FAQs

The donation process from the time you arrive until the time you leave takes the maximum of an hour. The donation itself is only about 8-10 minutes on average. The steps in the process are:

Registration (10 minutes)
Donor fills up the registration form and gives his consent for donation.

Medical Check up (5 Mins)
Donors Medical History & lifestyle is asked, check up of temperature, blood pressure, pulse and haemoglobin

Donation (8 Mins)
Phlebotomist draws a unit (350ml/450ml) of blood. A new sterile needle is used to draw each unit and the needle is destroyed after it has been used. It takes less than 10 min.
An area on your arm will be cleansed and a brand–new, sterile needle will be inserted to draw the blood. This feels like a quick pinch and is over in seconds.
You will have some time to relax while the bag is filling. (For a whole blood donation, it is about 8-10 minutes. If you are donating platelets, red cells or plasma by apheresis the collection can take up to 2 hours.)
When approximately a pint of blood has been collected, the donation is complete and a staff person will place a bandage on your arm.

Refreshment (10 Mins)
Enjoy Snacks and drink juice to replenish fluids.
You will spend a few minutes enjoying refreshments to allow your body time to adjust to the slight decrease in fluid volume.
After 10-15 minutes you can then leave the donation site and continue with your normal daily activities.

Five reasons why you should donate blood:

Development of new red blood cells
Within the first 48 hours of blood donation, the donor's body starts replenishing the lost red blood cells. The replenishment process helps in staying healthy and productive at work.

Reducing risk of heart disease
As per several studies and reports, when there is a rise in the iron level in blood, it raises the chances of heart diseases. People should donate blood from time to time in order to reduce the iron level in the blood.

Burns calories
Donating blood can burn approximately 650 calories for each pint
Free blood test
On donating blood, the donor receives a free mini health screening and blood tests.

Save lives
Every time we donate one pint of blood it helps save three lives, so if you donate four times in a year you end up saving 12 lives. You don’t have to be a superhero to save someone, a simple act of donating blood can also save lives.

Drink an extra four glasses (eight ounces each) of non-alcoholic liquids.

Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours.

If you feel lightheaded, lie down with your feet up until the feeling passes.

Keep your bandage on and dry for the next five hours.

If you have bleeding after removing the bandage, put pressure on the site and raise your arm until the bleeding stops.

If bruising occurs, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.

Consider adding iron-rich foods to your diet to replace the iron lost with blood donation.

Contact the blood donor center or your doctor if you:

• Forgot to report any important health information.
  
• Have signs and symptoms of an illness, such as a fever, within several days after your blood donation.
  
• Are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 48 hours after donating blood.
  

The plasma from your donation is replaced within about 24 hours. Red cells need about four to six weeks for complete replacement. That’s why at least eight weeks are required between whole blood donations.

Men can donate once every three months while women can donate every four months.

No, since sterilized disposable bleeding sets are used.

Anything that you normally eat at home. Having a light snack and a cold drink before blood donation is sufficient.

People who smoke are allowed to donate blood, but it is advised to avoid smoking 12 hours before donating blood. Also, it is advised to not smoke at least 3 hours after donating blood. This is because smoking can lead to an increase in the blood pressure, which may harm you while donating blood. And smoking after donating blood may lead to fainting or dizziness.

Diabetics on insulin are advised to not give blood, but diabetic patients without any complications from diabetes are allowed to donate blood. In case your blood glucose level is within range, you can go for blood donation. But, In case of any kidney related problems, eye or blood vessel related problem, you may not be allowed to donate blood.

While most donors do not experience any side effects, some people are known to show some symptoms after blood donation. The side effects of donating blood include nausea and dizziness and fainting in some cases. You may develop a raised bump or experience continued bleeding and bruising at the needle site too. Some people might experience pain and physical weakness after donating blood.