Donating blood or platelets is one of the few things you can do to make an immediate, life-saving difference for others. See below to learn how you can prepare for your blood donation and what you should expect during the donation process. Click here to learn about the different types of donations you can make.

Preparation

Be sure to eat at your regular mealtimes and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. We recommend that you not take aspirin, or products containing aspirin, for at least 72 hours before your scheduled appointment if you are donating platelets.

Procedure

Your first step to giving blood is to fill out a donor registration form. Filling out the registration form entails providing some basic information such as your name, address, age, and answering a series of questions regarding disease history, medication usage and recent travel. You must also show us your photo or signature ID, or your bar-coded NYBC Donor ID Card. A brief medical history is taken, including a check of your pulse, blood pressure and temperature, and a drop of blood is analyzed for hemoglobin (iron) content.

If you meet all donor requirements, you move on to a donor bed. The actual donation procedure is done by skilled, specially trained technicians and takes 10 to 12 minutes for a whole blood donation. Other procedures may take a little longer. All materials, including the needle used for your donation, are new, sterile, disposable and used only once by you for your blood donation. There is no risk of any disease transmission to a donor.

You will give a little less than one pint of whole blood in a standard donation. The average adult has between eight and twelve pints of blood and can easily spare one. In fact, your body replaces blood volume, or plasma, within 24 hours, and red cells need about four to eight weeks for complete replacement. Plan to spend about an hour in total donating blood.

Afterwards

Most people feel great after donating blood. You can resume full activity as long as you feel well. Just avoid heavy lifting, pushing or picking up heavy objects for at least four or five hours after giving blood. You will rest after the donation and be served refreshments. After donating, we also suggest drinking extra fluids for the next 48 hours.

Donor Education Materials:
Making Your Blood Donation Safe
Bruising Fact Sheet
Hemoglobin/Anemia