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Whether you’re an avid donor, or looking to give back for the first time, donating blood is a simple yet effective way to give back to the community + make a positive impact on local lives.
The entire process is not only safe, but pretty painless, too.🩸
Places to donate blood in Charleston
The Blood Connection, 5870 Core Rd., North Charleston
- Book your donation appointment online.
- The day of your appointment, you can fill out a health history questionnaire beforehand.
Charleston Red Cross, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Visit the website to schedule an appointment.
Here’s what you need to do
- Read up on the requirements for donating blood to see if you are eligible to give blood.
- You’ll be asked to complete a blood donor history questionnaire to fast-track your appointment. No worries if you can’t get to it ahead of time, you can always complete it on site if that works better for you.
- When you arrive to donate blood, expect a short physical (temperature, pulse + blood pressure check, and a small finger prick to check your hemoglobin levels).
- If you’re cleared to donate, sit back and relax — it’ll be over before you know it.
Things to remember
- Eat a hearty meal beforehand + give yourself an hour to digest.
- Drink an extra 16 oz of room temperature water prior to your donation in order to prep your veins. Make sure to continue drinking extra water after donating.
- Avoid strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
- Incorporate iron rich foods into your meals after donating.
- Eating + drinking properly beforehand will help prevent passing out. However, if you do pass out, you are in the care of well-trained nurses who will look after you.
Fun + bloody facts
- People with type O- blood are universal blood donors, but only 7% of the population has O- blood. Learn more about your blood type.
- There are about 10 pints of blood in your body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation — it can take between a couple hours to a few weeks in order to replenish that amount.
- A blood donation can save up to three lives, but less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood or platelets.
If you can’t donate blood, don’t sweat it. Check out others ways to give back in Charleston.
*Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive resource for donating blood. Please do your research beforehand and speak with your doctor before donating.