The Donation Process

Giving blood is safe, easy, and
takes about one hour!

Make an appointment to donate!

To give blood you must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 lbs., be in good health, and have eaten prior to donating. From start to finish, giving blood consists of four easy steps.

  1. Registration
    When you arrive at the blood drive or at our Donor Center, a receptionist will take your name, address, telephone number, and check photo identification. At this time you will also be asked to fill out a medical history form to determine your eligibility.

  2. Medical History
    We will take your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and a drop of blood to test your hemoglobin level to make sure you are eligible to give blood. You will also be asked confidential questions about your medical history to be sure that the donation is safe for you and that your blood is safe to transfuse to others.

  3. The Donation
    After preparing the venipuncture site, we will insert a needle. You should feel only a slight pinch. The needle is sterile, is used only once and then discarded. Approximately one pint of blood is drawn through the needle into a plastic bag. The entire donation only takes 5 to 10 minutes. There is no risk of contracting any disease from donating blood.

  4. Rest & Refreshments
    After the blood donation is complete, you will be asked to rest for 15 minutes and eat some light refreshments before resuming your normal activities. Most donors experience no ill effects. It is especially important to increase your fluid intake following a donation. The fluid lost in the donation is replaced in 24 hours and the red cells are replaced in 8 weeks. For this reason, you must wait 8 weeks between whole blood donations.