Donating blood saves lives. Giving blood takes only about an hour total and is a good deed that will live forever in the bodies of the people the donated blood helps. Donating blood helps save the lives of accident victims, cancer and leukemia patients, surgery and trauma patients, premature infants, and many other kinds of patients, too. Blood may be donated every 56 days, according to the Red Cross. The actual time when blood is being retrieved from the body takes only 10 to 12 minutes.
Learn About Giving Blood
Gather information by talking to your doctor about donating blood and reading websites like that of the Red Cross about how to give blood. Discuss any concerns you may have about giving blood with your doctor. Get an approval from the doctor that your health allows the donation of blood.
Prepare the Body for Blood Donation
In the few weeks before giving blood, get plenty of rest, eat healthy meals, and keep the body well-hydrated. Being in peak health helps blood donors feel well while donating blood and helps the body recuperate quickly from the slight loss of blood from donating blood.
Answer Questions Honestly
Before donating blood a nurse or doctor will ask questions about health, travel history, possibly about sexual orientation or sexual history, and about the length of time since the last blood donation. Answer all questions fully and honestly.
Keep Iron Levels High
To donate, the body must have acceptable levels of iron in the blood. Certain foods will enrich the blood with iron such as: red meat, raisins, prunes, nuts, fish and chicken.
Prepare for Donating Blood
Dress in comfortable clothing on the day blood will be donated. Eat a solid meal in the hours before giving blood. Also up fluid intake prior to blood donation to ensure the body is well-hydrated. After donating, drink the orange juice provided to hydrate the body. Within 24 hours, fluids lost by donating blood will be replaced by the body.
Urgent Need for Certain Blood Types
While all blood types are always needed, there is typically a very high need for certain rare blood types. The blood types AB negative, B negative, and A negative are rare. Thus, people with these blood types are encouraged to donate blood.
