By Laura Alexander

What could truly be a fatal misconception about the value of those over 65 may also be the reason for some unnecessary deaths in Panama’s hospitals. 

It has been said that blood donors must be between the ages of 18 and 65 and body weight over 110/120 pounds. But it is much easier for those over 65 to donate than you might think.
The active healthy lifestyle of many retirees, golf courses, gyms, aerobics, tennis and more suggest we too, should be, could be, and are an important factor in the saving of lives.
While all potential 65-plus donors , are subject to “Doctor Criteria”, h based on medical history and the health of the donor, is as simple as a quick questionnaire and visual review performed on-site by the Blood Unit’s authorized personnel.
The visual review includes simple tests such as blood pressure, as well as listening to your heart rate and lungs. Both the questionnaire and the tests can be completed in less than 25 minutes.
Documentation is not required unless the examining physician feels results do not adequately match physical appearance and/or basic testing. Following this, your sleeve is rolled up and you are on your way to saving a life.
As with all donors, there is a preliminary blood test to determine such things as the level of hemoglobin in your blood, then the donation is received along with 2 small vials to use for quality testing. From prick to finish; no more than 10 minutes has passed.
Total - 35 minutes out of your time to save a life; simple as that.
Not all hospitals in Panama are able to accept blood, however. We have found two hospitals which not only have the facilities, but also accept, and are presently IN NEED OF donors (whether 18 to 65 or 65+). Hospital del Niño (the Children’s Hospital), and Hospital Santo Tomas; both on Avenida Balboa.
Hospital del Niño’s Blood Bank is on the hospital’s third floor. Hours of operation:
Monday-Thursday: 7:00am to 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00am to 2:00pm
Hospital Santo Tomas’s Blood Unit is on PB. Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday: 7:00am to 3:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am to 3:00pm

All donors are accepted on a drop-in basis only; appointments are not even taken at either hospital. Priority is given to those willing and able to donate to the general blood bank (Blood For Everyone).

We hope you now realize you can roll up that golf sleeve, donate, and save a life (as the old saying goes…it just might be your own!).

Laura Alexander who is the driving force behind Expat Explorers was inspired by a recent call for a rare blood donation, published in Newsroom to develop a program enabling expats and others to give Blood For Everyone. More to come…Editor