How to Give a Successful Donation of Blood

Blood, that red life fluid involved with the creation of life, it is quite common yet not everybody has enough. As a good citizen, it is your responsibility to give what others need for life. The Red Cross has regular donation times and travels around to schools, offices, and cities quite often. Giving blood may be scary for some, but in time this will pass. There are a few things you can do to make your first time giving blood easier on your mind and body.

Blood is a liquid that is supplemented by what you drink; it stands to reason that if you drink a lot of fluid, you will have a well supplied amount of blood. Even though donating only takes a pint at a time, it is always wise to drink water all day prior to and all day of donating. This ensures that you won’t loose too much fluid in your body, and allows you to replenish your blood supply. Be sure to also eat plenty of good healthy food before you donate. Stay away from sweets, from caffeine and from your basic unhealthy food. Eat some fruit, veggies and something with plenty of iron before hand and make sure not to donate on an empty stomach. If all possible, find out what day you plan on donating ahead of time so you can be aware of what you put in your body and how you treat yourself.

When you go to give blood, you will need a few things to help the process go smoothly. For starters, you will need time to spend there; about an hour and a half to be safe. During the application procedure, you need picture ID to verify who you are and what age you are. If you are under 17 years old, you will need a parent permission form signed in order to donate. After you follow the instructions given as soon as you arrive, you will be asked to read a safety form to make sure you are saf...

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...each person has a different body and a different set of veins, which may lead to minor complications. Don’t be alarmed a slight sting in your arm, which is normal for this operation. Don’t shake around or move too much while they are taking blood, it may complicate the procedure.

Donating blood takes five to ten minutes, rarely longer, not counting all of all the paperwork. Once you are done, the Red Cross will give you a brief explanation of what to expect. They will bandage you and send you on your way. Be sure to ask about a “first donation” pin so everybody knows you made the big leap today. If you feel light headed or any other abnormal condition, you should report it to the Red Cross while you are there.

Donating blood can be a quite rewarding experience and I encourage everyone to take part in this unique opportunity to save 3 lives with each donation.