Donation criteria updates mean more people can give blood

All it takes to save a life is one hour. And tomorrow, Nov. 20, Newmarket blood donor clinic staff hope to fill 66 vacant appointments with donors who can help to ensure hospital patients have the blood they need when they need it.

“We build in some walk-in slots for people who want to donate blood, and we do our best to take as many as we can so we don’t turn anybody away, but it’s always best to make an appointment,” Canadian Blood Services event coordinator Sharon Schaab said.

On the day you give blood, remember to bring identification with your full name and signature or full name and photograph, a blood services' donor ID card or driver’s license is preferred. Also bring along a list of current medications you’re taking, if applicable, and eat well and drink plenty of water prior to donating.

If you’re not sure if you’re a candidate to donate blood, take the Canadian Blood Services eligibility quiz as a first step.

For example, did you know you must be at least 17 years of age, weigh more than 110 lbs., have not had a tattoo or piercing in the last three months, travelled outside Canada or the continental United States in the last 12 months, had a cleaning or a filling in the last 24 hours or dental surgery in the last 72 hours, or are pregnant or had a baby within the last six months?

But since recent updates to donation criteria, more people are eligible than ever.

As of spring 2018, you can donate blood if the following conditions are met, courtesy of Canadian Blood Services:

Heart conditions: If you have a heart condition such as a coronary artery disease or past heart attack, you may be able to donate after in the next 12 months if you haven't had any symptoms, don't have any physical restrictions, and haven't had surgery or medical procedures for your condition.
Malaria risk areas: Malaria areas have been updated. Some previously unacceptable destinations no longer have deferral periods. Call 1-888-236-6283 to check your eligibility.
Celiac: If you have celiac disease, you are now eligible to donate as long as you are feeling well on the day of your donation appointment.
Tattoos and piercings: Your temporary deferral period after receiving a tattoo or piercing is now three months. Donors previously had to wait six months before they could become eligible to donate.
Microepilation: If you use a personal device for microepilation, you are eligible to donate.
Marijuana and alcohol: If you are sober, show no evidence of intoxication and can give an informed consent, you are eligible to donate. Prior to these changes, donors had to wait 12 hours after their resolution of intoxication. Many people believe that they are deferred because of past marijuana use, but that is not the case.
Hepatitis, jaundice: There is no longer a lifelong deferral for donors with hepatitis, other than hepatitis B or C. Many cases of hepatitis or jaundice have non-infectious causes or are caused by viruses (other than hepatitis B or C) that are non-infectious once resolved. You are now only asked for your recent history of hepatitis, in the last six months.
Recipients of blood and blood products (and sexual partners): You are now eligible to donate blood after six months of receiving your last transfusion of blood or blood products. That previous deferral period was one year. Also, donors or their sexual partners are no longer asked about clotting factor concentrates. In some cases, this allows previously deferred donors and their sexual partners to give blood. If you have questions about your eligibility, call to speak with one of the trained health professionals at 1-888-236-6283.
Epilepsy: You are now eligible to donate blood six months after your last seizure and, even earlier in some cases, if you are on medication to prevent seizures, provided the medication itself is acceptable under our eligibility criteria. Call 1-888-236-6283 to verify.
Togo or Cameroon: You are no longer asked if you or your sexual partner has visited Togo or Cameroon in the past year. This change is thanks to international HIV surveillance and the latest scientific evidence showing these areas are no longer at high risk of variant strains of HIV. Please note, there is still a chance that donors who have recently travelled to these countries may be deferred due to malaria risk.

If you’re good to go as a donor, the standard donation is about 450 millilitres, or slightly less than two cups. This represents a small portion of the blood in a person’s body, as the average adult has about five litres.

Here are the upcoming blood donor clinics in Newmarket:

Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 1:30 to 7:30 pm

Newmarket Community Centre

200 Duncan Dr.

66 appointments open

Monday, Dec. 10 from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn Newmarket

100 Pony Dr.

137 appointments open

Friday, Dec. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Newmarket Community Centre

200 Duncan Dr.