It’s National Volunteer Blood Donor month. American Red Cross is always in need of blood donations, so if you have some free time in your busy schedule, why not spend it helping out your local America’s Blood Center? For those who have never given blood before, rest assured: donating blood is a safe process. The needles and bags are used only once, which makes it impossible for any kind of infection to spread.
Eligibility requirements state that you have to be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 lbs. You can donate whole blood once every 56 days, but the wait period between donations varies for different blood components. Giving two units of red blood cells, for example, can only be done every 112 days. You also have to be considered “healthy,” which is determined by a medical professional at the time of the donation. For more details on eligibility, check out American Red Cross’s guidelines.
Get a good night’s sleep before the day you’re supposed to donate blood. It’s also important to eat a balanced before your donation. Red Cross recommends iron-rich foods — like meat, fish, leafy vegetables, cereal, etc. — and be sure to drink lots of fluids — juice, milk, or even soda. Avoid things like hamburgers or ice cream, since tests for infection can be affected by lipids in those foods.
Wear comfortable clothing, and preferably a shirt with sleeves that can be easily be pulled above the elbow.
The time commitment is about an hour, most of it being safety procedures leading up to the actual donation. You have to register, then give a health history, and get a “mini-physical.” The donation itself only takes ten minutes, during which the best advice we can give is to simply relax. You might also want to pack some juice or a cookie for after the donation. Many blood drives or donation centers will give you a free cookie (but this way, you’ll have two cookies).
Some people feel a little light-headed immediately afterward, but the feeling goes away quickly. Even if you feel perfectly fine, be sure to just relax for ten to fifteen minutes before returning to work or other normal daily activities. Don’t do anything strenuous, like exercise, for at least five hours after your donation and drink lots of water.
