About 95 percent of us will need to receive a blood donation at some time in our lives. If you have donated blood before, you know how good it feels to do something special for someone. The American Red Cross and other blood banks have safeguards to make sure that blood is safe to give and to receive. It is impossible to contract AIDS or any other disease by donating blood.

Anyone 18 years or older and over 110 pounds is eligible to give blood. It is necessary to wait at least 8 weeks between blood donations. You will be asked to provide personal identification before you donate. Questions are asked privately about intravenous drug use, HIV test results, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Other questions will be asked about illnesses or medical conditions that might contaminate the blood supply or make blood donation unsafe for you. All information is confidential. General health checks are taken for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

A sample of the potential donor's blood is typed and tested for anemia, hepatitis, syphilis, HIV (AIDS) , and HTLV-I. The blood will not be used if tests show that the person may be a carrier for these illnesses or other viruses. Many blood banks have adopted a program for donors who are at risk for AIDS to give blood that is used for research purposes. This blood is not part of the general blood supply for donation to the public.

Blood is usually given while lying down. The skin on an arm is cleaned with an antiseptic and a new, sterile, nonreusable needle is used to withdraw about a pint of blood. Most people feel fine during and after the blood donation. A few people may feel dizzy or faint. Juice and snacks are provided by the staff to help the donor's body adjust to the change in fluid volume. Bruising at the blood draw site may occur. It takes the body less than 24 hours to replenish the lost fluid and 6 weeks to replace red blood cells.

Giving blood is safe for the donor and life-saving to the receiver. Please give blood.

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