FACTS
Donating blood… yes! You are saving a life. So, please follow some precautions before donation, during donation and after donation.
Before Blood Donation
• You must be above 18 years of age.
• A week prior to blood donation day, have food rich in iron. This will keep up hemoglobin count in your body eat wet or dry dates, green leafy vegetables, beetroot, jiggery, ragi, soya bean, sprouted grams, apple, apricots and other food items.
• Non-vegetarians can eat red meat, sea food etc.
• Eat your food four hours before you donate blood.
• Avoid fatty food including pizza, burger, packed wafers, fried items etc.
• Have a complete eight hours uninterrupted sleep.
• Drink lot of water to avoid dehydration.
• Do not smoke 2 hours prior to blood donation
• Do not consume alcohol at least 24 hours prior to blood donation
• No tattoos or body piercings in the past 12 months.
• It is best to avoid coffee and caffeinated beverages before donating.
• Donating Platelets? Don't take aspirin for 2 days before your appointment
• Drink extra fluids (other non alcoholic drink) before your appointment.
• A week prior to blood donation day, have food rich in iron. This will keep up hemoglobin count in your body eat wet or dry dates, green leafy vegetables, beetroot, jiggery, ragi, soya bean, sprouted grams, apple, apricots and other food items.
• Non-vegetarians can eat red meat, sea food etc.
• Eat your food four hours before you donate blood.
• Avoid fatty food including pizza, burger, packed wafers, fried items etc.
• Have a complete eight hours uninterrupted sleep.
• Drink lot of water to avoid dehydration.
• Do not smoke 2 hours prior to blood donation
• Do not consume alcohol at least 24 hours prior to blood donation
• No tattoos or body piercings in the past 12 months.
• It is best to avoid coffee and caffeinated beverages before donating.
• Donating Platelets? Don't take aspirin for 2 days before your appointment
• Drink extra fluids (other non alcoholic drink) before your appointment.
During Blood Donation
• While the blood is being taken you must keep pressing the sponge provided, which ensure the smooth flow of blood
• Please do not get up immediately after donating blood. You must allow the blood flow in the body to normalize by lying down 5 more minutes. This also prevents dizziness.
• This is followed by little refreshments.
• Every blood donor, will be issued Voluntary Donor’s Card and Certificate of Appreciation within 15 days
• You can resume with your daily work immediately after the Blood Donation
• The Blood you donate is tested and separated in to the components before being made available to the patients.
• Any abnormality found is reported to you if you have chosen to receive the same.
• You should not be suffering from any infections and chronic diseases (such as diabetes).
• At the time of donation, you should be medically fit for blood donation. You should not be affected even by cough or cold.
• Wear loose clothes that will allow easy movement of body. Prefer short sleeves so that is doctors don’t have to struggle to attach syringe
• If you feel any kind of stiffness in your hand or body, call your doctor. It is not necessary to fill the bottle completely
• You should not have high blood pressure.
• You should not be pregnant or menstruating.
• Relax, listen to music, talk to other donors or read while you donate.
*note: For more information please consult respective doctors/ hospitals
• Please do not get up immediately after donating blood. You must allow the blood flow in the body to normalize by lying down 5 more minutes. This also prevents dizziness.
• This is followed by little refreshments.
• Every blood donor, will be issued Voluntary Donor’s Card and Certificate of Appreciation within 15 days
• You can resume with your daily work immediately after the Blood Donation
• The Blood you donate is tested and separated in to the components before being made available to the patients.
• Any abnormality found is reported to you if you have chosen to receive the same.
• You should not be suffering from any infections and chronic diseases (such as diabetes).
• At the time of donation, you should be medically fit for blood donation. You should not be affected even by cough or cold.
• Wear loose clothes that will allow easy movement of body. Prefer short sleeves so that is doctors don’t have to struggle to attach syringe
• If you feel any kind of stiffness in your hand or body, call your doctor. It is not necessary to fill the bottle completely
• You should not have high blood pressure.
• You should not be pregnant or menstruating.
• Relax, listen to music, talk to other donors or read while you donate.
Post Donation Care
• Soon after, make sure you drink a fruit juice or glucose-rich drink, and eat a light snack like fruits.
• Keep eating iron-rich foods.
• Don’t hurry up to go back home after donating blood and No need to panic.
• If you feel dizziness, lie down straight on your back and close your eyes. Also you can try sitting down with your knees folded and tuck your head between them.
• Have more liquid intakes on the day but avoid caffeine.
• Avoid consuming alcohol for 24 hours after donation.
• Don’t smoke or chew gutka for next 2 hours
• If there is bleeding from the punctured site, fold the arm and apply cold water pack periodically during the first 24 hours.
• Avoid vigorous games like cricket, weight lifting and any other adventurous sports at least for two hours (or) maximum one day after donation.
• Resume all normal activities if no symptoms occur
• If fainting or dizziness occurs for longer time and does not subside, please seek medical help.
• Do not ride two-wheeler or four-wheeler or cycles after donating blood. Prefer a public transport to commute back
• Engineers or workers at construction sites should avoid working in high altitudes after donating blood, at least for a day
• Keep the strip bandage on for the next several hours; to avoid a skin rash, clean the area around the bandage with soap and water
• If you donate frequently, be sure to take multivitamins with iron to ensure you continue to replenish your iron stores before your next donation.
• If your arm is sore, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for the first 24 to 48 hours after donation
• Keep eating iron-rich foods.
• Don’t hurry up to go back home after donating blood and No need to panic.
• If you feel dizziness, lie down straight on your back and close your eyes. Also you can try sitting down with your knees folded and tuck your head between them.
• Have more liquid intakes on the day but avoid caffeine.
• Avoid consuming alcohol for 24 hours after donation.
• Don’t smoke or chew gutka for next 2 hours
• If there is bleeding from the punctured site, fold the arm and apply cold water pack periodically during the first 24 hours.
• Avoid vigorous games like cricket, weight lifting and any other adventurous sports at least for two hours (or) maximum one day after donation.
• Resume all normal activities if no symptoms occur
• If fainting or dizziness occurs for longer time and does not subside, please seek medical help.
• Do not ride two-wheeler or four-wheeler or cycles after donating blood. Prefer a public transport to commute back
• Engineers or workers at construction sites should avoid working in high altitudes after donating blood, at least for a day
• Keep the strip bandage on for the next several hours; to avoid a skin rash, clean the area around the bandage with soap and water
• If you donate frequently, be sure to take multivitamins with iron to ensure you continue to replenish your iron stores before your next donation.
• If your arm is sore, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for the first 24 to 48 hours after donation
*note: For more information please consult respective doctors/ hospitals