What should you do BEFORE you give blood?
You can do a few things before you give blood to make sure that you have a good experience:
- Make sure you feel good. Don't give blood if
you feel ill.
- Eat a good breakfast or lunch. But avoid
fatty foods. They can affect some of the tests done on donated blood to make
sure it's safe.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get plenty of sleep the night before.
What happens when you donate blood?
You will fill out some forms and answer questions about your health.
A health professional will measure your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. He or she also will use a finger-stick test to make sure that you have enough iron in your blood.
The health professional will clean the arm you will use to give blood. Then he or she will put a needle into a vein on the inside of your elbow. The needle is attached to a bag to collect the blood. You will probably feel
a quick pinch when the needle goes in.
You may be given a soft ball or another object to squeeze every few seconds to help the blood flow.
When the bag is full, the health professional will take out the needle. He or she will wrap a bandage around your arm to stop any bleeding.
What should you do AFTER you give blood?
Right after giving blood, you'll be asked to sit for a while and have some water or juice and a snack.
When you leave, get up slowly to make sure that you're not lightheaded.
In the hours after you
give blood, make sure to:
- Drink plenty of fluids to help replace the
lost fluid.
- Eat foods that have a lot of iron, such as lean red
meat, raisins, and beans.
- Limit your physical activity for
several hours.
Most people feel fine after they give blood. But if you
feel a little lightheaded, lie down for a while. Drink plenty of fluids, and
have some snacks. Call the blood bank or clinic if you feel sick within 24 hours after giving blood.
Your body will replace the lost fluid in 24
hours. (It takes a few weeks to replace red blood cells.) You will have to wait 56 days before you can give whole blood again.
What are the risks of donating blood?
There are no
health risks in giving blood. You CANNOT get or
other diseases from donating blood. The needle and bag used to
collect blood are sterile and prepackaged. A new package is used every time.