|
FAQ's
What are the requirements for donating blood? Why do you have these requirements? Can I get paid to donate blood? Can I get any disease from giving blood? How long does it take to give blood at Blood Assurance? Where and when can I give blood? Can my business, school or church host a blood drive? Can I donate blood for myself? What is the National Marrow Donor Program? Can 16 year olds really donate blood? Is it safe for 16 year olds to donate blood? What should I do after I donate blood? My family member is receiving blood transfusions. Can I host a blood drive in his/her honor? Who gives blood? Volunteers donate virtually all of the country's supply of blood for transfusions. It is important for all healthy individuals to donate blood, to ensure that the blood supply is there, when a patient needs blood.What are the requirements for donating blood?
In order to give blood, you must be in good general health. In
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, 16 year olds can now
donate with Why do you have these requirements? As a licensed blood center, Blood Assurance is required to follow certain guidelines. Blood Assurance is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Public Health, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Blood Assurance is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks,
America's Blood Centers, the Tennessee Association of Blood Banks, the Tennessee
Hospital Association, and the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council. Can I get paid to donate blood? To protect the safety of the blood supply, our donors are not paid. Blood Assurance is a non-profit regional blood centers which supplies blood products to area hospitals. We receive reimbursement from the hospitals for the costs incurred in collecting, testing and shipping the blood. For-profit paid plasma collections give people monetary compensation for their blood. The FDA does not allow these paid blood collections to be used for human transfusion by hospitals. These collections are most often used in the manufacturing of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
How often can I donate blood?
You can be a hero and save lives by giving blood up to six times a year.
That's every eight weeks or every 56 days. Can I get any disease from giving blood? No. Only sterile, disposable, one-use-only needles and supplies are used. In addition, every pint is tested thoroughly before it is given to a patient. How long does it take to give blood at Blood Assurance? The entire process of donating blood, from the health questionnaire and physical to the actual donation, only takes from 30-45 minutes of your time at Blood Assurance. What's even better, is that the needle prick only lasts a second and obtaining your blood only takes about eight minutes. In addition, you can feel great just knowing that you helped save up to three lives for every donation. Where and when can I give blood? Blood Assurance has twelve different locations, as well as daily mobile drives to make it more convenient for you to give blood. For information on our public drives, please call us at 1-800-962-0628. Do I need an appointment? No. Blood Assurance welcomes walk-ins. However, it is helpful if you do make an appointment ahead of time. To make an appointment, please call Blood Assurance at 1-800-962-0628 or make an appointment online. Can my business, school or church host a blood drive? Absolutely! Your group can have a dramatic impact on saving lives. Blood Assurance has ten bloodmobiles available to conduct on-site blood drives for all groups. Please call us at 1-800-962-0628 or contact your donor recruiter to find out how your organization can host a blood drive. Can I donate blood for myself? Yes. The process of donating blood for oneself is known as an autologous blood donation. In this procedure, you donate your own blood for an upcoming occasion where you will have need for a blood transfusion, such as surgery. Your blood is collected in the days and weeks prior to surgery, stored and returned to you during or following surgery to replace the blood you have lost. Your physician will make the necessary arrangements and you will then make an appointment with Blood Assurance. What is Project Lifeline? Project Lifeline is Blood Assurance's outreach program into area schools. We have implemented this program in over 90 high schools and colleges. This program promotes education regarding the importance of donating blood. In addition, Project Lifeline enables students and faculty to donate blood and save lives, while inspiring a sense of goodwill and sharing among those involved. What is Apheresis? Apheresis is a type of donation in which the donor only gives a certain blood component, such as platelets. Platelets prevent bleeding and are needed by patients who experience trauma, bleeding during surgery, and those who are being treated for cancer. What is the National Marrow Donor Program? The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a service Blood Assurance provides to help those in need. Blood Assurance donors can sign up to be on the national registry of potential bone marrow donors through the National Marrow Donor Program and possibly become a match for someone in need of a life-saving transplant. Find out more about enrolling on the NMDP.Can 16 year olds really donate blood? Yes, individuals who are 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health can donate blood in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee with parental consent.Is it safe for 16 year olds to donate blood? The collection of blood from 16-year-old individuals is recognized as a safe practice. Laws in many states already allow blood collection from these young adults, and many of these states have accepted 16-year-old donors for more than 30 years.Why should I give blood? Since the beginning of time, countless life-saving discoveries have been made. However, there is still no substitute for one of the most important elements--blood. Blood components are used every day to save people of every age, including premature babies, oncology patients, trauma victims, surgery patients and many more. How much blood am I donating? Think about a 2 liter soft drink. When you donate whole blood, you are donating roughly 1/4 of a 2 liter container, or 500 mL. This donation can save up to three people's lives and it takes less than one hour.What should I do after I donate blood? After you donate blood, please continue to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. You will be able to donate again in 56 days or eight weeks. It will take your body about two days to replace the lost plasma and 56 days to replace the red blood cells
My family member is receiving blood transfusions. Can I host a blood drive in his/her honor? Yes. As a family member, this is one way you can show support for your loved one. By hosting a blood drive, you are helping to ensure that blood will be available when your loved one needs it.
Is it true that Blood Assurance will make a monetary donation to the family if I host a blood drive in honor of someone? No. In the past, Blood Assurance made monetary donations to help with medical expenses when a blood drive was held in honor of someone. However, we no longer do this to avoid the appearance of paying for donations. We encourage family members to host blood drives to ensure that blood is available when needed by their loved one. By encouraging blood donations, families can replenish the blood used by their family member.
I'm a blood donor but I recently had surgery and received a blood transfusion. Why is there a charge on my medical bill for the blood I received? When you donate blood, it is tested, typed and stored at Blood Assurance until it is shipped to an area hospital. The hospital reimburses Blood Assurance for these costs. Any charges associated with your blood transfusion come from your healthcare provider. |
