To donate blood the donor must be healthy. The donor must feel well, be active and able to carry out normal activities without any problem.
Minimum Requirements
➤ Donor should be between 18 to 65 years of age.
➤ Donor must weigh at least 45 kgs.
➤ Donor's hemoglobin should be at least above 12.5 grams.
➤ Donor should wait for at least 3 months for male and 4 month for female between 2 donations.
➤ Donor should not be fasting. He / she should have eaten a normal meal and should have plenty of fluids.
➤ Blood donation takes about an hour and is relatively painless.
Here's what to expect when you give blood
➤ You'll be asked to complete a health questionnaire. The purpose is to ensure that you’re in good health, and that your blood donation won’t jeopardize either your health or the potential recipient.
➤ The staff will check your temperature. This is to ensure that you do not have an infection. A sign of an infection can be a raised temperature. Such an infection could potentially be passed along to someone receiving your blood, so they want to be sure you’re healthy. You’ll have your pulse rate and blood pressure taken. Your weight will be measured.
➤ If you pass the health screening process, a phlebotomist (technician trained to take blood), nurse or someone else medically qualified will draw blood.
After donating
➤ After donating blood, you’ll be offered juice and a snack.
➤ Be sure to rehydrate yourself by drinking plenty of fluids.
➤ Avoid heavy lifting after donating blood. Lifting something heavy may cause the small mark where the blood was drawn to bruise dramatically or bleed a bit.
➤ Giving blood takes only an hour and can save many lives. Within just one week of giving blood, your body has replaced it. It takes just an hour, but adds years to the life of another person.
