Taking Care
After Your Donation
Thank You for Giving Blood Today!
You did an amazing thing today. Now, we want to make sure you feel your best. Most donors feel fine after donation, but your body still needs a little care for the rest of the day. Here is what to do next and what to watch for.
The First Few Hours
- Keep the bandage on. Leave the strip or wrap on your arm for at least 4 hours. This helps prevent bruising.
- Drink extra fluids. Water or a low-sugar sports drink works best. Skip alcohol today.
- Take it easy. Avoid heavy lifting, running, and hard workouts for the rest of the day.
Replacing Your Iron
Giving blood lowers your body’s iron stores. Most donors recover these stores naturally, but some people need a little extra help.
You may be at higher risk for low iron if you are:
- 16 to 18 years old
- A woman who still has periods
- A frequent donor
- Someone whose hemoglobin was close to the minimum needed to donate
Eating iron-rich foods (like red meat, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals) may help, but research shows food alone may not fully replace what your body loses during donation. Taking a daily multivitamin or iron supplement with 18 to 38 mg of iron for 60 days can restore the iron lost from one whole blood donation.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, especially if you take other medicines, have a health condition, are 65 or older, or have a family history of hemochromatosis, colon polyps, or colorectal cancer.
For teen donors (16 to 18), iron supplementation is generally recommended. Check with their doctor first if they have any health conditions or take any medicines.
When to Call Us
Sometimes donors feel healthy when they donate but get sick soon after. Or you may remember something you meant to tell us during screening. There are certain situations where this may mean your donation poses a risk to patients, so we need to know.
Please Call Us Right Away At 1-866-592-8678 If:
- You get sick within 48 hours. A fever of 100.3°F or higher, flu-like symptoms, or any new infection in the 2 days after donating.
- You are diagnosed with Dengue or Chikungunya. Call us at any time after donating, even weeks later.
- You remember something new. If you think of a detail from your health or travel history that you missed during screening, let us know.
- Your call helps us protect the patients who will receive your blood.
If You Are Not Feeling Well
Lightheaded or dizzy
- Stop what you are doing.
- Lie down and raise your feet above your head.
- Stay there until the feeling passes, then get up slowly.
- Do not drive while you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
- Drink extra fluids and give your body time to recover.
Bleeding at the needle site
- If your arm starts bleeding after you remove the bandage, raise your arm straight up and press firmly on the spot for a few minutes.
Bruising
- Apply an ice pack with light pressure for 10 to 15 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours.
- After the first day, a warm compress or heating pad can help the bruise fade.
- Call your doctor if you notice a lot of swelling, strong pain, or red streaks spreading from the needle site. These can be signs of infection.
Arm symptoms that last
- Call your doctor if you have muscle weakness, numbness, or a burning pain that will not go away in the arm where you donated.
Medical Emergencies
If you are having a medical emergency, such as trouble breathing or chest pain, do not call the blood center. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Have a question? Call our donor care team at 1-866-592-8678.