After you give blood:

Take the following precautions:

• Drink an extra four glasses (eight ounces each) of non-alcoholic liquids.
• Keep your bandage on and dry for the next five hours, and do not do heavy exercising or lifting.
• If the needle site starts to bleed, raise your arm straight up and press on the site until the bleeding stops.
• Because you could experience dizziness or loss of strength, use caution if you plan to do anything that could put you or others at risk of harm. For any hazardous occupation or hobby, follow applicable safety recommendations regarding your return to these activities following a blood donation.
• Eat healthy meals and consider adding iron-rich foods to your regular diet, or discuss taking an iron supplement with your health care provider, to replace the iron lost with blood donation.
• If you get a bruise:Apply ice to the area intermittently for 10-15 minutes during the first 24 hours. Thereafter, apply warm, moist heat to the area intermittently for 10-15 minutes. A rainbow of colors may occur for about 10 days.
• If you get dizzy or lightheaded:Stop what you are doing, lie down, and raise your feet until the feeling passes and you feel well enough to safely resume activities.
• And remember to enjoy the feeling of knowing you have helped save lives!
• Schedule your next appointment.

Only for a moment. Pinch the fleshy, soft underside of your arm. That pinch is similar to what you will feel when the needle is inserted.

The entire process takes about one hour and 15 minutes; the actual donation of a pint of whole blood unit takes eight to 10 minutes. However, the time varies slightly with each person depending on several factors including the donor’s health history and attendance at the blood drive.

The plasma from your donation is replaced within about 24 hours. Red cells need about 90 days to 100 days for complete replacement. That’s why at least 10 weeks are required between whole blood donations.

The highest priorities of the Deccans Blood Centre are the safety of the blood supply and our blood donors. Some individuals may be at risk of transferring communicable disease through blood donation due to exposure via travel or other activities or may encounter problems with blood donation due to their health. We ask these questions to ensure that it is safe for patients to receive your blood and to ensure that it is safe for you to donate blood that day.