{"id":1171,"date":"2022-02-09T17:22:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T22:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2022-02-09T17:22:27","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T22:22:27","slug":"6-myths-about-donating-blood-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2022\/02\/6-myths-about-donating-blood-right-now.html","title":{"rendered":"6 Myths About Donating Blood Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a national blood shortage<\/a> during an ongoing pandemic, the United States is in dire need of people to roll up their sleeves to spare a vein for an hour.<\/p>\n

But many potential donors inaccurately think they can\u2019t donate \u2014 mostly because of notions that may have once been true but are no longer relevant, or that weren\u2019t accurate in the first place. There are, however, still restrictions<\/a>\u00a0on queer individuals, which many advocates are fighting against.<\/p>\n

Below are just a few common misconceptions about blood donation guidelines. Read through so you can get to donating, worry-free, if you are eligible.<\/p>\n

Myth 1: People with tattoos can\u2019t donate blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people with tattoos assume they can\u2019t \u2014 or have to wait months \u2015 to donate blood, but that\u2019s not quite accurate.<\/p>\n

\u201cDifferent states have different regulations regarding inspection of the parlors,\u201d said Dr. Yvette Miller, executive medical officer of the American Red Cross. \u201cIf a person received a tattoo in a state that performs an inspection of the facility, then there\u2019s no deferral period. In states where there are no statutes where the tattoo parlor is inspected by the state, then it is a three-month deferral from the date of the tattoo.\u201d<\/p>\n

So if you received your tattoo in an inspected parlor, you\u2019re good to go. If your friend gave you a stick-and-poke, hold off for three months.<\/p>\n

Myth 2: Travel outside of the country equals ineligibility.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being an international traveler doesn\u2019t prevent you from giving blood. Only one specific travel rule exists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe travel restrictions are around malaria,\u201d Miller said. \u201cIf a person spends 24 hours or more traveling to or through a malaria-endemic area, it\u2019s a three-month deferral from when they return to a non-malaria-endemic area.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you were born or have lived outside the U.S., there\u2019s a little more to it regarding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is related to \u201cmad cow\u201d disease. That information is available on the Red Cross website<\/a> if it applies to you.<\/p>\n

Myth 3: If you\u2019ve had a COVID-19 vaccine, you can\u2019t give blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quite the opposite, actually. In most cases, you don\u2019t even have to wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cCOVID-19 vaccines that are acceptable without any deferral periods are the ones that have been approved by the FDA,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

And those not approved by the Food and Drug Administration?<\/p>\n

There are still vaccine trials occurring on things like live attenuated vaccines<\/a>. So if a potential donor has received such a vaccine, they must wait 14 days before donating \u2014 but they aren\u2019t disqualified.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe absolutely care about and take extremely seriously the health and welfare of our donors.\u201d<\/p>\n

– Dr. Yvette Miller<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Myth 4: There\u2019s an age limit on donating blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most individuals 17 years old and up can donate without parental consent, as long as they meet the height and weight requirements<\/a>. Everyone, regardless of age, must weigh at least 110 pounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the American Red Cross, we don\u2019t have an upper age limit,\u201d Miller added. \u201cIn terms of the younger age range, in any state, an individual that is 16 years old can donate\u201d as long as they have written parental consent.<\/p>\n

Myth 5: You can\u2019t donate if you\u2019ve had COVID.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you currently have COVID-19 or are displaying COVID-like symptoms, do not attempt to donate blood. You should be resting and isolating.<\/p>\n

But just because you\u2019ve had COVID-19 in the past doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t donate blood in the future.<\/p>\n

Donors \u201chave to be symptom-free for 14 days from the last day that they had any type of symptoms,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

And if you can\u2019t remember the last day you had symptoms?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want to pressure people into trying to remember something that they can\u2019t. But let me just say, in my experience over the last two years, people definitely know when they start feeling better,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

Myth 6: Donating blood makes you more susceptible to COVID.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As long as you\u2019re taking standard precautions against COVID-19 (hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing), donating blood will not put you at a higher risk of infection. And it won\u2019t increase your exposure any more than the general risk from leaving the house, nor will it weaken your immune system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no evidence that donating blood has an effect on the immune system to increase personal susceptibility to COVID-19,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

It does decrease a person\u2019s iron, however. Before donating, a donor\u2019s iron levels are tested, and a person can\u2019t donate if their levels are too low. Similarly, donors are encouraged to take a multivitamin after giving blood to replenish their iron supply.<\/p>\n

But one thing that\u2019s not a myth? Certain medications can\u2019t be taken before donating, such as blood thinners or experimental drugs. A full deferral list<\/a> is provided on the Red Cross website.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our responsibilities to donors is that we want you to be the healthiest that you can be,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe would never recommend or sanction a person stopping a medication to donate blood. That is completely inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re able, and hopefully you\u2019re willing, go to a donation center or blood bank near you. Help fight the current blood shortage so we can take care of each other. Use the Red Cross website<\/a> to find a location or search for blood banks in your area. Often, local college campuses will also host drives. But be sure to take care of yourself first.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe absolutely care about and take extremely seriously the health and welfare of our donors,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

Article written by Brooke Knisley and originally appeared on The Huffington Post<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s a huge blood shortage in the U.S., and banks need your help. Don’t let these misconceptions deter you from giving.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":630,"featured_media":1180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[493,496,499,14,362],"class_list":["post-1171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-physical-health","tag-blood","tag-blood-drive","tag-donating-blood","tag-health","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\n6 Myths About Donating Blood Right Now<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There's a huge blood shortage in the U.S., and banks need your help. 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