For the month of December, Prince George blood donors can do both with one fell swoop.
Canadian Blood Services launched its second annual Bleed and Feed campaign on Thursday, which it hopes will result in filling the blood bank and the Salvation Army's food bank.
"We ran it last year and had a phenomenal response," said Canadian Blood Services (CBS) community development co-ordinator Tamara Sweet.
"Across the province, we met or exceeded our blood donation target, which is always a good thing because the time between Christmas and New Year's is usually the hardest time to meet our clinic needs. It's a busy time and people don't think about blood donation. The need for blood stays pretty much the same throughout the year."
People are being asked to bring donations of nonperishable food items with them when they come to give blood at the donor CBS clinic at 2277 Westwood Dr.
"Throughout the year, so many different organizations and businesses provide to us, and this is just one way we can provide back to the community," said Sweet.
Sweet recommends donors eat a high-protein meal and drink plenty of liquids before they give blood. Each donor will have one unit of blood (half of a litre) taken out during the one-hour process, which includes a refuelling stop for cookies and juice. Adult females usually have between four and five litres of blood in their bodies, while male adults have between six and seven litres.
"You won't notice a difference if you've prepared your body," said Sweet.
"If people have a huge fear of needles we let them come in and look around to see what's involved. Usually, people with only a mild aversion to needles get over their fear when they realize they're saving three lives with their one hour of time."
Each unit of blood contains red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Through a process called apherisis, the blood is put through a high-speed centrifuge to separate the four components.
Only the red cells, platelets and plasma are used in transfusions.
Red cells (erythrocytes) make up 40 to 50 per cent of blood volume and are used to carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and remove carbon dioxide. Platelets (thrombocytes) are used to clot the blood to help seal wounds. Plasma is the liquid that builds blood pressure to carry the other three blood components through the body and remove waste products. It makes up about 55 per cent of blood volume.
White cells (leukocytes) are used by the body to fight off infections, but they are discarded because of their potential to harm donor recipients.
The blood clinic is open Wednesday and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments can be booked on-line at www.blood.ca or by calling 1-888-2 DONATE (366283).
