Save Lives Through Blood Donation

Generally, you can donate blood if you are:

• At least 18 years old (or 17 with parental consent)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds (50 kg)
• In good health and feeling well
• Have not donated blood in the last 3 months

You can donate whole blood every 3 months (12 weeks). However, you can donate platelets every 2 weeks and plasma every 4 weeks. It's important to allow your body enough time to replenish between donations.

Yes! Blood donation is completely safe. All equipment used is sterile, single-use, and disposed of after each donation. You cannot contract any disease by donating blood. The process is performed by trained medical professionals.

The entire process usually takes about 45-60 minutes, including registration, health screening, and post-donation refreshments. The actual blood donation only takes about 10-15 minutes.

Before: Eat a healthy meal, drink plenty of water, get good sleep, and avoid fatty foods.

After: Rest for 10-15 minutes, eat the provided refreshments, drink extra fluids, avoid heavy lifting for a few hours, and keep the bandage on for several hours.

Your donated blood is tested, processed, and separated into components (red cells, platelets, plasma). It's then used for:

• Surgery patients
• Accident and trauma victims
• Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• People with blood disorders like anemia or sickle cell disease