things they’ve learned about donating blood. Just simple fact-sharing can bring blood donation to the forefront of people’s minds.
5. Discuss how blood donation can change lives
Tell your child a few fun facts about blood donation and how big of a difference it makes. These facts put the process in perspective and show you how vitally important blood donation is in the medical field.
- People donate 1 pint of blood during donation. The average adult has around 10 pints of blood in total.
- Donating whole blood only takes about 10 to 15 minutes
- You can donate whole blood every 56 days
- Just one pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
- Although 38 percent of the American population is eligible to give blood, only 3 percent actually donate!
Final Thoughts
Donate blood today! Our country can never have enough, especially when donated blood is instrumental in saving lives. Involving your child in the conversation early can provide a positive role model.
Feel free to reach out to Dr. Benitez and his team of Jacksonville pediatricians. Pediatric Care Centers provides the care your child needs, any time of day or night.
