Giving a blood donation can be scary. Unfortunately, we are chronically low on blood for life saving surgeries and transfusions. Contrary to what many believe, donating blood is an easy and rewarding task. Not only do you feel fulfilled from doing something for others, but blood banks often offer prizes for your donation.
Before you make a blood donation you should decipher if you qualify. High iron content is an important aspect of donating blood. Many women are iron deficient. Knowing beforehand can save time. You cannot give blood if you’ve gotten a tattoo in the past year. Possible contamination could have occurred when getting inked, which cannot be risked. Finally, the ...
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Giving a blood donation can be scary. Unfortunately, we are chronically low on blood for life saving surgeries and transfusions. Contrary to what many believe, donating blood is an easy and rewarding task. Not only do you feel fulfilled from doing something for others, but blood banks often offer prizes for your donation.
Before you make a blood donation you should decipher if you qualify. High iron content is an important aspect of donating blood. Many women are iron deficient. Knowing beforehand can save time. You cannot give blood if you’ve gotten a tattoo in the past year. Possible contamination could have occurred when getting inked, which cannot be risked. Finally, the weight requirement is 110 pounds, though this is different for ages 18 and under.
On the day of donation, you should be wearing a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled above the elbows. Though not required, it is recommended to eat a healthy meal beforehand and drink 16 oz of water. Fatty foods can affect the way your blood tests for certain diseases which can possibly render it unusable. If you have a donor card, you should bring that along with your ID. For more information, check out the links to left.
