Wanda Thompson, PhD is a blood donor.
Donating blood at one of the Upstate blood drives helps maintain a steady supply of blood for patients. It also helps reduce the cost of blood units Upstate purchases for patient care. Make plans to donate at the next drive — from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 25 or from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 26 — in Cafe 750 on the second flood of Upstate University Hospital.
To schedule an appointment, contact Brenda Poehlman at 315-464-5738 or poehlmb@upstate.edu.
To prepare for your blood donation:
One to Two Weeks Before
Your iron level will be tested before donating blood, so you can prepare by eating iron-rich food, such as red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereals and raisins. Eating oatmeal for breakfast a week before your donation will help increase your iron level, ensuring a successful donation. Vitamin C helps increase iron absorption, so try consuming citrus fruit or juices.
Two Days Before Platelet Donation
If you plan to make a platelet donation and take aspirin, remember you must be aspirin free for two days prior to donation.
24 Hours Before
Drink plenty of water, juice or non-alcoholic beverages for 24 hours leading up to the donation time, especially in warm weather. Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, as these will cause your body to expel water.
The Night Before
Get a good night’s sleep.
Two to Three Hours Before
Eating a healthy meal before your donation will keep your blood sugar levels stable, ward off lightheadedness and help you feel better after your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries or ice cream. If you have too much fat in your blood, your donation cannot be tested for infectious diseases or used for transfusion.
For a regular donation, try to drink four good-sized glasses of water, juice or non-alcoholic beverages.
If you are donating plasma or platelets, drink at least six to eight glasses of water. Also, take a calcium supplement to prevent any tingling when your blood is returned to you.
Before Running Out the Door
Remember to bring your donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification.
And Finally…
Accept thanks from Upstate.
