Every two seconds, a person in the United States needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Donating one pint of blood--the standard amount--can save up to three lives. Potential donors often shy away from the process because of a bad experience in the past or a fear of needles. If you choose to donate blood, make your experience as painless as possible.
What to eat and drink
If you're a regular donor, the American Red Cross recommends maintaining a diet rich in iron. After all, anemia is one of the criteria for disqualification to donate blood. Iron-rich foods include spinach, red meat, fish and beans.
Before donating, eat a full meal but avoid foods high in fat, such as hamburgers, ice cream and french fries. When you donate blood, tests are run on the blood to detect infection, and fatty foods can interfere with tests.
Before you donate, drink an extra 16 ounces of water. Each year, about 150,000 people faint or nearly faint after giving blood, according to a study from the American Heart Association. The study found that drinking water before donating blood could help you avoid fainting. Skip the alcohol for at least 48 hours before donation. After the donation, drink more fluids than you normally would, as you need to replenish what you lost during the donation process.
What to bring
Come to the blood bank dressed in a top with sleeves that can be rolled up above the elbow. The blood bank will need to see a donor card and either a driver's license or two other forms of ID, such as a passport or student ID.
The process of donating blood takes about an hour, according to the American Red Cross, so keep yourself entertained. Bring a book to red, an MP3 player to listen to music or make friends with the person next to you and chat.
What to do after donating
After donating, the blood bank will offer you a light snack, most often juice and cookies. This helps replenish fluids lost during the process. Within four hours, eat a full meal. This isn't the time to go to the gym--avoid all strenuous activity for at least five hours after donating.
If you feel light-headed, lie down with your feet elevated until the feeling passes. If the feeling doesn't pass or you don't feel right, call either your doctor or the blood bank.
It takes eight weeks for your body to replace the iron lost while donating blood. In 56 days, return to the blood bank to donate again and save another three lives.
