Donating blood is a great way to do some good in the world. It only takes a little of your time, but it can mean a lifetime for patients in need. Remember, every whole blood donation can save up to three lives!

If you’ve never donated before, you may be unsure of what to do before giving blood. You should start preparing for your blood donation at least a few days before you donate.

Eat Iron-rich Foods

Your iron count must be at a certain level in order to donate blood. To check this, we will measure your hemoglobin level prior to your blood donation. If it is too low you will not be able to donate blood that day.

The hemoglobin range for a whole blood donation is 12.5 to 20.0 g/dL for female donors and 13.0 to 20.0 g/dL for male donors.

To prevent being turned away for low iron, it’s important to eat a well-balanced diet with foods that are rich in iron a few days leading up to your blood donation. Iron-rich foods include meats, spinach, beans and lentils, eggs, pumpkin seeds, prune juice, and even watermelon!

Drink Plenty of Water

It’s always important to stay hydrated, especially before and after you donate blood since most of your blood is made up of water. Drink an extra 16 ounces of water before you donate and an extra 32 ounces afterward to replace those fluids.

Eat a Full, Healthy Meal

Unlike a blood test you do for your doctor, you should not fast before you donate blood. We highly recommend eating before and after your donation.

Eating food prior to your donation will allow your body to replace the blood that was drawn much quicker and can help prevent pesky post-donation reactions from occurring. We also recommend avoiding any fatty foods.

Ready to donate? On the day of your donation, make sure to wear comfortable clothing, preferably with short-sleeves. Bring a picture ID (i.e. driver's license, employee ID, student ID) and a list of any medications you are taking. You must be at least 16 years old to donate blood. Sixteen-year-olds must provide a signed parental or guardian consent form. In North Carolina, 16- and 17-year-olds are required to provide a signed consent form to donate

Thank you for donating blood and sharing your power to save lives! Walk in or schedule your blood donation at a OneBlood location near you.