Can I Give Blood?

Tap those that apply to you.

The safety of donors and recipients are our highest priority. We strictly adhere to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration and the standards set forth by AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks) when determining donor eligibility.

If you have questions about eligibility, please call our medical team at (808) 848-4745. To find a blood drive near you, click here.

Hooray! You're eligible.

Congratulations! You're ready to be a member of our lifesaving team.

The safety of donors and recipients are of the utmost importance to us. That's why we strictly adhere to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration and the standards set forth by AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks).

To register as a blood donor, click here.

Sorry, you're not eligible.

Depending on the reason, you may be able to donate later. Learn more about the common reasons for deferral.

The good news is-you can still help save lives. We're always looking for volunteers, blood drive coordinators and Blood Bank champions to recruit donors to our lifesaving cause.

General Requirements

Before you donate:

  1. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water
  2. Get adequate rest
  3. Eat a hearty meal
  4. Include iron-rich foods in your diet
  5. Know the countries where you’ve traveled and when you visited them
  6. Know your medical conditions

At the time of donation, you must:

  1. Be in good health
  2. Be 16 years of age* or older
  3. Weigh at least 110 pounds**
  4. Have photo identification with birth date

*16-17 year olds can donate by following this process:
1) Read the Parental Consent Information
2) Complete the Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form
Ask for weight/height restrictions.

**Additional height/weight requirements apply for female donors 16-18 years old.

Females who are: 4′ 10″ 4′ 11″ 5′ 0″ 5′ 1″ 5′ 2″ 5′ 3″ 5′ 4″ 5′ 5″
Must weight at least (lb) 146 142 138 133 129 124 120 115

Donation Process

Before Donation

Donating is safe and simple.

To have the best donation experience possible, it’s important to drink 8-10 glasses of water. Keep your body well hydrated in preparation for a loss in body fluid.

  • Avoid coffee, alcohol or caffeinated beverages that dehydrate the body.
  • Get adequate rest the night before
  • Eat a hearty meal, including a healthy breakfast and full meals throughout the day.
  • Include iron-rich foods like meats, leafy green vegetables and/or other iron-rich foods in your diet to keep hemoglobin (iron) levels within an acceptable range for donating.
  • Know the countries where you’ve traveled and when you visited them.
  • In accordance with FDA regulations, donors may be deferred based on travel to areas exposed to vCJD (the human form of mad cow disease), malaria or other illnesses during specified time frames.
  • Know your medical conditions as well as the medications and amounts you’re taking. For your safety and the safety of blood recipients, donors on certain medications may be deferred or required to wait before donating.
  • Visit one of our primary locations or a mobile drive near you.

During Donation

In just 60 minutes you can save three lives.

From registration to refreshments, the entire process of donating blood takes about one hour and includes the following six steps:

  1. Paperwork: Each donor is given a questionnaire to fill out.
  2. Mini-physical: We will check your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin level).
  3. Confidential Interview: We will review your medical history with you.
  4. Blood Collection: A new, sterile and disposable needle is used to draw one pint of your blood, which usually takes about five to eight minutes.
  5. Rest: Remain seated for a few minutes.
  6. Eat: Be sure to have some refreshments before you leave and enjoy hearty meals throughout the day.

Post Donation

Congratulations! You’ve saved lives. Now what?

Here are some tips to help you feel your best:

  • Drink lots of fluids (eight 8-ounce glasses) to replace the lost fluid and the lost proteins. Within six to eight weeks your red blood cells will be restored.
  • Eat a healthy, hearty meal.
  • Leave the bandage on your arm for at least four hours and avoid strenuous physical activity for 24 hours.
  • Avoid alcohol and smoking for a half hour after donating.
  • If you feel anything out of the ordinary after you donate, immediately lie down, then call the Blood Bank’s nursing services at (808) 845-4745 for guidance.
  • If you get sick with a cold or flu or don’t feel well in the next few days, call us as soon as possible. We may need to recall your blood to protect patients who might receive your blood.
  • If you have any reason to believe your blood may not be safe to give to another person, please call us immediately.
  • You’ll be  eligible to donate again in eight weeks, so please schedule your next appointment before you leave.

Medication Deferral List

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Deferral Information

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We are honored to acknowledge and thank our long-time blood donors whose many pints of blood and platelets have given countless accident victims, cancer patients and critically ill people in our community a new lease on life.