January is National Blood Donor Month, and blood donors with nonprofit Vitalant can help save lives and can learn about their own health with the complimentary pre-donation health check.
Longtime donor Howard Berger said the health check helped to save his own life not once, but twice.
In 2019, pre-donation health checks indicated Berger had an elevated pulse. He mentioned it at his next medical checkup and further tests revealed major blockages in three arteries. He had had no symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath.
After he recovered from heart bypass surgery and attempted to donate again, his health check indicated his iron level was too low. After seeing a doctor and additional testing, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was caught early and removed with a successful surgery. He’s since been able to return to donating blood.
“I didn’t feel any symptoms when my heart rate was too high and I certainly didn’t feel any symptoms when I had colon cancer; I felt perfectly normal,” Berger said. “If I had not been a donor, I could’ve either dropped dead of a heart attack or by the time they would have found that I had colon cancer, it could have been stage four or worse.”
Free health check at each blood donation visit
At each donation visit, the Vitalant “mini-physical” checks the donor’s pulse, temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin (iron) levels to ensure they are healthy enough to give blood. Donors also learn their blood type and cholesterol level after giving, and all those results are available in their confidential donor account.
Vitalant Chief Medical and Scientific Officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo said the health data donors can track over time are valuable.
“With about an hour of their time, not only are blood donors helping save patients’ lives, but they can keep tabs on their own health indicators,” Vassallo said. “Noticing trends over time and sharing those during regular visits with a primary provider is a great way to head off possible health concerns before they can become serious health issues.”
Another benefit for donors, they can earn points with each donation toward free gifts as a special thank you when they opt in to Vitalant’s Donor Rewards program.
Healthy, eligible donors are needed every day to make sure blood is readily available for patients who are treated for trauma, undergoing surgeries, fighting cancer, living with blood disorders and more.
Find a convenient blood drive or donation center at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant blood donor app or call 877-25-VITAL ([877] 258-4825).
Upcoming local blood drives
Vitalant will operate multiple upcoming blood drives in Pagosa Springs.
There will be a blood drive at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1879 Majestic Drive, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 3 to 7 p.m.
On Feb. 3, a drive will take place at Grace in Pagosa, 1044 Park Ave., from 12:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Another drive will take place at the same location on Feb. 20 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by another from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 20.
For more information or to make an appointment, visit vitalant.org, download and use the app or call 877-25-VITAL.
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