Photo: Nadi Lindsay

What happens if you don't drink enough water before giving blood?

The fluids that you lose during donation can cause a drop in blood pressure – causing you to feel faint and dizzy. To help prevent this from happening we ask you to drink 500ml of water immediately before you donate - we'll give this to you before you donate.

blood.co.uk - Preparing to give blood - NHS Blood Donation

What color are Kate Middleton's eyes?

Does the royal family have blue eyes? However, the vast majority of the members of the royal family have blue eyes, besides only Kate Middleton...

Last updated Nov 12, 2022

What are the side effects of eating dark chocolate?

Side Effects of Dark Chocolate Excessive consumption of dark chocolate can increase caffeine levels in blood, causing increased heart rate, nausea,...

Last updated Oct 14, 2020

Promotion

Follow our tips to make your experience pleasant, safe and straightforward.

Eat

Eating regularly before donating will help to keep your blood sugar levels stable. This is important so that you don’t feel lightheaded or dizzy after your donation. Having a snack before you donate can help maintain these blood sugar levels. Ensuring that your diet contains foods rich in iron - such as meats and green leafy vegetables - will help to keep you feeling well during and after donation.

Drink

Almost half of the blood that you donate is made up of water. The fluids that you lose during donation can cause a drop in blood pressure – causing you to feel faint and dizzy. To help prevent this from happening we ask you to drink 500ml of water immediately before you donate - we’ll give this to you before you donate. Please help us reduce our plastic usage by bringing your own refillable bottle. It’s also important to ensure that you are well hydrated in the days leading up to your donation. This will help to compensate for the fluids lost during donation, and will help to bring your blood volume levels back to normal. It is essential to avoid alcohol before and after donating as this may affect hydration levels and delay recovery.

Exercise

Avoid doing any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting the day of your donation – both before and after you’ve donated. Keeping your body in a rested state is important to give it a chance to replenish the fluids lost during donation, which will help you avoid feeling dizzy or lightheaded and keep you well. Light exercise such as walking is fine, but please make sure that you are fully recovered and hydrated prior to your donation.

Wear

We will need to roll up your sleeve past your elbow when you donate – to allow easy access to your veins. To make sure that you are comfortable, please wear clothing with loose sleeves. You will need to wear a fabric face covering when you donate so make sure you have one before travelling. It doesn’t have to be a surgical mask but should cover your mouth and nose.

Distract

It is normal to feel nervous when you come along to donate – particularly if this is your first time. Our friendly and helpful staff will put you at ease straightaway. Distraction is key. You could bring a book to read or listen to some music while you donate.

What do vets do with dogs balls after neutering?

In large dogs, the scrotum may also be removed to prevent a postoperative scrotal hematoma, which can happen when the pet is too active after...

Last updated Feb 20, 2019

How long is the average man's pee?

On average, it shouldn't take longer than 30 seconds to urinate, Freedland said. “Once you get going and it takes you a minute to empty your...

Last updated Dec 9, 2019

Promotion

We also ask donors to undertake something called ‘applied muscle tension’ or AMT. This is a simple behavioural technique that helps to maintain blood pressure, and so stops you from feeling faint or unwell. It is also a brilliant distraction technique! AMT involves tensing and relaxing the body’s major muscles during the donation process. A favourite of ours is clenching and unclenching your buttock muscles (no joke!). Further information about this will be available at your donation, or simply ask a member of staff who will be happy to advise you further.

Know

Once you’ve made the decision to donate and made the effort to go along to your appointment, you want to be sure that you can actually donate. Although most people can donate, there are some restrictions - depending on things like your health, medication, and whether you've been abroad recently. Check you can give blood using our interactive questions which cover the most common reasons donors are unable to donate when they attend their appointment. If you have any specific queries about your eligibility to give blood you can search our health and eligibility or travel sections for advice or call us on 0300 123 23 23.

Sleep

We recommend that you have a full night’s sleep of between 7 and 9 hours the night before your donation. This will help you to feel more alert when you donate, which will in turn reduce the risk of feeling unwell. Now you know how to prepare yourself, view our donation animation to find out what happens when you donate. Remember to bring your completed donor safety check form with you, if you received one from us in the post. If you ever need to cancel a donation appointment we ask that you give us 3 days’ notice so that we can offer your appointment to another donor. You can easily cancel or reschedule your existing appointments by logging in to your online account or using the NHS Give Blood app.

blood.co.uk - Preparing to give blood - NHS Blood Donation

Can jogging cure erectile dysfunction?

It may be particularly effective if obesity, inactivity, or cardiovascular disease, among other conditions, contribute to your ED. Research from...

Last updated Dec 9, 2020

What is the best over the counter for enlarged prostate?

Saw Palmetto You can find it in pill form or as a liquid extract. A range of 100 to 960 mg daily has been used to treat enlarged prostate, but...

Last updated Aug 3, 2020

Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »

Promotion

How can you tell if sperm is weak?

Low sperm count symptoms might include: Problems with sexual function — for example, low sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile...

Last updated Jun 19, 2019

Promotion

Which nuts help your brain?

Nuts like almonds, pistachios and macadamias each bring something special to the table. Almonds help improve memory, pistachio nut oils help...

Last updated Oct 13, 2018