How To Donate Blood Your Step By Step Donor Guide

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Blood donors save lives, and the process is easier than you might think.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Before
During
After

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, LIVESTRONG.com is raising awareness about the urgent need for people to donate blood with our Give Blood, Give Back series.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the FDA has announced looser restrictions on who can donate blood, including the following changes:

If you’re a person assigned male at birth (AMAB), you must wait three months (instead of a year) after having sex with another person AMAB. If you’re a person assigned female at birth (AFAB), you must wait three months (instead of a year) after having sex with a person AMAB who has had sex with other people AMAB. You must wait three months (instead of a year) after getting a tattoo or piercing. You must wait three months (instead of a year) after traveling to a malaria-endemic area.

Blood donation organizations are not required to implement these changes, so it’s best to check with your donation center if you fall into any of the above categories.

If you’re a person assigned male at birth (AMAB), you must wait three months (instead of a year) after having sex with another person AMAB.
If you’re a person assigned female at birth (AFAB), you must wait three months (instead of a year) after having sex with a person AMAB who has had sex with other people AMAB.
You must wait three months (instead of a year) after getting a tattoo or piercing.
You must wait three months (instead of a year) after traveling to a malaria-endemic area.

Blood donation organizations are not required to implement these changes, so it’s best to check with your donation center if you fall into any of the above categories.

Encourage your partner or a friend to make an appointment for the same time so you can go together.

It’s safe to donate blood during the COVID-19 pandemic, but you’ll need to take some extra precautions. Learn exactly how to donate blood safely now.

You may be given a stress ball to squeeze during your donation to help keep your blood flowing.

Image Credit: roibu/iStock/GettyImages

If you’re nervous and your heart is pounding before your blood donation, here are a few tips to help lower it, per the Cleveland Clinic:

Meditate Take deep breaths Drink some water Move around

You can also help prevent a fast heart rate by avoiding caffeine and nicotine and getting a good night’s sleep before your appointment.

Meditate
Take deep breaths
Drink some water
Move around

You can also help prevent a fast heart rate by avoiding caffeine and nicotine and getting a good night’s sleep before your appointment.

Try this technique from the American Red Cross to reduce dizziness: Lift one leg slightly, hold for a few seconds, and then lower it back down. Switch sides. Repeat several times on each leg.

Make sure to relax and rehydrate after your blood donation to avoid any adverse side effects.

Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages