By Khriscielle Yalao
The city government of San Juan, in partnership with Cardinal Santos Medical Center, announced on Thursday that it will hold its annual Birthday Bloodletting Program, under the banner "Dugo ng San Juaneño Para sa San Juaneño”, on Dec. 4, Saturday, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the San Juan Gym.
In a post on his official Facebook page, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora encouraged San Juaneños to participate in the program as he stressed that donating their blood would be able to aid and save the lives of those who need it.
The bloodletting program is also open to non-San Juan residents who want to donate blood.
Those who will participate in the program must be 18-59 years old. 60-65 year old participants are allowed if they are regular donors. 16-17 year old participants are required to have their parent’s consent.
Donors under medication, specifically those taking oral maintenance medication for hypertension and diabetes, are allowed if it’s controlled.
Participants with asthma are only acceptable if asymptomatic and on normal medication. Female participants must not be menstruating on the day.
Participants must not have had tattoos, tooth extraction, acupuncture, and body piercings for a year.
Those with HIV infection, with or without symptoms of AIDS or Hepatitis, are not allowed to donate blood.
Participants must not have fever, colds, cough, sore throat, and/or loose bowel movement on the date of donation, and must have experienced no side effects or deferral from the COVID-19 vaccine.
To ensure a safe blood donation, participants are encouraged to have taken at least 6 hours of sleep, to not ingest alcohol within 24 hours before the date, and to eat and drink water or juice before the blood donation.
Other guidelines include:
Weight: at least 110 lbs (approximately 50 kg)
Blood Pressure: between 90/60 - 140/90
Pulse Rate: 50 - 100 beats per minute
Hemoglobin: 125g/L (1.25 g/dL) or not anemic