Ans. Anything, but preferably something. Eating light snacks and a drink (nonalcoholic) before blood donation makes you psychologically more comfortable. Drink some liquid like tea, cold drink, juice, etc. to replenish fluid and eat some snacks. All this will be available for you at the blood bank.

Identifying information is never exchanged between a cord blood donor and cord blood transplant recipient. The identity of the cord blood donor is kept confidential at the cord blood bank.

Blood you donate here at Hoag begins being processed for use by our patients as soon as you donate. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing you have directly helped another person and a free mini-medical examination including a blood pressure check. An identification card showing your blood group and Rh type will be mailed to you and you will become a member of our Gallon Club when you have given 8 blood donations.

Although the blood supply today is very safe, autologous blood is the safest and most compatible blood for you.

Your physician may recommend autologous blood donation if there is a possibility that you may need a blood transfusion during or after your surgical procedure. Autologous (pronounced aw-TOL-o-gous) blood donation is when you donate and store your own blood prior to your surgery. During surgery, should you require a transfusion, the blood that you donated will be given back to you.

You should donate blood because it's an easy, relatively painless thing to do. The safety of the nation's blood supply is dependent on volunteer blood donors. 60% of the nation's population will require a blood transfusion at some time in their lives. Despite this fact, only 2% of the eligible donors in Southern California participate in blood donation. You'll feel good about doing something for someone else. It's an opportunity to share your good health with others.

Patients scheduled for surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves in the weeks before non-emergency surgery in a process known as autologous donation. If an autologous donation is not used, it is discarded. Family members and friends can also make directed donations. Directed donations are fully tested, so if they are not used by the intended patient, they can be released for use by other patients.

The American Red Cross has created a strong operations network that helps us direct your blood donation to the areas of the country — or the world — where they are most needed. While you can't direct your donation to be specifically routed to military personnel, you can be sure that it will be sent to the areas of most critical need.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is committed to building a strong network and inventory of high-quality cord blood units available to any patient who needs a transplant. We work with expectant parents and public cord blood banks to increase the number and diversity of cord blood units available for patients. We are also committed to improving transplant results for patients. That is why we are conducting a research study on cord blood transplantation and patient outcomes.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus spread by air droplets (from coughing & sneezing), sexually, and by blood contact. In healthy persons it may cause minor flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat and enlarged glands (resembling infectious mono), or no symptoms at all. It occurs at all ages, and by adulthood, blood tests show that about 50 percent of healthy adults have had the virus (and are now immune to it).

Your body replenishes the fluid lost from donation within 24 hours. It may take up to two months to replace to lost Red Blood Cells.

Ans. Every time you donate a unit of blood at a blood bank, which is a member of the association of Voluntary Blood Banks, you will receive a certificate and a Blood Donation Card. This card can be used by you to get blood from the registered blood bank when you have a need. Also, every time you donate blood, screening tests are done on the blood for jaundice, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Hence, you are able to get screened for these communicable diseases free of charge.

Ans. Giving blood is a very simple and straight forward process. On arrival at a blood bank, you will be asked to fill a few details on a donor form. Your medical history will be taken by a medical personnel in an area which provides adequate privacy. Blood Banks routinely take a small drop of blood to ensure that you aren't anemic. After you pass this simple medical screening process, you will be escorted to a blood donation area.

Salt by itself does not cause an otherwise healthy person to develop hypertension. Unless you already have hypertension problems (or are diagnosed as salt-sensitive), you don't need to restrict your salt intake. This doesn't mean you can eat your weight in salt every day. What it does mean is that you can relax and enjoy those salted pretzels, unless you already have a medical reason to control your sodium intake.

Donating bone marrow is a surgical procedure done under general or regional anesthesia in a hospital. While a donor receives anesthesia, doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone. PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic. PBSC donors receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days, to increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream.

To be eligible to donate blood, a person must be in good health and at least 17 years of age. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. All donors must pass the physical and health history examinations given prior to donation. For specific questions on donor eligibility, call BCNJ's Donor Services department at 973-676-4700, ext. 132.

Only about 475 ml, which is just under a pint, and not, as some have thought, an armful. Bodies are amazing, and yours will replace the fluid lost in a very short period of time.

In normal healthy persons there is a slight drop in blood count (not enough to be noticed) which returns to normal levels within 3 - 4 weeks. During this time the donor must be receiving adequate amounts of dietary iron (needed to make hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color).

Bonfils provides 80 percent of Colorado's blood supply and distributes blood to 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities where it is used in a variety of medical treatments. Your single blood donation can save and enhance the lives of up to three patients.