CHECK YOUR BLOOD IQ
Just one (1) pint of blood can help save the lives of several people - TRUE
The pint of blood you donate is usually split into several parts to meet the needs of different patients.  For example, platelets may give a child with leukemia a chance to live; red cells may help an accident victim get well.  Your single donation can help several patients.
 
Giving blood is a simple process - TRUE
Giving blood is simple and easy.  You can expect to follow four steps:  registration, medical history, donation and snacks.  The actual blood donation takes less than ten (10) minutes and is painless except for a little hurt at the very start.  The entire process, from when you sign-in to the time you leave, takes 30 - 45 minutes.
 
Artificial or animal blood can now be used in place of human blood - FALSE
There is no substitute for human blood.  Human blood cannot be manufactured; animal blood cannot replace it.  People are the only source of blood.  Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood provided by healthy, volunteer donors.  The gift of blood is the gift of life.
 
Filling out blood donor forms honestly and completely is a very important part of the process of giving blood - TRUE
It is very important to complete the blood donor forms honestly.  People who should not donate need to be identified before the blood is taken.  All information given by the donor is treated confidentially.  **Under Kentucky Revised Statutes persons violating the law-false information regarding certain risk factors determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are guilty of a Class D felony (House Bill 40).
 
You cannot get AIDS or any other disease by donating blood - TRUE
There is NO risk of getting AIDS or any other disease from giving blood.  A new sterile needle is used for each donation.  Once it is used, the needle is destroyed.
 
Most donors are paid money for their blood - FALSE
Volunteers now provide virtually all of the Nation's blood supply.  People donate blood out of a sense of duty and community spirit, not to make money.
 
It is best to wait until a friend needs blood before donating - FALSE
Many tests must be done before blood can be transfused.  In an emergency situation, there is no time to collect, test and process the blood from friends.  Having enough blood on hand when we need it is possible only if healthy volunteers donate blood regularly.  (It takes approximately six (6) hours to test one unit of blood.)
 
Some people can donate blood for their own use - TRUE
For planned surgery, it is often possible to donate your own blood prior to the surgery date so that it will be available for your operation if needed.  It may also be possible for a surgeon to collect blood from a patient during surgery and return it to the patient.  Both are forms of autologous transfusion.  The autologous transfusion is the safest type of transfusion, but most patients needing blood cannot provide their own.  Therefore, there remains a great need for healthy people to donate blood for others.  For information on whether you can donate blood for planned surgery, consult your physician.
 
The nation's blood supply is safer than ever - TRUE

The risk of getting unsafe blood from a transfusion has been greatly reduced.  Blood collection centers protect the blood supply by constantly improving safety measures.  For example, blood centers:

  • Inform donors about high-risk behaviors and conditions which are not safe for blood donation.

  • Allow anyone to indicate confidentially their blood should not be used for the general blood supply.

  • Record medical history to insure donors are healthy.

  • Collect blood using sterile methods under medical supervision

  • Test blood for certain diseases.

  • Are regulated and inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Blood Banks and the State of Kentucky.
Giving blood more than once a year will make you weak - FALSE
Giving blood will not decrease your strength.  Your body will not miss the one (1) pint of blood you donate.  Approximately twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) hours are necessary to replenish the fluid from a one-pint donation.  Total red cell replacement occurs within  eight (8) weeks. Healthy donors can give blood every fifty-six (56) days.  If all blood donors gave at least twice a year, it would greatly strengthen the Nation's blood supply.
 
You must be a certain age and weight to be a donor - TRUE
Individuals who are seventeen (17) years of age or older can donate.  There is no upper age limit.  An individual must weigh at least 110 pounds to donate.