January marks the 52nd anniversary of National Blood Donor Month – a time to recognize the importance of giving blood and platelets while celebrating the lifesaving impact of those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. It is also a time to encourage new and lapsed donors to resolve to give blood during one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply – the winter months.
Caribbean National Weekly caught up with Jamaican Abi-Gaye Smythe, blood donation advocate and the founder of the ‘I Have a Heart’ Foundation as she tells us the importance of giving blood and also clears up some of the common misconceptions people have about donating blood.
1. Why this cause, what made you an advocate for blood donation?
There is a constant need for blood. Every day people need blood including heart disease patients undergoing surgery. I am a heart disease patient who has undergone five surgeries to date – there always has to be blood on standby in case of an emergency. I see daily where people are on social media appealing to the public to donate blood for their family and friends – this is so because there is always a shortage of blood. As such, I do what I can to help build and replenish the blood bank’s general supply.
2. What is the importance of giving blood?
Simply put, giving blood saves lives. And donating one pint of blood saves three lives and when an individual donates blood, they could be saving their own life or that of a loved one. In addition to the physical/health benefits of donating blood, donating blood is like a savings account with cash; each time you donate, you are storing units. So, in the event there is an emergency in the future, an individual can pull from their account to help themself or their loved one.
3. What advice would you give to persons who are afraid of donating blood?
There is nothing to be afraid of. Fight the fear. It is a simple and easy process. Donating blood makes you a hero because when you donate blood, you are saving lives and it just might be your very own or that of a loved one.
4. What is the most fulfilling part of what you do?
Knowing that I am saving lives, knowing that I am helping Jamaica’s health sector and by extension my country.
5. Who is eligible to donate blood?
Individuals aged 17-60 years old, persons weighing 110 pounds and over, persons with hypertension, asthma, sickle cell trait, diabetes (without the use of insulin), persons with tattoos and piercings over a year old.
6. What are the safety precautions in place when you conduct your blood drives?
So before you even get to the blood drive you are given instructions on what to do before donating – like having a meal before coming to donate. If you have not eaten, refreshments are given. There are doctors and nurses on hand to conduct screening like blood pressure, hemoglobin checks etc., to ensure you are fit to donate. After donation, individuals are given sweet refreshments to keep them from getting dizzy or having other problems due to low glucose levels.
7. What food can people eat to improve/increase their blood count?
Red meat, such as beef, pork, and poultry…. dark leafy greens, such as callaloo, broccoli…. dried fruit, like raisins…. peas, beans, and other legumes…seafood…. iron-fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals…. seeds and nuts…. organ meats such as liver and kidney,
8. How often can someone donate blood?
Every three months
9. How do you prepare before donating blood?
Weeks/months before: Eat iron rich foods….1-2 days before: don’t smoke or consume alcohol…The day of: Eat a healthy meal at least 1-3 hours before and , stay hydrated.
Abi-Gaye is a zealous and spirited heart disease advocate and has been since 2012, after she was diagnosed with a rare and progressive heart disease, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD), and underwent her first of five cardiac procedures, the most recent being June 2019. Though she now depends on a battery in her chest to survive, that does not stop her from advocating and helping others through her ‘I Have a Heart’ Foundation. The foundation aims to promote, educate and advocate for the need for heart disease awareness in Jamaica.
For the past ten years, she has been raising awareness for heart disease, and between 2019 and 2020, in partnership with the OID from New York, her foundation helped 23 indigent patients receive free heart surgery. They are now preparing to assist an additional 17-20 patients… She has also partnered with the National Blood Transfusion Service to host blood drives to help build and replenish the blood bank’s general supply. To date she has done nine blood drives which have garnered well over 200 units of blood. Her advocacy has also led to a meeting with the prime minister which resulted in the government offering scholarships in Perfusion Medicine to aid Jamaica’s cardiac care system. Her main goal in life is to change and save lives, and she is just getting started.
