10 Common Myths About Donating Blood and Plasma—Debunked with Facts and Humor!
There are several myths surrounding donating blood and plasma. I’m going to help debunk ten of my favorites. They apply to donating blood, plasma, or both and are specified if need be. I’ve included a list of four others that give me a giggle, but I don’t get into them because a “Top 10” list seems much trendier than a “Top 14” list. Here we go!
Myth 1 (Blood and Plasma): Donating blood and/or plasma is painful.
Fact: If you’ve ever had bloodwork done, that’s what you’ll feel. A slight pinch or sting lasting seconds, and that’s it. A flu shot is worse. This is true if you’re donating blood or plasma on their own, but if you’re donating both, it’s done simultaneously, meaning it’s still only one tiny prick for donating both.
Myth 2 (Blood and Plasma): Donating blood and/or plasma takes a long time.
Fact: This is a hard no. Donating blood takes between thirty minutes and an hour, from when you first arrive until you’re out the door. This time includes registration, a resting period afterward when you get a drink and some goodies to munch on, and the donation itself – which only takes eight to ten minutes! Donating plasma takes two hours on your first visit and around ninety minutes every time you donate after that. Remember, you can donate blood and plasma simultaneously, meaning if you donate both, you’re still looking at around ninety minutes to two hours. Not too shabby.
Myth 3 (Blood and Plasma): I’m too old (or young) to donate blood and/or plasma.
Fact: As long as you’re an adult (seventeen in some places; otherwise, eighteen), you can donate both and keep on donating for the rest of your life!
Myth 4 (Blood and Plasma): I can’t donate blood and/or plasma because I have a tattoo and/or piercing.
Fact: Sometimes, there is a waiting period before someone can donate after getting a piercing or tattoo. States have their own regulations. In many states, you can donate blood immediately after getting a tattoo and/or piercing, while others have waiting periods, three months being the longest for blood. There is usually a six-month waiting period for donating plasma. Regardless, that’s hardly a lifetime! Unless you get a tattoo or piercing every week, you’re due to donate blood! If you can hold off six months after getting your latest piercing and/or tattoo, donate some plasma before your next one!
Myth 5 (Blood and Plasma): I can’t donate because I’m taking medications.
Fact: Taking medication doesn’t exclude you from the party. Yes, certain terms apply. Certain medications may need to be out of your system for a given period of time. Others will make someone ineligible, but at least find out if that includes you since most medications are okay for both.
Myth 6 (Blood and Plasma): Donating blood or plasma is dangerous.
Fact: One of the reasons donating blood or plasma takes the time they do is because of screening and registration. (Remember, donating blood is ten minutes out of thirty to sixty minutes.) A clinic makes sure you’re on the up-and-up, and donating is 100% safe for you and 100% safe for the people you’re donating to. Everything takes place in a clean, sterile medical environment, run by healthcare workers.
Myth 7 (Blood and Plasma): You can get diseases or infections from donating blood or plasma.
Fact: See above. Clinics are like any other medical facility; what they do in those facilities is what they’d do in hospitals. The same standards apply. What they take, your body doesn’t miss; it doesn’t impact your immune system, and your blood volume returns to normal in a few hours. Someone coughing a few feet away from you and you turning away and covering your face is more of a concern than getting or catching anything from donating blood or plasma.
Myth 8 (Blood and Plasma): Donating blood means you lose too much/leave with too little blood. Donating plasma weakens your immune system.
Fact: No, and no. See above for the quick and dirty, but plasma quickly regenerates, not weakening the immune system or making you more vulnerable to catching anything as small as a cold. And again, a few hours after giving blood (usually even thirty minutes to an hour, how many sweets you score probably is a factor) and your body is ready to rumble.
Myth 9 (Blood and Plasma): You can only donate blood or plasma if you’re “healthy.”
Fact: I used air quotes for a reason. “Healthy” is a very relative term when it comes to donating. Yes, someone should be in relatively good health when it comes to donating blood or plasma, each zero in on different things, so people who don’t think of themselves as particularly healthy can still be considered healthy when it comes to donating. Remember what I said before about registration and health screenings? I meant it. They make sure you’re a candidate for both, each looking at different things. They rule you out if you genuinely aren’t healthy enough, but this is much like chemistry. Is it safe for you to donate, and/or will your donation benefit others? Both boxes need to be checked off their worksheets so they can allow you to donate. It will never come at your expense. Don’t assume those boxes will go unchecked without checking yourself.
Myth 10 (Blood and Plasma): Donating blood or plasma will make you feel weak or tired.
Fact: Weak? Not sure where that came from. Tired, okay, a little, maybe. It depends on the person. If someone does feel tired after, it is usually very mild and lasts no more than a few hours. Most people can resume normal activities immediately to thirty minutes after their donation. Remember, part of the process is that you remain in the clinic after donating to have things to eat and drink while just chilling out. This is the last safety precaution clinics take: Babysitting. You’ll cool your heels with some juice, water, or whatever you fancy and nibble whatever they give you to nibble on. They want you to leave feeling good, not just in a “Yay, me” kind of way.
Other Popular Myths:
*Donating blood makes you gain weight.
*Being underweight disqualifies you from donating blood or plasma.
*You cannot donate blood or plasma if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.
*You can only donate plasma or blood every X. (I say X because you can donate each, more than you think.)