General Guidelines for Blood Donation Be in good general health and feeling well. Be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years old with parental consent in some states). Weigh at least 110 pounds. Additional weight requirements apply for donors 18 years old and younger and all high school donors.
What are the major blood types?If your blood type is:You can give to:You can receive from:AB PositiveAB+ OnlyAll Blood TypesO NegativeAll Blood TypesO-A NegativeA-, A+, AB-, AB+A-, O-B NegativeB-, B+, AB-, AB+B-, O-4 more rows
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.
Donation You'll go into a donor room where you'll lie down on a cot. A phlebotomist (an employee who draws blood) will clean your arm and insert a new, sterile needle into your vein. This takes just a few seconds, and it can feel like a quick pinch. You'll donate about 1 pint (one unit) of blood.Aug 25, 2020
What are the rarest blood types?O positive: 35%O negative: 13%A positive: 30%A negative: 8%B positive: 8%B negative: 2%AB positive: 2%AB negative: 1%
Type O negative red blood cells are considered the safest to give to anyone in a life-threatening emergency or when there's a limited supply of the exact matching blood type. That's because type O negative blood cells don't have antibodies to A, B or Rh antigens.Jul 28, 2020
type ABIn the U.S., the blood type AB, Rh negative is considered the rarest, while O positive is most common.May 18, 2020
Five Things NOT To Do Before Giving BloodDon't eat immediately before donating. ... Don't give blood if you feel sick. ... Don't worry about drinking coffee, tea or any other caffeinated beverages before donating. ... Don't smoke or drink alcoholic beverages before donating. ... Don't stay up too late the night before.Dec 7, 2021
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.
Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation. A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days, or double red cells every 112 days. A healthy donor may donate platelets as few as 7 days apart, but a maximum of 24 times a year.
Donating blood isn't a pain-free experience. You may experience pain when the needle is inserted into your arm. You shouldn't feel any pain while the blood is being drawn, but you may experience an uncomfortable sensation at the site where the needle is inserted into your arm.
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