The Gift of Life: How You Can Help During the COVID-19 Crisis

The gift of blood is, in essence, the gift of life.  Especially important for those who have rare blood types, blood donations stored in local hospitals can save a life in an emergency situation, or when something goes wrong during an illness or operation. Now, more than ever before, blood donations are needed. In the midst of the current COVID-19 crisis, blood donations have slowed drastically, but the need for that blood has not. Facing a shortage of blood could be catastrophic for hospitals already struggling to care for Coronavirus patients in addition to their other charges. Many people are asking though, can they still give blood right now? The answer is: yes.

You’ll need to contact your local health department or other organizations related to the health and wellness of your community to find out when and where donations can be taken in your area right now. Most donation areas are setting up a little differently than usual to allow for proper CDC recommended social distancing, and they are following an even more intense cleaning protocol to keep things sanitized and disinfected. If you are able to go in and donate, here are some tips to make it easier for you…

1. Bulk up on your red meat in the days leading up to giving blood.  Red meat contains lots of iron, and your body will need the extra stores following your blood donation.
2. Drink lots of water before, during, and after!  Staying properly hydrated is vital to your own health, and is especially important if you are giving blood.  Not only does being well-hydrated enable lab technicians to draw blood more easily, but it also means you are less likely to deal with dizziness and feeling ill afterward.
3. Prepare your paperwork ahead of time.  If you have had certain vaccinations, or have traveled to certain areas, you are not allowed to give blood.  It can be helpful to have this information on file if you aren’t sure whether or not you are allowed to donate.  A technician can glance at your records and tell you easily if you can/cannot offer your blood.
4. Pack a snack!  Carry a (healthy) snack with you to munch on immediately following the process.  This will boost your blood sugar and, again, alleviate feelings of dizziness that can sometimes follow giving blood.  Granola bars, a piece of fruit, etc. are good choices.  Remember to drink lots of water too!
5. Follow up with more red meat.  Some lab techs will jokingly tell you to treat yourself to a steak following your blood donation, and while it might sound comical, it’s actually serious!  While you don’t necessarily have to choose a steak, following up your blood draw with a meal high in protein and iron is very important for your own health and to restore your blood volume.  Steaks, burgers, spinach, and a plethora of other foods are good sources of iron and make great lunches or dinners following your blood donation.

We encourage you to consider giving blood if possible.  You or someone you love could one day be in need of the very same donation, and by giving the gift of life, it could be returned to you!  Carroll Marshall Insurance believes in giving back in a variety of ways, and this is just one way we can better support the Polk County community during this hard time.