Next Wednesday, October 2the Multipurpose Social Center of Pepino (Toledo) will host from 5:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. a “blood donation drive” hand in hand with the Brotherhood of Blood Donors of Talavera and Region with the collaboration of the Toledo City Council.
From La Voz del Tajo we have spoken with Felipe Fondonnurse and president of the Brotherhood, who has told us all the details and has assured that “with one bag of blood, they save three lives.”
As explained to this medium, Pepino It is part of the 35 towns in the region —apart from Talavera de la Reina— to which the Brotherhood of Blood Donors travels approximately every five months, to collect “the blood of the brave and heroes who want to give their blood to save the lives of those who need it.” .
The last time the Brotherhood was in Pepino about 45 people They are the ones who went to donate blood. “There are no more supportive and altruistic people than the people of Talavera and its region,” confesses Felipe Fondón, who—when asked if they have set any goals for this Wednesday—has stated “we are accustomed to not setting goals, because those who “We always set them above them, we only hope to reach the data that we did last time, but if we exceed them, we become even happier.”
“Pepino is a supportive townlike all the ones we have, and we encourage all those who want, even people who are not from the town, to stop by there,” he stressed, pointing out that “the donation takes ten minutes, we take care of them and the first “We are the health professionals who are there to care for you, interested in ensuring that nothing happens to your health.”
In addition, he explained that there are a total of 3 nurses, a doctor, administrative staff, a guard and the driver “to serve the donors as best we know and can.” “We professionals always collaborate with our scientific/technical and emotional knowledge, but the most important thing is the donors, without them there would be nothing to do”, he has confirmed.
“They with a bag of blood saves three lives and we come to the hospital very satisfied with having obtained that blood and being able to help others,” he declared, while also indicating “it’s a prick, we’re not going to fool ourselves, but it’s not something horrible, we had a good time.” and we know many of them.”
Felipe Fondon has explained the procedure that is usually carried out when donating blood for those who have never been donors. “First, a questionnaire is filled out where they tell us a little about the basic principles of their state of health and way of life, because that gives us data to know if that person can give 450 ml of blood or not. Once they have that, they go to a position where the doctor and administrator are there to get a digital hemoglobin, where we see that the donation will not pose any risk for the donor.”
After that, “they would go to the position where the nursing staff is, we lay them on a stretcher, puncture them and take care of them while the extraction is carried out. Once they finish, they go to the wait where we give them a sandwich and a soft drink or bottle of water to replenish their energy. After a while, when a few minutes have passed and the donor is fine, he goes home.” Although advises “do not go to the gym or do vigorous exercise to avoid dizziness”, but you can “go for a calm walk and live a normal life”.
REQUIREMENTS TO DONATE
People can be blood donors over 18 years old weighing greater than or equal to 50 kg and who are in good health.
Thus, the same amount of blood is extracted from each donor, 450 ml., which is subsequently analyzed in depth in search of diseases such as hepatitis, syphilis or HIV, among others, to ensure 100% that there is no risk and that it is suitable for transfusion.
In addition, there is absolute traceability of each blood bag, according to some very defined protocolsto guarantee the safety and correct identification of the patient, with the aim of minimizing risks.
Men can donate every three months and women, for obvious hormonal reasons, can do it every four months.