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It does not require to be an elite athlete or a heroine. You just feel like one when you have saved a life.
If you in generally good health you likely can donate.
One donation can help just one or multiple patients depending on how its used. Some patients need all the components, so they will get a unit of whole blood. Others, just need some of the components. When you donate they can literally separate it into different components so several patients may actually benefit from the single donation. Image credit: American Red Cross.
Whole Blood. One donates about a pint of blood. This includes the liquid plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets. It takes about 10 minutes of donating and about 30 minutes of your time.
- Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year*
- You must be in good health and feeling well**
- You must be at least 16 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs
Power Red Donation. This takes about 2 hours. Your blood is taken, and run through a machine that separates out the red blood cells from the rest of the blood content which goes back into your body. It allows you to donate a double dose of red cells needed for those Sickle Cell patients.
- Donation frequency: Every 112 days, up to 3 times/year*
- You must be in good health and feeling well**
- Male donors+ must be at least 17 years old in most states, at least 5’1″ tall and weigh at least 130 lbs
- Female donors+ must be at least 19 years old, at least 5’3″ tall and weigh at least 150 lbs
Platelet Donation. This session allows one to donate platelets only and have the rest returned immediately to your body. Platelets are especially important in trauma and cancer patients with bleeding and clotting problems.
- Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year*
- You must be in good health and feeling well**
- You must be at least 17 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs