Donor’s corner
Be a blood donor
To donate blood the donor must be healthy, feeling well, active, and able to carry out normal activities without any problem.
Minimum requirements
- Donor should be between 18 and 65 years of age.
- Donor must weigh at least 45 kg.
- Donor’s haemoglobin should be at least above 12.5 grams.
- Donor should wait at least 3 months between two donations.
- Donor should not be fasting, eat a normal meal and drink plenty of fluids.
Blood donation takes about an hour and is relatively painless.
What to expect when you give blood
- 1. You will be asked to complete a health questionnaire. The purpose is to ensure you are in good health, and that your donation will not jeopardise either your health or the potential recipient’s.
- 2. Staff will check your temperature, to be sure you do not have an infection that could be passed to someone receiving your blood. Your pulse rate, blood pressure and weight will also be measured.
- 3. If you pass the health screening, a phlebotomist, nurse or other medically qualified person will draw the blood.
After donating
- You will be offered juice and a snack.
- Rehydrate yourself by drinking plenty of fluids.
- Avoid heavy lifting. Lifting something heavy may cause the small mark where the blood was drawn to bruise or bleed a little.
Giving blood takes only an hour and can save many lives. Within just one week of giving blood your body has replaced it. It takes just an hour, but adds years to the life of another person.