One Great Hour of Sharing / International Ministries Offering

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PLEASE NOTE - EFFECTIVE JANUARY 30, 2004, AMERICAN RED CROSS VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION BEFORE DONATING BLOOD.  PREFERRED FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION INCLUDE:

A Red Cross-issued blood donor card
A United States Government-issued ID such as a passport
OR
A state-issued driver's license

Basic Qualifications for Giving Blood

• The law says that you must be at least 17 years old to donate blood.
• You need to weigh at least 110 pounds but not over 350 pounds.
• You may donate every 56 days (8 weeks).
• If you have a tattoo, you must wait one year before considering to give blood.
• You should eat well and drink plenty of fluids the day of the donation.
• If you had hepatitis PRIOR to the age of 11 years, you CAN donate.  If you had hepatitis at the age of 11 years or older, you CANNOT donate blood.
• As of January 30, 2004 - all donors will be required to provide identification before donating blood.  Preferred forms of identification include a Red Cross issued blood donor card, a US Government issued ID such as a password OR a state issued driver's license.

Medical Considerations

• ALLERGIES: If an individual has allergies and is symptom-free at the time of donation, even if on medication, the person CAN donate.
• ANTIBIOTICS: One must have completed the last dosage of antibiotics (oral or injection) 48 hours prior to donation and the infection must be gone. The EXCEPTION to this is ACCUTANE. If one has been taking accutane, the last dosage must have been taken 30 days prior to donation. All other acne medications are acceptable.
• ASPIRIN/NON-ASPIRIN PRODUCTS: One CAN donate if taking aspirin or non-aspirin products, such as Bufferin, Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol.
• BLOOD PRESSURE: One can give blood, if at the time of donation, the individual's blood pressure is 180/100 or less WITH or WITHOUT medications.
• CANCER: If a person has received chemotherapy, they cannot donate blood. If an individual has had skin cancer that has healed, they can donate blood. Other cancers can be evaluated if there has not been a recurrence in 5 years. This also includes individuals who received their last radiation treatment 5 years prior to donation time with no recurrence.
• HEART ATTACK: An individual can donate blood 6 months after a heart attack diagnosis if the person is not currently having symptoms, has no restrictions on physical activity, and is not taking heart medication (except aspirin).
• HEPATITIS: If an individual had hepatitis under the age of 11 years, they can donate blood. If an individual had hepatitis at the age of 11 years or older, they CANNOT donate blood.
• MENSTRUATION: If a woman is feeling well during menstruation, she can donate blood.
• PREGNANCY: A woman CANNOT donate blood while pregnant. She must also wait 6 weeks after a normal delivery, last trimester miscarriage, or abortion. If the woman had a Caesarean section, she must wait 6 weeks and meet the surgery criteria. A woman can also donate if breast feeding.
• SURGERY: An individual can donate blood if they have been released to resume normal activity, the sutures have been removed or dissolved, and the area has healed.
• TATTOO: A person must wait 12 months after receiving a tattoo to donate.
• TRANSFUSION: If one received a homologous transfusion, they must wait one year after the transfusion to donate blood. If one received an autologous blood unit (one's own blood), we will verify with the transfusion center to ensure that only autologous products were transfused.
• DIABETES: If one is a diabetic, he/she may donate if there has been no change in insulin for 2 weeks.

If you have any additional medical questions, please call the American Red Cross, Donor Services Department at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE Ext. 120. Ask to speak with the donor services manager of regulatory and training.

Before You Donate

• Get a good night's sleep 
• Eat breakfast 
• Bring with you verification of birth date, social security number, and the name of any prescription medication you have taken in the past month

What Happens to My Blood?

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