WHERE TO GIVE:

DONOR INFORMATION:

SPONSOR INFORMATION:

BLOOD FACTS:

Tips for the First Time Donor:

Are you planning to make your very first blood donation? Great! You will find that giving blood is safe, simple and it saves lives. And the need for blood is urgent. Please remember to eat at least 3-4 hours prior to donating your life-saving blood.

Here's what you can expect:

When you arrive, a volunteer will greet you and ask you to read some preliminary information on the donating process. You'll register using the same name, date of birth and social security number each time you donate. You will be asked to provide identification (ex: driver's license).

You'll meet with the health historian who will ask you about your past and present health, and be available to answer any questions you may have. Everything discussed is kept private and confidential. Next, they'll check your temperature, blood pressure, and pulse and will test a drop of your blood to check your hemoglobin level. (Hemoglobin is a protein in blood that contains iron.)

TIP: You will need to know the name or purpose or category of any prescription medications you are currently taking or have taken in the last month.

The actual donation takes seven to ten minutes. If you have questions about the process, please feel free to ask one of our trained Red Cross professionals.

After being escorted to a donor bed, they'll cleanse the area of your "donating arm." All of the supplies, including the needle, are sterile, and are used only once --- for YOU. You cannot get infected with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or any other disease from donating blood.

When we start the actual donation, you may feel a brief "sting." In just ten minutes, you're finished. You'll have given about a pint of blood. Your body replaces the liquid part (plasma) in hours and the cells in a few weeks.

Your are escorted by a volunteer to the Refreshment Area or Canteen. As you relax with your co-workers, friends or family members who donated with you, you can enjoy juice and snacks. Most people feel fine during and after donating blood.