Learn More About Blood!

1. What is an EldonCard and How do I use it?

 

EldonCards are a home blood type test that reveals your blood type within just a few minutes. You use a few drops of your blood on this card which has four circles with reagents. Once the blood reacts with the reagents, your blood type will be identified. These cards have a 99% accuracy rate. You can view how an EldonCard is used here: https://eldoncard.com/how-to-view-video/

 

2. Facts about blood and blood types:

 

There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of red blood cells. In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a protein called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent (–), creating the 8 most common blood types (A+, A-,  B+, B-,  O+, O-,  AB+, AB-). https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRB98GpELD4

 

3. What is plasma?

 

Plasma is the liquid component of your blood that contributes to 55% of your blood’s total volume. Plasma is necessary to help your body recover from injury, distribute nutrients, remove waste and prevent infection, while moving throughout your circulatory system. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22865-plasma

 

4. How does blood help heal a cut?

 

Check out this Ted Talk video on how the body heals a wound: https://www.ted.com/talks/sarthak_sinha_how_a_wound_heals_itself/transcript

 

5. What happens to blood after donation?

 

This video shows you the general journey your blood takes after donation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q55LrC7vijM andhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTZdFd8gbCA

 

6. This is the first time I have donated blood. What should I expect?

 

This video breaks down the general process to prepare for donating blood:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmhiHKsEUXU7. Tips before and after donating blood. these videos show you how to prepare for donating blood and then the activities you should engage or not engage in.

Before donating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHxdhI5ZrHc

After donating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kSLEnvDhCU

 

8. What is a Power Red Blood donation?

 

Red blood cells are the most transfused and needed blood component. With a Power Red donation, you can give nearly twice the amount of red cells and help more patients. This type of donation uses an automated process that separates your red blood cells from the other blood components, and then safely and comfortably returns your plasma and platelets to you. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ifvfARmX78

 

9. Why should I donate blood or plasma? Does anyone really need it?

 

There are many reasons to donate blood and plasma. Not only do surgical patients need blood, so do trauma patients, cancer patients, mothers with postpartum hemorrhage, patients with certain infectious diseases, etc. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Pb-UZPLiU