Friday Feature: A Special Donation

Phyllis Gilreath donates as often as she can, which is about every 56 days.

It’s not clothes she gives, and it’s not money. It’s not even really her time, as the entire donation process typically takes less than an hour.

Gilreath donates something very special, something the American Red Cross says only about three in every 100 Americans give — the blood running through her veins.

The Winder resident was one of several people who stopped in at a blood drive Friday at . The Red Cross is stepping up its collection efforts due to a blood shortage cause by the severe winter weather in January that decreased collections. As a result, Red Cross blood collections for that month were the lowest the organization has seen in a decade.

For Gilreath, the motivation to donate is simple.

“People need my blood,” she said, as it traveled from a vein in her right arm, through a needle and into a blood bag.

If you are thinking about donating blood, the Red Cross offers some tips for first-timers:

Before your donation

• Maintain a healthy iron level in your diet by eating iron rich foods, such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals and raisins.
• Get a good night's sleep.
• Drink an extra 16 ounces of water and fluids before the donation.
• Eat a healthy meal before your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.
• If you are a platelet donor, remember that your system must be free of aspirin for two days prior to donation.
• Remember to bring your donor card, driver's license or two other forms of ID.

During your donation

• Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
• Let the phlebotomist know if you have a preferred arm and show the staff any good veins that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood.
• Relax, listen to music, talk to other donors or read during the donation process.
• Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink in the refreshments area immediately after donating.

After your donation

• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish any fluids you lost during donation.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation.
• If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.
• In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes. If bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.
• If for any reason something doesn't feel right, call the American Red Cross toll-free number provided to you after your donation.
• Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives.

For more information on donating blood, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.