What to Expect

1. Our staff and volunteers will sign you in and go over basic eligibility and donation information.
2. You will read information about donating blood, and will be asked to show a donor card, driver's license, or other form(s) of ID.
3. You will answer some questions during a private and confidential interview about your health history and places you have traveled.
4. We will check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level present in a sample of blood. 
5. We will cleanse an area on your arm and insert a brand new sterile needle for the blood draw. This feels like a quick pinch and is over in seconds.
6. The actual donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you will be seated comfortably.
7. When approximately a pint of blood has been collected, the donation is complete and a staff person will place a bandage on your arm.
8. After donating, you should have a snack and something to drink in the refreshments area. You can leave the site after 10-15 minutes and continue with your normal daily activities.
9. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment knowing that you have helped save lives.

Donation Requirements

1. You must weigh at least 110lbs to be eligible for blood donation for your own safety.
2. If you are not feeling well on the day of donation, please feel better and come back another day - donors presenting with a fever or a phlegm producing cough are not eligible to donate. Wait until you have completed antibiotic treatment for sinus, throat or lung infection before coming to donate.
3. If you have traveled in an area where malaria is found, you are not eligible to donate for 12 months after the last date of travel in such areas. 3 years must elapse after living in a country where malaria is found before you are eligible to donate again. For more information check here.
4. If you have spent long periods of time in the UK and certain parts of Europe, you are not eligible to donate.
5. If you were born in or have lived in certain countries in Western Africa, or have had close contact with persons who were born in or who lived in certain West African countries, you are not eligible to donate.
6. If you're unsure as to whether or not you are eligible or which of these do or do not apply to you, please read the full list of requirements or feel free to ask the Blood Drive Coordinators: Margaret Yim, James Mandilk, and Hetal Mistry.

   Click here for further information.

General Guidelines

• Drink extra fluids before your donation.
  • You can begin to drink extra fluids the day before your donation. Water and juices are great, but avoid a lot of caffeine.
• Be sure to eat.
  • Don't skip breakfast or lunch on the day of your blood donation. Your body will need extra energy to donate a pint of blood. You will also feel better after donating if you have eaten a healthy meal (avoid foods high in fat) a few hours before. You should eat foods high in iron before donating in order to ensure a safe hemoglobin level. Rasins are a great snack, and high in iron too!
• No strenuous exercise before or after donating.
  • If you do exercise before donating, be sure to drink even more fluids to replace what you lost during your work out.
• Don't drink hot liquids, smoke, or chew gum just prior to donating.
  • This can cause your temperature to be falsely elevated.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
  • Wear clothing with sleeves that can easily be rolled up above the elbow, as well as something that you feel comfortable in while on the bed during the donation process.
• Relax.
  • You may feel a little nervous, especially if this is your first time donating blood. Most people find that donating blood is much easier than the imagined, and fun too!
• Eat iron-rich foods
  • Every year, a large number of potential blood donors are turned away because of low-iron in their blood. To prevent this from happening to you, please check this web site for a list of iron-rich foods and make sure you start building your iron count one week before your scheduled appointment.

Athletes

It's likely that you can donate, even in-season. Talk to your coach before donating.