Cmarmaine Iles, Blood Donor Recruiter of Welsh Blood Service
Q: What is the main reason caused the blood stock run low during Christmas?
A: The reason behind that is because, it is not the operation we have to deal with, you have more road traffic accident. People are bush and rushing around. I think (it is) tended to happen that normally wouldn’t. Therefore, there is more demand on the blood.
Q: What type of blood run low more often?
A: A positive blood is the most common type in
Wales. We need to fast apply that regularly to keep our stock up. Also O positive is the most common blood world wide, so again we need a lot of that regularly. Only four percent of the population forms the AB group. Sometimes we run a little short of that one. O negative is a “special donor”. Everybody can receive the O negative blood, only the O negative can receive O negative. So we have to make sure our O negative stock is quite high all the time. So it runs low more than anything else.
Q: How is the donation process?
A: It costs 40 minutes to come and give blood. First you fill up a questionnaire, and go the Haemoglobin Test to make sure you are not anaemic. Ten minutes for actual blood donating, ten minutes rest, and then ten minutes for you drinking tea and having cookies.
Tom Payne, university student, 19
Q: What makes you come and give blood?
A: I see it on TV. I’ve heard of stories about donor help save lives on TV and Ads. (They are like) every day hero stories. I think I can do that myself.
Q: What do you feel after you give blood?
A: It didn’t ache. I just did the right thing. So, (I’m now ) very comfortable, I think.
What happens when you give blood?
1 Registration
The staff will help enter your name, address and date of birth on the Welsh Blood Service computerised donor database. This information is used to communicate with you and to record all your donation details, including all blood sample test results.
2 Health Screening
You will be asked to read the Blood Safety leaflet and complete a Donor Questionnaire. This is to make sure you are well enough to donate and your blood is safe to give to a patient.
3 Haemoglobin Testing
It is a test to make sure you are not anaemic. Otherwise you will not be able to donate.
4 Giving Blood
First you need to wait for a while till your name is called. Then you will be shown to a bed and asked to confirm your details.
A specially trained member of staff will insert a needle, which is attached to a blood bag. Your blood will then flow throught the needle into the blood bag. The aim is to take 470ml of blood in 5 to 10 minutes.
5 Resting
After donation, you should rest for a alittle while to make sure you have fully recovered. Then you can go to the refreshment area and have some drink biscuits.
