Before Donating

	Get a good night’s sleep
	Have a good breakfast or lunch
	Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate (avoid tea, coffee, or other beverages with caffeine)
	Eat iron-rich foods — red meat, fish, poultry or liver, beans, iron-fortified cereals, raisins and prunes

Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries, or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fatty materials — lipids — that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods. When this occurs and required testing cannot be performed, the blood may need to be discarded.

During the Donation

	Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow
	Show the staff any "good veins" that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood
	Relax
	Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink in the refreshments area immediately after donating

After Donation

	Rehydrate by drinking plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours
	Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation
	If you feel light headed, lie down, preferably with feet elevated, until the feeling passes
	In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes; if bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours
	If for any reason, something doesn’t feel right, call the American Red Cross toll free number provided to you after your donation
	Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have saved as many as three lives.