American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake & Potomac Blood Services Region
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Home  »  Donors » Blood Donation Process » How to Prepare for Blood Donation

How can How can you prepare for your next blood donation?

  • Eat regular meals as normal.
  • Drink plenty of fl uids. Double up on fl uids 24-48 hours in advance, and the day of your donation.
  • Limit caffeine intake.
  • Be sure you have a photo ID with you for your donation.
  • Be able to list any foreign nations you've traveled to in the past three years, and your length of stay in each nation.

We want to make sure that your next donation is as easy as possible. Be sure you meet the criteria below before scheduling your next appointment:

  • You weigh at least 110 pounds.
  • You are at least 17 years old (16 with written parental consent in Maryland).
  • You have not donated whole blood in the last 56 days.
  • You are in generally good health, and have no signs of infection the day of your donation.

The American Red Cross will never share your personal information with any third party for any reason without your expressed consent.

For more information about eligibility, or to schedule a donation appointment, call:

1-800-GIVE-LIFE

Additional information can be found at:

www.my-redcross.org