Donate Blood
Image: redcross.org
Corvallis, Oregon, resident Cody Gotchall attends Linn-Benton Community College and hopes one day to get a job in mathematical pattern recognition. In his free time, Cody Gotchall likes to give back by donating blood with the American Red Cross (ARC).
Donating blood can be an easy yet potentially life-saving gesture that may end up helping someone in desperate need. The ARC website offers multiple tips for donors who have just given blood, including these three.
1. Drink More Liquid – After donating, ARC recommends drinking an extra eight ounces of liquid over the next 24 hours. Moreover, it advises against drinking any alcohol during that time.
2. Take it Easy – Avoid any strenuous work or exercise for the rest of the day after donating blood. Should you begin experiencing lightheadedness or dizziness, ARC suggests you sit or lie down until it subsides.
3. Stop Bleeding – If you notice yourself bleeding from the needle’s puncture mark, raise your arm while applying pressure for five to 10 minutes or until the bleeding subsides.
Cody Gotchall 