How can I donate? How can I help at the drive?
Click the "Sign Up to Become a Volunteer/Donor!" tab under "Blood Services" to receive updates about how you can donate/help at our upcoming blood drives!
Am I eligible to donate? What's with all these restrictions on donors?
Check out this list maintained by the Red Cross for current eligibility information. If you are still unsure, feel free to go ahead and make an appointment. When you get to the drive, voice your concern to someone at the registration table; you will be able to speak with a nurse/doctor before waiting. The restrictions placed on donors (including those on travel and sexual relations) are mandated by the FDA on the Red Cross and all other licensed blood banking organizations. We appreciate the frustration that some of these restrictions incite, but we are unable to change these rules. The FDA explains its policies here.
What happens when I donate?
A thorough description of the donation process can be found here. Keep in mind that part of the donation process is the wait--with an appointment, you should be out within 1.5 hours of arriving; without an appointment you may face a 2 hour process. We recommend bringing a book or some work to do while you wait.
I've never donated before and I'm a little scared. Will donating blood hurt?
Don't be scared! Consider bringing a friend to talk to — and don't forget that there will be HCRC volunteers (fellow Harvard students) at the drive to help you though — just let one of them know if they can help you in some way. Here's a list of tips to make your donation as easy as possible. One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure to eat a full meal and drink lots of fluids before donating.
What's all this talk about iron and anemia?
To ensure your safety while donating, the Red Cross requires a certain minimum level of iron in your blood. If you fall below this level, you will simply not be allowed to donate that day; you can try again the next day if you want. College students, especially women, often fall below this cut off. Try eating iron-rich foods in the days/weeks leading up to the drive if you are worried: check out this list of iron-rich food.
Have you ever considered pre-testing for iron? It would save lots of time.
We have approached the Red Cross with this question, and it is, unfortunately, impossible to have iron pre-testing. There are very strict guidelines that the Red Cross must follow to draw blood (even the tiny amount required to test for iron), which make this impossible. If you're concerned about your iron levels, try to eat iron-rich foods in the days/weeks preceding the drive — check out this list of iron-rich food.
What's with all the long waits? Why don't I get taken at the time of my apointment?
Appointments get you through the donation process quicker by minimizing your wait time. Part of the time devoted to donating blood is, unfortunately, waiting. The entire process (waiting and donating) will take 1-2 hours, depending on how long the wait is. There are several ways you can help minimize your wait:
What does volunteering entail?
Volunteering is fun and easy to do! Don't worry if you've never volunteered before — there will be instructions at the drive and experienced volunteers to help you out. You will either sit at the registration table signing in donors, or at the food table, feeding and entertaining donors after they give blood. And as a volunteer, you are eligible for all the raffles and giveaways we have at the drive!
What if I can't make it to the drive? Can I donate somewhere else?
Of course you can! Check out this page for more drives in the area.
What if my question isn't answered here?
E-mail us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.
Click the "Sign Up to Become a Volunteer/Donor!" tab under "Blood Services" to receive updates about how you can donate/help at our upcoming blood drives!
Am I eligible to donate? What's with all these restrictions on donors?
Check out this list maintained by the Red Cross for current eligibility information. If you are still unsure, feel free to go ahead and make an appointment. When you get to the drive, voice your concern to someone at the registration table; you will be able to speak with a nurse/doctor before waiting. The restrictions placed on donors (including those on travel and sexual relations) are mandated by the FDA on the Red Cross and all other licensed blood banking organizations. We appreciate the frustration that some of these restrictions incite, but we are unable to change these rules. The FDA explains its policies here.
What happens when I donate?
A thorough description of the donation process can be found here. Keep in mind that part of the donation process is the wait--with an appointment, you should be out within 1.5 hours of arriving; without an appointment you may face a 2 hour process. We recommend bringing a book or some work to do while you wait.
I've never donated before and I'm a little scared. Will donating blood hurt?
Don't be scared! Consider bringing a friend to talk to — and don't forget that there will be HCRC volunteers (fellow Harvard students) at the drive to help you though — just let one of them know if they can help you in some way. Here's a list of tips to make your donation as easy as possible. One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure to eat a full meal and drink lots of fluids before donating.
What's all this talk about iron and anemia?
To ensure your safety while donating, the Red Cross requires a certain minimum level of iron in your blood. If you fall below this level, you will simply not be allowed to donate that day; you can try again the next day if you want. College students, especially women, often fall below this cut off. Try eating iron-rich foods in the days/weeks leading up to the drive if you are worried: check out this list of iron-rich food.
Have you ever considered pre-testing for iron? It would save lots of time.
We have approached the Red Cross with this question, and it is, unfortunately, impossible to have iron pre-testing. There are very strict guidelines that the Red Cross must follow to draw blood (even the tiny amount required to test for iron), which make this impossible. If you're concerned about your iron levels, try to eat iron-rich foods in the days/weeks preceding the drive — check out this list of iron-rich food.
What's with all the long waits? Why don't I get taken at the time of my apointment?
Appointments get you through the donation process quicker by minimizing your wait time. Part of the time devoted to donating blood is, unfortunately, waiting. The entire process (waiting and donating) will take 1-2 hours, depending on how long the wait is. There are several ways you can help minimize your wait:
- Come early in the day, since the wait generally gets worse as the day goes on.
- Make an appointment online!
- Come early in the week, since Friday is usually our busiest day
What does volunteering entail?
Volunteering is fun and easy to do! Don't worry if you've never volunteered before — there will be instructions at the drive and experienced volunteers to help you out. You will either sit at the registration table signing in donors, or at the food table, feeding and entertaining donors after they give blood. And as a volunteer, you are eligible for all the raffles and giveaways we have at the drive!
What if I can't make it to the drive? Can I donate somewhere else?
Of course you can! Check out this page for more drives in the area.
What if my question isn't answered here?
E-mail us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.