A picture of a blood donor holding a blood donation stress ball.

January is National Blood Donor Month. It's also a difficult fourth dimension of year to collect blood donations due to snowstorms and flu flavor. Last January, the American Red Cantankerous had to cancel hundreds of blood drives due to winter conditions, causing thousands claret and platelet donations to go uncollected. Nosotros don't know how severe it will exist this yr, but we practice know from past experience that snow, ice and seasonal illnesses affect a blood donor'southward ability to give.

To help prepare for your claret donation, the Red Cross has nine tips to know earlier donating blood in 2019.

  1. Your whole claret donation appointment will take approximately one hour. In the fourth dimension, it takes to complete one whole blood donation appointment, 1,800 patients in the U.S. will have needed lifesaving blood products. To brand your donation more comfortable, come prepared. Exist sure to clothing a t-shirt or a top with sleeves that can exist rolled-up easily and bring your favorite book, motion-picture show or music to relax with.
  2. You don't need to know your blood type. According to a national survey conducted in April 2018, on behalf of the Red Cross, more than than 53 percent of people believe they need to know their blood type to donate claret—this is simply not truthful. We need donors of all blood types to ensure a sufficient supply for patients. Donors may be notified of their blood type post-obit their donation when they receive their blood donor card or by creating a profile through the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
  3. Y'all must exist in good health. Seasonal illnesses like the flu tin can affect a blood donor'southward power to give. Most medication will non disqualify you from being able to donate, only if you lot have questions please visitRedCrossBlood.org.
  4. Residuum and relax. Get a good nighttime'due south slumber before your donation and avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous activity afterwards. If y'all experience dizziness or lightheadedness, stop what you're doing and sit down or lie down until you feel amend.
  5. Hydrate and eat a healthy repast before your donation. It is of import that earlier giving blood donors beverage enough of fluids (an extra four 8-ounce glasses of fluids) and eat nutritious foods, rich in iron and vitamin C such every bit red meat, fish, poultry, beans spinach, iron-fortified cereals or raisins.
  6. You're never too old to donate blood. While in about states, yous must be at to the lowest degree 17 years former to donate blood, at that place is no upper age limit. In fact, many elderly individuals are some of our almost defended blood donors, and we encourage others to join them in helping ensure blood products are available for people in need.
  7. Speed up your donation by completing a RapidPass online health history questionnaire. RapidPass tin as well be completed on mobile devices, through the Red Cross Claret Donor App.
  8. Don't forget your Gratis post-donation snack. Blood contains many substances including red blood cells (full of iron), white blood cells, plasma and platelets, plus h2o and diverse nutrients and minerals, which is why it's critical that donors replenish their bodies with postal service-donation snacks and fluids.
  9. Scheduling a blood donation date is Piece of cake! All eligible individuals tin can make an engagement by using the gratis Cerise Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-REDCROSS (i-800-733-2767).

A blood donor holding up her arm after she donated blood.