Here are some frequently asked questions about donating blood through the American Red Cross.
Q. Does it hurt?
A. You will feel a small sting upon insertion of the needle, which feels similar to the sensation of pinching the fleshy base of your arm.
Q. How long will it take?
A. On average, the entire ARC blood donation process takes approximately one and a quarter hours, though this may vary depending on the individual’s health and donation history. The actual donation process takes approximately 10 minutes.
Q. How much blood does ARC take?
A. You will donate one pint of blood per donation. Your body takes less than a day to replenish the plasma lost in the donation but can take between four and six weeks to generate the required red cells. As such, donors must wait a minimum of eight weeks before making another donation.