 |  | | Before Donating BloodBefore you donate blood, please familiarize yourself with the following guidelines to ensure a successful and pleasant donation experience. What You Should Know Prior to DonatingThere is more than one type of blood donation. You have some choices about how to make a difference in life! - Whole blood donation - you donate a pint of whole blood which can be used either whole or separated into blood components. The actual donation takes about 15 minutes.
- Apheresis donation - you donate a specific blood component, such as red blood cells. More red blood cells can be donated at one time by apheresis than by a whole blood donation. The apheresis donation is done using a machine which separates out the desired blood component. An apheresis donation may take up to an hour, so come ready to read or relax!
What You Should Do Prior To Donating- Make an appointment beforehand to minimize your wait time.
- Drink plenty of fluids and have a good meal before you donate.
- Review the donor requirements and verify that you are indeed eligible to donate at this time.
- If you plan to donate on a bloodmobile, make sure to review the bloodmobile schedule to verify that it has not been cancelled or rescheduled.
- If you are a 17 or 18 year-old high school student, you must have a signed permission slip to donate blood.
What You Should Eat Before DonatingA healthy diet helps ensure a successful blood donation, and also makes you feel better! Check out the following recommended foods to eat prior to your donation. What You Should Bring When Donating- Photo ID
- List of medications you are taking
- List of places you have visited outside of the U.S. in the past 3 years
- A friend to donate with you!
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