29
Jul
After Donating Blood
After donating, you sit in an observation area, where you rest and eat a light snack. After 15 minutes, you can leave. After your blood donation:
- Drink extra fluids.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours.
- If you feel lightheaded, lie down with your feet up until the feeling passes.
- Keep your bandage on and dry for the next five hours.
- If you have bleeding after removing the bandage, put pressure on the site and raise your arm until the bleeding stops.
- If bruising occurs, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.
- Consider adding iron-rich foods to your diet to replace the iron lost with blood donation.
Contact the blood donor center or your health care provider if you:
- Forgot to report any important health information to the blood donation center.
- Have signs and symptoms of an illness, such as a fever, within several days after your blood donation.
- Are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 48 hours after donating blood.
