Houston.
I'm Tanya Rivera and two wants
to know has taken their Q&A live.
We are here at the 57th
annual holiday blood drive.
So come on, let's show you how it works.
It's pretty much the same as you
get to ask our expert questions,
and our expert is Maya Franklin,
the regional communications specialist
with the American Red Cross.
How do you get your question
about blood donation to Maya?
This is how you do it.
Yet text your question and that number is
336-379-5775 remember?
This is text only, so please don't call.
I'll be taking your text questions
to her so you can get your
question answered in real time.
All right. So first and foremost,
let's talk about how when you
donate blood here today or anytime
when you donate at the Red Cross,
how it helps those here at
home and how it helps those
in the disaster communities.
Yeah, so the Red Cross has a unique
ability to be able to provide blood
when and where it's needed 24/7.
So that means we're meeting the needs
of people here at home here in the
North Carolina communities as well.
Across the country,
so that could be in disaster.
Affected areas like Kentucky.
It could also be those facing
emergencies in California all
right. And let's talk about the
emergency of a historically
low blood supply all over.
So what has all factored into this
historically low blood supply?
Yeah, during the summer were typically
challenged by fewer donors coming together.
There's a lower donor turned out
as people head to the beaches,
take some time to go out on vacation,
and schools are out of session where usually.
Able to rebound the blood supply
in the fall as high schools and
colleges go back to school. However,
this year unfortunately that didn't happen.
So now we're facing a very,
very challenging issue.
Where we are.
We've reached historically low blood levels,
and as we go into a winner,
the winter and other challenging time,
it's very critical for those who
are eligible to donate blood
to give as soon as possible.
Alright,
so the next thing that we want to tackle
when we're talking about a big thing is KU.
The blood donation actually helps.
Yeah, there are a number of
people that blood donations.
And help from those who have
experienced trauma like car
accidents to mothers who have
complications while giving birth.
Maybe their newborn babies.
Also those individuals who are
undergoing chemotherapy may require
platelets or other blood products
during their treatment. All
right. I think that sometimes
people just think it's only
like emergency situations,
but it's something that it is
maintenance for some people to live.
Yeah we're talking about
sickle cell patients.
Some of those individuals may receive
transfusion as often as once a month
and we want to remind you that normally.
Our texts, you know,
numbers on the side of the screen.
We've got it down at the bottom
for you so you can text in your
question about blood donation again
336-379-5775.
Let's go to this one right here.
Vaccines and blood donations.
So whether you have your
vaccine or not, do you need it?
You do not need a vaccine to donate blood,
so those individuals who have received a
vaccine when they come to donate blood,
we just ask that they know
the name of the manufacturer.
If they have received the vaccine.
And may not be feeling well.
We asked him to stay home
until they are feeling better,
and then they'd be eligible to donate,
right? And so is there a waiting period?
If you got your vaccine and
you wanted to donate blood,
the only time people would be
deferred for getting a vaccine again
is if they're not feeling well.
If they have a fever.
If their hemoglobin levels,
or some of the other standard
things that we check for during
the blood donation process
don't meet the FDA requirement.
And then why do you need to
know what the manufacturer was?
We like to know what the manufacturer was.
Because we like to ensure that those
individuals who have received the
vaccine have received one that is.
Has received some approval
from the FDA gotcha.
OK, all right. And so I want to ask you this,
'cause we're getting this question.
Can a Type 2 diabetic donate blood?
Yes, as long as an individual
is feeling healthy and well
on the day of their donation.
There are some medications
that individuals may be taking
that would eliminate them or
defer them rather from the from
being eligible to donate blood.
But in general, as long as someone is
feeling well and their condition is.
Under control of their eligible
to donate blood OK?
'cause type one cannot donate blood,
but type two can possibly donate blood.
And it says what blood types are most
desired and we like for everyone who's
eligible right to give blood.
But type O is the universal blood
donor Type O Negative is what
doctors reached for at the time of
an emergency when they don't have
time to figure out the blood type
of the patient who they're treating
because O negative can go
to anyone and everyone.
Yes, it can be transfused.
Patient of any blood type. OK,
so someone says can you donate
if you are on a blood thinner?
If you are on a blood thinner
we would advise you to speak
with your physician first and
general those individuals who are.
That's one of the medications
that people who are taking.
We would advise them to consider another
way to give back to the Community,
whether that's just by spreading awareness
about the need for blood donations,
or maybe asking a loved one to
donate in their honor. OK, all
right? And this question is how
long after major? Surgery says like
a back fusion can you give blood
again? That's something that
depends on the individual.
We would ask them to check with their
physician and their health care provider.
They'll be able to tell them whether
or not based on the medications
that they may be taking or where
they are in their recovery journey.
Whether or not they are eligible to donate.
OK, all right. So we've got a couple
of questions in the queue that deal
with when people have visited certain
places or where they were born,
or whether a cancer diagnosis figures in.
We're going to answer those
questions when we come back.
Remember, you can text your question in
336-379-5775. We'll be right back.