
Before Donating
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![]() | Get a good night’s sleep |
![]() | Have a good breakfast or lunch |
![]() | Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate (avoid tea, coffee, or other beverages with caffeine) |
![]() | Eat iron-rich foods — red meat, fish, poultry or liver, beans, iron-fortified cereals, raisins and prunes |
![]() | Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries, or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fatty materials — lipids — that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods. When this occurs and required testing cannot be performed, the blood may need to be discarded. |
During the Donation
![]() | Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow |
![]() | Show the staff any "good veins" that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood |
![]() | Relax |
![]() | Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink in the refreshments area immediately after donating |
After Donation
![]() | Rehydrate by drinking plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours |
![]() | Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation |
![]() | If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes |
![]() | In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes; if bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours |
![]() | If for any reason, something doesn’t feel right, call the number provided to you after your donation |
![]() | Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives. |
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