Tips for a Good Donation Experience

Get a good sleep the day before you have to donate blood
Have a good breakfast or lunch
Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate (avoid tea, coffee, or other beverages with caffeine)
Eat iron-rich foods - red meat, fish, poultry or liver, beans, iron-fortified cereals, raisins and prunes

Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow
Show the staff any "good veins" that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood
Rehydrate yourself by drinking plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours
Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation
If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes
If for any reason, something doesn't feel right, call us after donation

Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives.

Benefits

Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men and stimulate the generation of red blood cells.
The amount of toxic chemicals (e.g. mercury, pesticides, fire retardants) circulating in the blood stream is reduced by the amount contained in given blood.
The good news is you can give blood again and again to help save more lives!
If you're a regular blood donor, you can give blood once in 12 weeks.