Giving Blood Saves Lives

If you’re donating blood, please adhere to the following requirements:

• Provide personal photo identification (e.g., driver’s license, state ID card, student ID, employee ID, etc.).
• Donor must be at least 17 years of age or older (16-year-olds must have a signed parental consent form).
• Donor 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, most diabetes medications/injections and many other medications.
• Shots/Vaccinations: OK to donate after allergy shots, influenza vaccination or tetanus shot.
• Cancer: OK to donate after curative treatment for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. For most other cancers, OK to donate five years after completion of all treatment (exceptions listed below).
• Diabetics: OK to donate if controlled by medication or diet.
• Eat a good meal at least four hours before donating blood.
• Drink plenty of water or juice before donating. Avoid alcoholic beverages for 12 hours before donating.
• Avoid strenuous activities for 4 hours after donating.

*Please note that Community Blood Bank staff members will make the final determination on eligibility prior to the blood donation.

If you fulfill any of the following concerns, please wait before giving blood.

• Cold/Flu/Not Feeling Well: Wait until you’re feeling better.
• Pregnancy: OK to donate six weeks after end of pregnancy.
• Ear Cartilage/Earlobe Piercing: OK to donate, if performed with single-use device (if not, wait three months).
• Body Piercing: OK to donate, if performed in a South Dakota, Iowa or Nebraska state-licensed facility (if not, wait three months).
• Tattoo: OK to donate, if performed at a licensed South Dakota, Iowa or Nebraska facility (if not, wait three months).
• Hepatitis B Vaccination: OK to donate 28 days after vaccination.
• Last Blood Donation: Wait 56 days between whole blood donations (16 weeks between automated double red cell donations).
• Blood Transfusion/Tissue Transplant: Wait three months from the time of procedure.
• Wait three months following travel to malaria risk areas as defined by the CDC. If person was resident in a malaria risk area, donor must wait three years upon entering the United States.

Do not give blood if you:

• Have been diagnosed with AIDS/HIV infection or have certain risk factors.
• Have had melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia or other blood cancers.
• Have spent (cumulative) more than three months in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1996.
• Have spent (cumulative) five years or more in France or Ireland from 1980 through 2001.
• Were a recipient of a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom, Ireland or France since 1980.

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.