Every day, patients in the United States need about 29,000 units of red blood cells, according to the American Red Cross. It’s a life-saving treatment that’s always in high demand. Partially because blood donations don’t last forever. “Unlike other lifesaving treatments, blood products are perishable and cannot be stockpiled or manufactured,” says Yvette Miller, MD, executive medical officer of the American Red Cross. Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days, while platelets must be used within five days.
While people socially distanced at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many blood drives were canceled. “Thousands of American Red Cross blood drives have been impacted by COVID-19 and cancellations across the country have resulted in hundreds of thousands of fewer blood donations,” explains Dr. Miller. “However, the need for blood is constant and has continued throughout this pandemic.” Whole blood transfusions aren’t a treatment for the novel coronavirus, but COVID-19 convalescent plasma (part of the blood from people who had recovered from the virus) has been used to treat some critical patients. In other words, the global pandemic increased the already ever-present need.
Only about 3% of eligible people donate blood every year. If you’re looking for an easy way to help someone, and are donating for the first time, start here to learn the basics.
Blood donation requirements
The first step is to find out if you’re eligible to donate blood, and where to donate.
Who can give blood?
The main eligibility requirements are by age and weight. You have to be at least 16 years old, weigh over 110 pounds, and be generally in good health. “If you’re a healthy person, you can go in, and they will screen out people who are not in the best place to donate,” says Joyce Mikal-Flynn, Ed.D., FNP, founder and originator of MetaHab.
There are some blood donation disqualifications such as certain health conditions, travel destinations, and other risk factors that make you ineligible to donate including anemia, pregnancy, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, and having new tattoos or piercings. Previously, there were blood donation restrictions that prevented many gay and bisexual men from donating. In 2020, in response to the increased demand due to COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed those guidelines. According to Kim Langdon, MD, expert contributor to Parenting Pod, that includes the following changes, currently in effect, to the previous guidance:
- For male donors who would have been deferred for having sex with another man: The recommended deferral period went from 12 months to 3 months.
- For female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man: The the deferral period changed from 12 months to 3 months.
- For those with recent tattoos and piercings: The agency changed the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
- For those who traveled to malaria-endemic areas: The agency changed the recommended deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
- For those who had risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: The deferral period was eliminated.
RELATED: Who can donate blood—and who can’t
Where to donate blood
Search the American Red Cross site, the America’s Blood Centers site, or AABB.org to find a blood drive or donation center near you. You may be asked to fill out a short online questionnaire with basic information, like your name, birth date, and contact information. Many local donation centers will let you select a time slot online. Then, you just need to arrive at the center on the date and time of your appointment.
If you prefer, you can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS. If you’re a frequent donor, you can often create a username and password with your local center to make it easier to sign up in the future.
The blood donation process
Blood donation is safe, fast, and most people won’t experience any side effects. However, there are certain steps you can take to make sure your first blood donation is a positive experience, and that you feel your best after giving.
What to do before donating blood
“Preparing for a blood donation should begin at least one day before donors enter a blood drive or blood donation center. It is recommended that individuals eat a nutritious meal the night before, get a good night’s rest and drink extra liquids,” says Dr. Miller. All of those steps will help make sure you’re in optimal physical condition for the donation. Dehydration can increase the chances of feeling faint, after donating or make it harder to find a vein.
“On the day of a blood donation individuals should drink an extra 16 ounces of water, eat a healthy meal and wear a shirt that rolls up above the elbow to ensure phlebotomists are able to easily complete the blood donation,” explains Dr. Miller. “Before leaving home, individuals should ensure they have their photo ID.” In many places, blood drives require a face mask or face covering during a blood donation to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
At your blood donation
First, you’ll verify your personal information. “After entering the drive, patients will be asked to provide their name, address, phone number and photo ID,” Dr. Miller says.
Next, you’ll provide details about your medical history. “The second step is health history where potential donors will be asked questions during a private and confidential interview about their personal health history and places traveled,” says Dr. Miller. It’s used as a screening tool to make sure your blood is safe to donate, so make sure to answer the questions honestly. “It will also include a mini-physical where staff check temperature, hemoglobin, blood pressure and pulse.”
“As long as you are not anemic and are negative for the other conditions, you can give blood,” says Langdon.
Then, it’s time for the actual blood collection. “The third step takes donors to the donation chair, where we collect the blood donation,” says Dr. Miller. You’ll be seated in a comfortable location either sitting or laying down. “Staff will clean the donor’s arm, and following a quick pinch, the bag will start filling … When approximately a pint of blood has been collected, the donation is complete, and a staff member will place a bandage on the arm,” explains Dr. Miller.
Many people wonder, how long does it take to donate blood? Whole blood donation takes around 10 minutes. If you’re donating plasma or platelets, it could take longer. Those types of donation use a process called apheresis, which simply means your blood is filtered through a machine attached to both arms while you give. The machine takes the part of the blood the center needs, and replaces the rest in your body. This process can take up to two hours for plasma donation and platelet donation.
After donating blood
When your donation is finished, you’ll be given a drink and a snack, along with instructions for how to take care of yourself after donating. It’s all about replacing the fluids you lost by giving blood, according to Mikhal-Flynn.
Some people experience side effects of donating blood, like feeling faint, light-headed, dizzy, nauseous, or sweaty. Usually those feelings only last a few minutes, and improve with food and hydration.
You may also have a bruise where the sterile needle was inserted. If you experience continued nausea or lightheadedness, pain or numbness in your arm, a raised bump or continuous bleeding, you should contact your healthcare provider or donor center. However, blood donations are not harmful to a healthy individual.
Typically, post-donation instructions include eating a well-balanced meal, staying hydrated, and avoiding smoking or drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours. Wait eight weeks before donating blood again.
Benefits of blood donation
After your donation, your donated blood is sent to a processing center. Most often, it is separated into its three blood components, plasma, platelets, and red cells—each part can be used to treat different needs. It’s packaged into units, which are standard amounts used to give transfusions. Blood donations are distributed to hospital blood banks.
“The most obvious reason to donate is to help people,” says Mikal-Flynn. “Even during this time, traumas occur. Blood is needed to help with patient care.” Patients might need transfusions if they bleed a lot during an emergency, like a car accident or surgery. They can also be part of treatment for certain health conditions, like cancer or sickle cell anemia.
“African American blood donors can help patients battling sickle cell disease. Sickle cell patients are predominantly of African descent and require frequent blood transfusions from individuals that are of similar race and ethnicity to prevent complications during transfusion therapies,” says Dr. Miller. “Unfortunately, since mid-March [2020] we have seen the number of African American blood donors drop by more than half. Understandably, we believe this number has decreased in large part due to blood drive cancellations at businesses, churches, and schools, as well as disproportionate COVID-19 infection rates for African Americans compared to other groups,” says Dr. Miller. “While we recognize this challenge, the Red Cross needs the help of African American blood donors to ensure a diverse blood supply.”
When your blood is prepared to help others, it is tested for blood type and certain conditions. That’s one perk of donation, besides helping people: It’s a free health screening. You’ll be notified of any positive tests, and can find out about underlying conditions, like low iron. Blood donation can help reduce the risk for strokes or blood clots in patients with sleep apnea, hemochromatosis, and those on testosterone treatment.
You will also learn your blood type: A, B, AB, or O. There are specific ways that blood is matched for a safe blood transfusion, and blood type is part of that. Type O- is the universal blood type, meaning, it can be given to patients with any blood type. Type AB+ plasma is the universal plasma donor. If you have one of these blood types, your donation is even more valuable, since it’s the most requested, and often in scarce supply.
A single blood donation can save up to three lives, according to the American Red Cross. It can’t be manufactured, it has to be given by healthy people. Someone in the U.S. needs blood every 2 seconds. That adds up to 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma. Your appointment could help be part of the solution for someone in need.
