Lisa Gomes, president of Guardian Asset Management, chats with a nurse from the Blood Bank as she donates blood. The blood drive was one of several activties which took place during Guardian Life's annual customer appreciation day on November 14. - Contributed

Donating blood is easy and is an exercise in altruism, say regular contributors.

Carol Williams, blood donor organiser at the National Blood Transfusion Service in Kingston, told The Gleaner that the organisation offers individuals a free haemoglobin test to determine his or her iron level.

Blood donations are dangerously low in Jamaica, because the prevalence of trauma cases - relating to murders, non-fatal violent attacks and auto accidents - places a heavy burden on public hospitals.

Blood beneficiaries

Blood donation allows performance of routine surgical operations.

Treats bleeding complications in pregnant women.

Enables elective cardiac surgery in children.

Improves the quality of life in sickle cell patients.

Helps prevent deformities in haemophiliacs.

Saves the lives of trauma patients.

Pregnant women and newborn babies with complications often need blood.

Becoming a blood donor

1. You need no money in your pocket to save the lives of at least three persons because:

2. It is safe for you to give blood, and healthy to give it regularly. You can give blood every three months.

3. When you give blood regularly, you unconsciously set up a monitoring system, which assists you in staying healthy.

4. You will not become infected with HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted infections from giving blood as only new, unused needles are utilised for collecting blood.

5. It does not hurt to give blood. The feeling is similar to a mosquito bite. You are unlikely to feel sick, or faint when you give blood if you remain calm.

6. The amount of blood usually given is almost equal to one pint. The doctor will give you a test before you give blood to make sure you are fit enough to do so.

7. If you have a cold, you should not give blood.

8. If the doctor checks your blood pressure, and it is within the normal range, you may donate blood.

9. If you are on diabetes or blood-pressure medication, you should consult a doctor, who will tell you whether the medication you are taking will allow you to give blood.

10. After you have given blood, the body reproduces the amount you have lost.

11. After you give blood, a test is done to check if anything is wrong with the blood.

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