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Blood Donation Facts - Facts About Blood Donation

Article ID: 168 | Rating: 5/5 from 3 votes | Last Updated: Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Person above 18 years of age and over 50 Kgs. in weight can donate blood once in three months.

A normal adult has five to six liters of blood in his/her body of which only 300 ml is used during blood donation.

This blood is replaced by your body within 24 to 48 hours!

No special diet, rest or medicine is required after blood donation.

The donor should not have taken any medicine in the last 48 hours.

The donor should not have contacted jaundice in the previous three years.

Every donor is given a medical checkup prior to donation to see if he/she is medically fit and doesn't suffer from anemia, high blood pressure etc.

The donor cannot contract AIDS or any other disease by donating blood.

Steps to follow before blood donation

Eat and Drinks something before leaving
Drink more liquids than usual in next 4 hours
Avoid consuming alcohol until you have eating something
Don't smoke for next 30 minutes
Avoid climbing steps for next 30 minutes
If there is bleeding from the phlebotomy site, raise the arm and apply pressure
If fainting or dizziness occurs, either lie down or site with the head between the knees
Resume all normal activities if no symptoms occur
Remove bandage after 12 hours

Important Tips on Blood Donation

Basic Requirements for Blood Donation

Be in generally good health and feeling well.
Be at least 17 years of age; upper age 60.
Weigh at least 110 pounds (45 kg).
Pulse: 80 to 100 beats/min and regular.
Temperature: Should not exceed 99.5 (37.5c).
Blood Pressure: acceptable range is 160/90 to 110/60.
Skin: the venipuncture site should be free of any lesion or scar of needle pricks indicative of addiction to narcotics or frequent Blood donation (as in the case of professional Blood donors).

Blood Donation Frequency

Do not donate blood if

You have ever tested positive for HIV.
You have ever injected yourself with drugs or other substances not prescribed by a physician.
You are a man and have had sex with another man, even once.
You have hemophilia or another Blood clotting disorder and received clotting factor concentrate.
You have engaged in sex for drugs or money since 1977.
You have been held in a correctional facility (including jails, prisons and/or detention centers) for more than 72 hours in the last 12 months.