Strathmore donates once again
Opinion
Posted 1 month ago
Their time, their passion, a decent portion of their lives and even their blood, are just some of the things Strathmore and Wheatland County residents are willing to give on a regular basis.
That ultimate donation, about 600 grams of oneself, isn't as inconvenient as one might think, but it isn't as easy as it might look either.
Firstly, you must pass a screening that ensures you are healthy enough to donate blood. This is for both your safety and the safety of the possible recipients. Then, there are a battery of questions that guarantee that you aren't at risk for blood-borne diseases such as HIV or clotting related concerns.
Finally, once you have divulged all your deepest, darkest secrets (at least those related to where you have been, and what you did while you were there) you wait in line for a chair.
The chairs are quite comfortable. You are often served with juice, a cookie or two while waiting, and when they have a spot to put you, you lie back and relax for about 15 minutes.
The quarter of an hour is pretty straight forward. They prepare your arm for the donation, then start the needle and line.
The first little bit of blood is sent for testing. It keeps track of many different blood-borne diseases and conditions that could harm someone is they received your blood, or a portion of it.
Then, about 500 grams of your blood is packed into a small pillow-shaped bag, and sent straight to where it's needed.
That need ranges from the immediate need for certain blood types, to the need for platelets and plasma a little further down the road.
Once you have been de-needled and bandaged up (it just takes a small, regular bandage) you are free to sit, chat and enjoy more juice, cookies and extra treats.
The whole experience lasts about 45 minutes, and is often just that interesting. There are the occasional donors who are faint of heart and head (I was one my first time, and you really do feel special as every nurse comes rushing to give you water, and cool cloths). But the worst of it all is the warning that you must take it easy for the rest of the day, and be sure to eat and drink lots, which in my books isn't really a tragedy, and actually sounds like a vacation of sorts.
In that short amount of time, you can save lives. It could be the life of a small child going through cancer treatment, a new mom needing a little extra help recovering, or someone you know, who was in an accident and lost too much blood.
So, Strathmore and Wheatland County, I commend you. You were willing to give less than an hour, a little discomfort, and about a pound of yourself, all in the name of saving a life.
editorial@strathmorestandard.com
