What to Do Before Giving Blood
Schedule Your Appointment Online: You may find it easier to book your blood bank appointment on the Vitalant website or mobile app. You'll receive helpful appointment reminders and, on the day of your appointment, a reminder to fill out your timesaving Fast Track Health History questionnaire, part of our standard donor screening and medical history screening process, which includes blood pressure screening and infectious disease testing.
Stay Hydrated and Rest: Maintaining hydration before donation and getting enough rest before donation are essential to meeting donor health requirements. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your appointment and get a good night's rest before you visit us. These measures help ensure your body is well prepared for an optimal donation experience.
Bring Your ID: That way, we know you’re really you! We’ll just need something with your name and one of the following: date of birth, donor ID number or your photo.
Avoid Working Out: Before donating blood, it's essential to avoid strenuous exercise or intense physical activity, regardless of whether you're giving whole blood, platelet donation, or plasma donation. Rigorous exercise can temporarily elevate blood pressure and heart rate, which may affect blood pressure screening results at check-in. Refrain from vigorous activities for at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.
Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcoholic Beverages Before Donating: Smoking can impair the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, so if you find yourself unable to kick the habit, at least resist the urge to light one up two hours before donating blood. Alcohol opens the door to dehydration and can affect blood donation eligibility at screening, so try to steer clear of your bar cart for 24 hours prior to your donation.
Don’t Stay Up Too Late the Night Before: We recommend getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep the night before your appointment. If you’re sleep-deprived during the donation process, you could end up feeling groggy. Postpone watching the Late Show for another time, and we promise you’ll be happier for it.
Pre-Donation Nutrition: Eat a Healthy Meal 2-3 Hours Before Donating: Don't eat immediately before the donation or donate on an empty stomach, because both choices could lead to an upset stomach. Stick to a healthy, low-fat meal two to three hours before your appointment to keep your blood sugar stable.
Fuel Your Body: An iron-rich diet lays the groundwork for healthy hemoglobin levels and guards against iron deficiency, both key factors in blood donation eligibility. Eat a nutritious meal before your appointment. To maximize iron absorption, pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, mangos, kiwi, or orange juice. Learn more.
Make Yourself Comfortable: Wear a T-shirt, or at least a shirt with sleeves that can be easily rolled up. It makes the experience much smoother. Oh, and feel free to bring a book or headphones or anything else to pass the time faster! (This will come into play in our next tip.)
What to Do While You Donate
Kick Your Feet Up! This one’s easy because our staff will do all the work for you. All you have to do is lie back and kill eight to 10 minutes. Feel free to read a book, listen to music on your headphones or play a game on your phone. You’ll be done before you know it.
What to Do After Donating
Snack on Something: Relax in our refreshment area for at least 15 minutes to enjoy light snacks along with a beverage to replenish your fluids and energy levels. Doing so will help your body recover and maintain good circulation.
Take It Easy: Avoid vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for about 24 hours after donation. Your body needs time to replenish the fluids and blood components that were generously given. Strenuous exercise immediately following blood donation can put additional stress on your body and potentially prolong recovery. And who wants that? It is also advisable to avoid heavy lifting or intense activities so you don’t put a strain on your blood donation arm.
.jpg "tips_for_succesful_blood_donation_1-(1).jpg")
After your donation, we perform tests in our laboratory and then share your blood type, total cholesterol results and your vitals with you in your confidential donor account. We test and type your blood after your first donation. Your blood type gets stored in your secure online donor account, which you can access any time, along with other important health info like your cholesterol and blood pressure. Or use our Vitalant app to see your blood type a few days after you donate.
By following these tips and preparing for your donation, you can ensure a smooth and successful experience.
Donating blood is a great way to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. It’s also easy and perfectly safe. The entire process only takes less than an hour, and the actual donation time about 10 minutes. Learn more about blood donation.
Every drop of blood has the potential to save a life, and the act of giving blood is a selfless and life-affirming gift. At Vitalant, we understand the vital role donors play in ensuring a stable and sufficient blood supply for trauma and cancer patients, people undergoing major surgery or those with chronic blood disorders who need blood on a regular basis. Learn more about the impact of your blood donation.
We appreciate your commitment to making the world a better place and hope you make your next appointment soon.