http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/index.html

Excellent material

Blood Quiz

Are you a Bloodhound? Answer these 15 multiple choice questions to find out!

1) I'm scared of needles.

There are not many people that LIKE needles! However, most people report that that all you feel is an initial pinch and once the needle is in you won't feel anything. Once you have donated, you'll wonder why you did not do it sooner!

2) I'm too busy.

What Happens When I Donate Blood?

Want to donate? You must:

• be 16 years or older (in Tas& NT you need to be 18)
• weight at least 45 kilos
• be in good health
• be feeling fit and healthy.

Donating Blood

Roll your mouse over the scenarios to see what happens at each step:

Drink and Eat

The benefits of giving blood

Giving blood is a great thing to do. By making a blood donation, you are not only helping save the lives of people you will never meet; you're also doing yourself a good turn.

A regular check-up

Each time you make a donation, we check your blood pressure and haemoglobin (an indication of your iron level).

The benefits of giving blood

What Happens When You Give Blood

I want to give blood, what do I do?

First of all, call 13 14 95 to make an appointment. When you call, one of our friendly staff will also ask you a few pre-screening questions to evaluate whether you meet the main criteria to give blood. Your ultimate eligibility is determined on donation day.

Donor Well Being

Blood donors are our greatest asset. We are therefore very anxious to ensure that you have a positive experience when you give us your blood and time. Here are some tips on what you can do to help your body prepare for the donation and to recuperate after the donation.

Before your donation

You should make sure that you drink plenty of water and have something substantial to eat before you donate.

Set1

Fast Facts

After it is donated, whole blood is most often broken down into components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma.

The 13.9 million units of donated blood each year are broken down into more than 26.5 million units of blood components, which are in turn transfused to about 4.5 million patients per year.*

The American Red Cross supplies blood to 3,000 hospitals across the country.+

Give Blood: Give Life

Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who takes just a few minutes to donate. There is no substitute for your donation.

Plasma Apheresis

Become a Plasma Donor

All blood donors are heroes in the eyes of the patients whose lives they save. By volunteering to donate plasma, blood donors take being a hero yet another step further.

Plasma helps many of the most vulnerable patients in your community newborn babies, leukemia patients, burn patients, and those who have undergone transplant or cardiovascular therapy.