You must be in good health at the time you donate. You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection. If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure.
While donated blood is free, there are significant costs associated with collecting, testing, preparing components, labeling, storing and shipping; recruiting and educating donors; and quality assurance. As a result, processing fees are charged to recover costs.
Before your blood donation:Get plenty of sleep the night before you plan to donate.Eat a healthy meal before your donation. ... Drink plenty of water before the donation.Check to see if any medications you are taking or recently took would prevent you from donating. ... Wear a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up.Mar 4, 2021
type ABIn the U.S., the blood type AB, Rh negative is considered the rarest, while O positive is most common.May 18, 2020
How long will it take to replenish the pint of blood I donate? Your body will replace the blood volume (plasma) within 48 hours. It will take four to eight weeks for your body to completely replace the red blood cells you donated.
The side effects of donating blood include nausea and dizziness and fainting in some cases. You may develop a raised bump or experience continued bleeding and bruising at the needle site too. Some people might experience pain and physical weakness after donating blood.
One blood donation can save up to three lives, according to DeSimone. People usually donate because it feels good to help others, and altruism and volunteering have been linked to positive health outcomes, including a lower risk for depression and greater longevity.Jan 24, 2022
A lot of people, for instance, wonder if it hurts to donate blood. Here's the truth: it will pinch for a second. Odds are extremely high that in your adult life you've had your blood drawn, and that is exactly how the pinch feels, except that the needle will stay in your arms for the duration of the blood collection.Jun 14, 2016