The
Greene
County Lions
Club and
Virginia
Blood
Services
want to make
sure blood
is available
every time
someone
needs it.
Donor
eligibility.
If you are
16 years or
older, weigh
at least 110
pounds and
are in
reasonably
good health,
you can be a
donor. If
you have
questions
about your
eligibility,
please call
at
1-800-989-2201.
Your
donation of
one unit of
blood saves
up to three
lives. By
separating
the blood
into its
components
of red
blood,
platelets
and plasma,
your one
donation
does three
times the
work.
Preparing to
donate.
Wear
comfortable
clothes with
sleeves that
are short or
can be
loosely
rolled up
above your
elbow. Drink
extra fluids
during the
day. Eat
regularly.
Bring
proper
identification.
You will
also need to
tell the VBS
interviewer
names and
dosages of
any
medications
you are
taking. This
includes
anything you
have taken
during the
last 48
hours and
anything you
take
regularly
including
over-the-counter
medications
such as
aspirin or
acetaminophen.
You should
also let
them know if
you are
taking any
herbal
supplements.
What
is involved.
The whole
process
takes about
an hour.
When you
arrive, you
will be
asked a few
questions to
make sure
you are
eligible to
be a donor
this time.
You will
get a
mini-physical.
VBS
personnel
will check
your blood
pressure,
pulse,
temperature
and iron
level.
Then you
go to the
donation
area where
new, sterile
disposable
supplies are
used to
collect
blood. This
will take a
little over
15 minutes.
Because new
supplies are
used with
each donor,
it is
impossible
to contract
disease from
donating
blood.
Afterwards,
the Greene
Lions and
VBS ask you
to relax and
enjoy
refreshments
and their
thanks for
volunteering
for this
important
project.
Your own
body will
replace your
normal blood
volume in
about 24
hours.
All
donations to
VBS stay in
the area.
VBS is the
major
supplier of
blood to
Central
Virginia and
the
hospitals in
our region.
For more
information
on donating
blood in
Greene
County,
contact
Greene
County Lion
Mick Carrier
at 985-6648
or by email
at
