According to statistics, about 70% of blood donors give it once in their life. At the same time, the need for transfusion of this biomaterial is extremely high. During the war, donor blood saves thousands of lives of military personnel and civilians suffering from enemy shelling. The majority of the adult population of our country can join this procedure. How to prepare for blood donation and where to contact for this - you will learn in this material.

Who can become a donor?

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine informs that it is possible to donate blood once every 60 days to people who have reached the age of majority and weigh more than 50 kilograms. However, it is worth paying attention to some restrictions. You cannot be a donor if:

• 1 year has not yet passed since the pregnancy and lactation period;
• 1 year has not yet passed after the operation;
• 1 year has not yet passed after the piercing or tattooing/acupuncture procedure;
• 6 months have not passed after a long (more than 60-day) foreign business trip;
• the person has been in countries where there is a widespread malaria epidemic (donation is prohibited for 3 years);
• the person was in contact with a hepatitis patient (3-12 months depending on the type);
• the person suffered infectious diseases (1 month-3 years depending on the species);
• 10 days have not passed since the tooth extraction procedure;
• 48 hours have not yet passed after drinking alcohol;
• 5 days have not yet passed after the menstrual period.

People who have AIDS, HIV, syphilis, tuberculosis, typhus, and somatic diseases are categorically not allowed to donate blood. The full list of restrictions and prohibitions can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Health by the link.

Preparation for the procedure

In the evening before blood donation and in the morning on the day of the procedure, you should not eat fatty, fried, smoked or dairy food. It is also necessary to give up alcoholic beverages and smoking. Analgin and aspirin are among the drugs consuming of which must be postponed.

If you feel weak, chills or have a fever on the day of blood donation, it is better to stay at home and rest. Refrain from physical activity and do not get behind the wheel immediately after the procedure. It is recommended to eat iron-rich food: liver, meat, broccoli, etc.

Do not forget to take to the blood donation point your passport and identification code. The presence of these documents is mandatory.

Where do they accept blood for donation?

Currently, every major city of Ukraine has a blood transfusion station or a blood service center. You can find information about such an institution on the Internet. This list is also available on the website donor.ua.

If you live in an area not listed above, contact any local hospital. There, you should get information regarding nearby donor centers.

Why is it so important to donate blood?

Blood is a resource that medical facilities always need. The Ministry of Health says that one donor can save 3 lives with one blood donation. Today, in wartime, the need for donor blood has increased tenfold. The main thing is that this type of charity is easy to join. If you haven't done it yet, now is the time!