If you want to become a donor in Spain, it is very easy to do.
On any search engine, type in Puntos de donación, choose a date, time, and location that is convenient for you.
There are departments that collect blood on a permanent basis, but most are mobile teams that set up beds and provide blood collection in cities on different days and at certain times.
If you decide to become a donor in Spain for the first time, come at the specified time, you must have a TIE and SIP with you. Your data will be entered into the computer, a red plastic card will be sent to the specified actual address within two weeks, confirming your donor status. The results of the blood test will come in a separate letter: this is the Rh factor, hemoglobin level, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis test. After registration, you will receive an SMS message: if the blood collection team plans a visit to your city in the future.
Next, you fill out a questionnaire about whether you have had various illnesses, whether you have taken antibiotics, whether you have had blood transfusions, where you have traveled, etc. The doctor will analyze your data, ask clarifying questions,
measures blood pressure and oxygen, explains precautions and provides details about the entire process. Blood can be donated once every 2 months, for women no more than 3 times a year, and for men - four times. A person can become a donor starting from 18 years old, but not weighing more than 50 kg.
Next, you will be invited to a free couch, blood will be taken for analysis, and at the same time, a machine will collect blood into a bag.
There is water, Pepsi, nuts, and cookies in the room. To my surprise, there are a lot of people, but there is no queue, and few people took any of the offered treats.
The process is not rushed, the staff is attentive.
Registration takes about 10 minutes, blood sampling takes 15 minutes, and then you are under the supervision of doctors for up to 10 minutes if everything is fine.
In the first case, they may give a gift, for example, I was given sunglasses. The frames of which are made from recycled wheat. Unexpected and pleasant.
And for your information: in the Valencian Community, 700 patients need donated blood every day. So, if you have the time and inspiration, do a good deed.
Author of the text – Tetyana Bychkova