How to Donate Blood to the American Red Cross

North America's blood banks are running dry. Only 30 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood—even worse, 5 percent of eligible donors find their way to a local blood drive in a given year. Millions of people pass up the opportunity to save lives because they're too busy, afraid of needles, or because the closest drive is over 10 miles away from where they live. Whether you are a first-time donor or just haven't given in a few years, it's time to put aside your excuses. These easy steps will show you how to find a drive and make an appointment, how to prepare to give blood, and what to do when you're done.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Finding a local Blood Drive

1. Find a Red Cross–sponsored blood drive in your area. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) and talk to a representative. You can also visit the American Red Cross website.

2. 
   Specify how far you're willing to travel

   Once you log on to the website, enter your 5-digit zip code in the form field and press search. If a message pops up saying that a drive cannot be found, it means that there are no drives within 2 miles of your location. Hit your browser's back button and try an advanced search, where you can specify how far you are willing to go. You can select as far as 50 miles away but often results appear within 5 or 10 miles of your zip code.

3. 
   Click on the Blood Drive Contact's name to sign up

   Select one of the drive locations in the "Blood Drives" box and a list of time slots will appear to the right. If you have no logged in, a message will prompt you to log in or create a blood donor profile. If you do not want to create an online profile, you can press the "Info" balloon to get contact information for the drive. Clicking on the contact's name will bring up your email client so you may sign up directly.

4. Mark the date, time and location of your appointment down in your calendar or agenda—the last thing you want to do is forget to show up.

Donating Blood

5. Show up for your blood drive's designated date, time, and location. Wear clothing with sleeves that you can roll above your elbows.

6. Locate the sign-in desk, greet the American Red Cross Representative and follow his or her instructions. Make sure to carefully read the donor eligibility guidelines.

7. When a licensed nurse is available, go to his or her station and follow the instructions. You will need to submit to a quick mini-physical where the nurse will take your temperature, pulse and blood pressure to make sure you feel well enough to donate. You will also take a finger-prick test to determine iron sufficiency and answer questions about your medical history, either on paper or on a small personal computer.

8. If you are feeling well and still eligible to donate based on your medical history, you will be led to a small table where you will verify your identity and lay down. A nurse will locate a large vein inside the elbow, disinfect the area with an iodine swab, and insert the needle to start the donation. You will likely be given a small wand or ball to roll in your fingers to keep your blood flowing. On average it can take 7 to 10 minutes to fill a 1-pint donation bag.

9. When the bag is full, a nurse will remove the needle, cover the site with a gauze bandage and instruct you to lift your arm into the air while applying pressure to the site. The nurse will help you sit up to make sure you are not dizzy and give you a sheet of aftercare instructions and a phone number you can call if you experience problems or decide your blood should not be donated after all.

Aftercare

10. After donation, it's smart to stop by the refreshment table and take some cookies and juice. They will raise your blood sugar and help your body adjust to the slight blood loss. After about 15 minutes, you should be ready to resume your daily activities including driving, though heavy lifting is not advised for five hours after donation.

11. You've just lost a pint of your body fluids, so be sure to rehydrate by drinking plenty of juice, water, and other liquids over the next two days.

12. If you feel light-headed or dizzy, sit down and elevate your feet until the feeling passes.

13. You may remove your bandage after 5 to 6 hours following donation. If bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3 to 5 minutes. Bruising may occur at the site that can last up to 10 days; applying an ice pack for the first 24 hours can help with bleeding and bruising.

14. If you experience bruising that lasts longer than two weeks or feel concerned about another symptom, call the American Red Cross toll free number on your aftercare instruction sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment. Donor drive lines sometimes get backed up due to late appointments.
• If your veins are hard to see beneath the skin, try drinking two or three 16 oz. bottles of water in the morning before you donate or while you are waiting in line. Hydrated veins pop out more easily, saving time and preventing unnecessary needle sticks.
• Read the donor eligibility guidelines carefully. If you miss something that applies to you and go through the whole donation process, you will just be wasting time and medical supplies.
• Try to avoid wearing white on donation day; blood stains may occur, or more likely iodine stains from brushing your disinfected site against your clothes; Luckily both can be washed out with cold water.
• If you are scared of needles, try donating with a friend. This way you can offer each other moral support during the donation process.
• Minor side affects from blood donation may include fatigue, dizziness, bruising and—rarely–post-donation bleeding. If your blood tests result in a false positive for AIDS or a similar illness, you may be prohibited from donating in the future. A Red Cross Representative will alert you by phone or mail should this occur.

Resources

• The American Red Cross
• Find a local Blood Drive
• Blood Donor Eligibility Guidelines

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