Are you curious about donating blood? Have you wanted to donate yourself but feel anxious about what the process involves? Wind River employees are here to help! Luke Croushorn and Donna Flory donated blood at the Joe 15 American Red Cross Blood Drive, and they documented the experience to share exactly how giving blood works. There are different types of blood donations, and each type follows a slightly different process.
Donna Flory, Vice President of Human Resources, donated whole blood. Whole blood is the most flexible type of blood donation, because it can be transfused in its original form, or it can be separated into the three blood components of red blood cells, plasma and platelets and shared with multiple patients. Donating whole blood is a quick process: Donna says it took her longer to check in at the drive than it took to actually give blood! The experience was relatively painless, and Donna knows that a single donation of whole blood can save up to three lives.
Luke Croushorn, Vice President of Sales, made a “double red” donation. In a double red donation, donors share two units of red blood cells. The process of donating double or “power” red takes a bit longer. Donors are connected to a special machine that collects the red blood cells and returns platelets and plasma back into the body. You can share a double red donation three times each year. Luke recommends getting a good night's sleep, having a hearty meal and drinking plenty of water before donating blood. Like Donna, he proclaimed the whole experience “easy as pie!”
