Blood Transfusion Service
January 21, 2010
DITSU are proud to announce that the Blood Transfusion service will be visiting DIT in the month of February 2010. Dates are below. We are asking all students and staff to where possible get involved as the national levels of blood supply are low at the moment and we would love to help out. So check out the dates and have fun or just come along to hold your friends hand while they donate, and have a cup of tea.
Information Sessions
| Location | Date | Time |
| Aungier Street, SU Common Area |
Tuesday, 16th February |
lunchtime |
| Bolton Street, SU Common Area |
Wednesday, 10th February |
lunchtime |
| Mountjoy Square, SU Common Area | Thursday, 4th February | lunchtime |
Donation Sessions
| Location |
Date |
Time |
| Aungier Street, Bloodmobile Courtyard |
25th February |
9am - 5pm |
| Bolton Street |
Wednesday, 17th February |
9am - 5pm |
| Mountjoy Square |
Thursday, 11th February |
9am - 5pm |
Registration
When
you volunteer to give blood you will be asked to register with the
Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). We ask you for your name,
address, date of birth and telephone numbers. This information is
entered on the IBTS computerized
donor database and is used by us to communicate with you (e.g. to send
invitation letters to future blood donor clinics). Information related
to you and your blood donations is stored securely on our database -
see section entitled Data Protection. If you have given blood before
and you are on our computer database, you will be asked to confirm that your details are correct.
Medical Screening
Each time you attend to give blood you will be asked about specific aspects of your medical history and asked to fill in a health and lifestyle questionnaire.
We ask that you read the questionnaire and information provided thoroughly.
All the information you give us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
New donors, or donors who have not give blood in the last two years, will be interviewed by a doctor or nurse in an area that provides as much privacy as the setting allows.
You will be asked to declare:
- That you have read/listened to, understood and completed the health and lifestyle questionnaire and that all the information you provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
- That you have read/listened to and understood this information and the Blood Safety information.
- That you understand the nature of the donation process and the possible risks involved in giving blood - see section entitled Possible Complications of Giving Blood.
And to give consent:
- For your blood to be tested for HIV and other infectious agents – see section entitled Testing Blood Donations.
- For your blood to be used for the benefit of patients – see sections entitled Using Blood for Research and Development and Use of Plasma. For medical or other reasons it may not be possible to accept a donation from you. In these circumstances we will explain the reason(s) for our decision to you. We may ask for your permission to contact your General Practitioner (GP) for further details.
The Donation Process
Please read this information carefully today. You will be asked to sign that you have read and understood the contents.
What if I Change My Mind?
If
you are accepted for donation but decide, for whatever reason, that you
would rather not do so, you can change your mind and leave the clinic
at any time. We will not put any pressure on you to donate. We simply
ask that you return your questionnaire to a member of our staff. If you
have already donated and you have doubts about whether your blood
should be used for patients, please talk to a doctor or nurse at the
clinic. If you have left the clinic, please phone the National Blood
Centre on 01 4322800, or the Munster Regional Transfusion Centre on
021-4807400 as soon as possible and ask to speak with a doctor. There
is a doctor on call 24 hours a day. Please do not leave
a message as this is not manned 24/7 and the information you give us
may mean that your blood is not suitable for patients and has to be
recalled from the hospital immediately.
Haemoglobin Testing
Hemoglobin (Hb) is the protein in your blood that carries oxygen. We test a small drop of blood from your finger to make sure that you are not anemic (i.e. that your Hb is low). If this test indicates that you may be anemic, a blood sample may be taken from your arm for an additional Hb test. If your blood passes this test, we will be able to accept a donation straight away. If not, the sample will go back to the Blood Centre for further testing. We will get back in touch with you if the result indicates that you should attend your GP for further advice. On occasion we also take a sample from your donation to confirm your Hb level. Giving blood too often can lead to low levels of iron in your body. This can occur because every unit of blood contains between 200 - 250 mgs of iron. For your safety we recommend that you do not donate blood more than 4 times a year. For some donors a lesser number of donations may be appropriate.
Giving Blood
After
the medical screening process, you will be shown to one of the donation
beds. A pressure cuff will be put around your upper arm to make the
veins more prominent and the area will be cleaned with antiseptic. A
doctor, nurse or specially trained donor attendant will then insert a
needle that is attached to a blood bag. Your blood will then flow
through this needle into the blood bag that is kept out of sight below
the level of the bed. You will be asked to open and close your hand to
ensure smooth and consistent blood flow. Blood samples are collected in
tubes at the time of donation so that we can test them in our
laboratory. A member of staff will keep a close eye on you and on the
blood bag to make sure that everything is going well. Most people fill
the blood bag in 8 to 15 minutes. It holds 470 mls of blood (just under a pint). If, for any reason, the blood flow is slow, it may be necessary to stop the donation early.
If you experience any pain or discomfort where the needle is inserted bring this to the immediate attention of a member of staff.
When the donation is completed, the needle will then be carefully removed from your arm and a dressing applied.
You will be asked to press directly and firmly on the site where the needle was inserted for 2 to 3 minutes, keeping your
Resting
You will then be advised to rest for a short period before going to the canteen area where you will be offered a drink and light refreshments. We advise that you remain in the blood donor clinic for at least 15 minutes after your donation to make sure that you are feeling well.
Possible Complications of Giving Blood
For the vast majority of people the process of giving blood is a very simple and trouble-free experience. However, problems sometimes arise during or after a donation. We have outlined some complications of giving blood here, so that if they occur, you will know what to do.
We ask that you let one of our staff know immediately if you feel faint or unwell during or after your donation or if you have pain, discomfort or altered sensation in your arm.
If you do have a problem, we are required to report this to our insurance company with your details and the details of the incident.
Fainting/feeling weak or light-headed
Some donors feel faint during or after giving blood.
If you feel faint during or after your donation please let one of our staff know immediately. If you feel faint after leaving the clinic you should sit down straight away (on the ground if necessary). Put your head between your knees for a few minutes. Lie down if you need to. Stay sitting or lying for around 30 minutes or until you are feeling well, you get up you do so slowly. If you still feel faint, lie down again. Have a cold non-alcoholic drink when you feel well enough to do so. If you lose consciousness (pass out) after donating contact us on the above numbers for further advice. We generally advise that donors who lose consciousness after they leave the blood donor clinic, do not donate again, in the interests of their own safety.
Reducing the risk of fainting
Before giving blood we advise that you:
• Eat something in the 3 hours before you donate
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquid before attending the donor clinic
• Drink a glass of water / juice at the clinic before you donate
• If you have naturally low blood pressure and feel faint when you stand up suddenly, please tell us
• If you are very anxious, please let us know, so that we can help you feel at ease.
After giving blood we advise that you:
• Stay in our clinic for at least 15 minutes after donating
• Have some light refreshments in our canteen during this time
• Do not smoke for at least an hour
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids
• Do not have a hot bath on the day you donate
• Avoid standing for long periods especially in poorly ventilated areas
• Avoid strenuous exercise until the next day
• Avoid any activity that may present a hazard to you or others were you to become weak or light-headed. If you are involved in a hazardous occupation or hobby such as operating heavy machinery or mountaineering, you should defer the activity until the next day or sometimes longer. Please check with us, so that we can advise you appropriately if this applies to you.
If you become unwell after donating
If you become unwell or develop any illness after donating or have any doubts about whether your blood should talk to a doctor at the National Blood Centre on 01 4322800 or the Munster
Regional Transfusion Centre on 021 4807400 as soon as possible. There is a doctor on call 24 hours a day who will advise you and will decide if your blood is suitable to give to patients. Please do not leave a message on our Infoline 1850 731 137 as this is not manned 24/7 and the information you give us may mean that your blood is not suitable for patients and has to be recalled from the hospital immediately.
Data Protection
The IBTS holds donor details, donation details and test results on a secure computerised database. This database is used by the IBTS to communicate with donors and to record their donation details, including all blood sample test results. It is also used for the proper and necessary administration of the IBTS. All the information held is treated with the strictest confidence. This information may also be used for research in order to improve our knowledge about the blood donor population, and for clinical audit, to assess and improve the quality of our service. Wherever possible, all such information will be anonymised. All information and data that is processed by the IBTS is in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts. You have a right of access to your donor records. If you want to access your records, contact Donor Services at the National Blood Centre on 01 4322800 or Munster Regional Transfusion Centre on 021 4807400.
Further Information
If you have a question at any time you can phone our Infoline on 1850 731 137. This is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also visit our website on www.giveblood. ie or email us at contactus@ibts.ie. Details of our clinics are available on our website.
If you need any information or have a query while you are at the blood donor clinic please speak our clinic staff.
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