Giving Blood Saves Lives

Thank you for considering a blood donation with Community Blood Bank. Listed below are the general requirements for donating blood. 

• Please provide personal photo identification i.e. Drivers License, State I.D. Card, Student I.D., Employee I.D. etc.
• A donor must be at least 16 years of age or older. (16 year olds must have a signed parental consent form) 
• A person must weigh 110 pounds or more. 
• Medications: A person cannot donate if currently taking antibiotics for infection, or taking Accutane, Propecia, or Proscar. A person can donate if taking vitamins, birth control, or medications for allergies, blood pressure, thyroid replacement, female hormones, anxiety, high cholesterol, and most diabetes medications / injections, as well as many other medications. 
• Shots/Vaccinations: OK to donate after allergy shots, influenza vaccination, tetanus shot. 
• Cancer: OK to donate after curative treatment for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. For most other cancers, OK to donate one year after completion of all treatment (note exceptions below). 
• Diabetics are OK to donate if controlled by medication or diet. 
• Eating a good meal at least 4 hours prior to donating blood is highly recommended. 
• Drink plenty of water or juice before and after donating. Avoid alcoholic beverages for 12 hours before and after donating. 
• Avoid strenuous activities for 4 hours after donating. 

• Cold / Flu / Not feeling well and healthy:  Deferred until feeling well and healthy. 
• Pregnancy: OK to donate six weeks after end of pregnancy. 
• Ear Cartilage or Earlobe Piercing: OK to donate, if performed with single-use device. If not, wait 3 months. 
• Body Piercing: OK to donate, if performed in a South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, or Nebraska state-licensed facility. If not, wait 3 months.
• Tattoo: OK to donate, if performed at a licensed South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota or Nebraska facility, otherwise wait 3 months from date of procedure. 
• Hepatitis B Vaccination: OK to donate 28 days after vaccination.
• Last Blood Donation: 56 days between whole blood donations. Sixteen weeks between automated double red cell donations. 
• Blood Transfusion or Tissue Transplant: Must wait 3 months from the time of procedure. 
• A person must wait 3 months following travel to malaria risk areas as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If person was resident in a malaria risk area, donor must wait three years upon entering the United States. 

If you have been diagnosed with AIDS/HIV infection. Have had melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia or other blood cancers.

Treat you and your body well after giving blood using these tips:

• Eat well and increase your fluid intake for the next 24 to 48 hours.
• Do not smoke for 30 minutes and avoid smoking areas.
• Avoid drinking alcohol for at least four hours.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity and heavy lifting for about four hours.
• Remove the Coban bandage after two hours.

If you feel unwell after donating, follow these guidelines:

• If driving, pull over immediately and stop.
• Lie down.
• Loosen collar or neckwear.
• If possible, seek a cool place and drink cool liquids.