THE municipal government, through its Mexico Community Hospital, hosted a bloodletting drive in partnership with Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital for the Hemodialysis patients at the Mexico Community Hospital Hemodialysis Center.
The event aimed at raising the availability of emergency blood supply for patients here.
During bloodletting drives, walk-in donors are allowed since they will undergo screening first to determine if they are qualified to donate blood.
Those aged 18-35 years old can give blood while donors aged 16-17 may donate but there should be parental consent. The donor must at least be 50 kilos and supports a healthy lifestyle.
Prior to the bloodletting activity, donors must abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages, increase fluid intake as well as rest adequately 24 hours before giving blood, take a non-fatty breakfast and wash arms before donating blood.
The blood donors would have their blood donations checked before being issued to those in need of blood transfusions. Individuals with communicable diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis and HIV are not allowed to donate blood for such diseases may cause hazard to the blood recipient.
Bloodletting has its benefits; the bone marrow is stimulated to produce new and active cells which in turn make the blood forming organs function more effectively. Donors will also know their blood type, hemoglobin and blood pressure.