Questions and Answers
Why should I donate blood?
Volunteer blood donors provide the gift of life—a priceless gift that has no
substitute. As medical care advances, patients depend on the blood supply for
surgeries, medical emergencies, and ongoing treatments. Patients depend on a
safe and available blood supply, which can only come from volunteer blood donors.
Why donate at the Nebraska Community Blood Bank?
As the community's blood provider, the NCBB is community-focused in everything we do. Working in cooperation
with physicians and hospitals, the NCBB makes sure the blood is there
for area hospitals when
it is needed. The blood you give here saves lives of those who live
here. Will it hurt?
You may feel a "sting" in your arm at first, but this lasts for only a
few seconds. Remember, donating blood is not about the needle; it's about
saving lives. Be the type that gives!
How will I feel after donating?
We will ask you to stay for a few minutes afterward to enjoy refreshments
and to make sure you are feeling fine. Your body will replenish the plasma
within 24 hours and the red cells within a few weeks.
How will my donation be used?
Every unit of whole blood may be separated into three components: red
cells, plasma, and platelets. Red cells carry oxygen to the body's vital
tissues, plasma provides nutrients and clotting factors, and platelets
are essential for clotting to occur. When divided into these three
components, your donation could help as many as three patients. For
example, your single donation could help a surgery patient needing red
cells, a burn victim needing plasma, and a trauma patient needing
platelets. The surgery patient could be your neighbor, the burn patient
a community leader, or the trauma patient your grandson. Your donation
helps the people around you every day. In addition, cancer patients are
the #1 recipients of platelets collected by pheresis. Chemotherapy and
radiation often create the need for platelet transfusions during the
course of treatment. How common is my blood type?
Out of 100 people, about:
37 will be O+
8 will be O- (the Universal Red Cell Donor)
33 will be A+
7 will be A-
9 will be B+
2 will be B-
3 will be AB+
1 will be AB- (the Universal Platelet and Plasma Donor)
Is donating blood safe?
Yes! You will not be exposed to, or at risk of contracting, any infectious
agents as a result of donating blood. Sterile, disposable needles and
collection equipment are used each time. Safety for the volunteer blood
donor as well as the patient is always NCBB's top priority. Donating blood
is 100 percent safe.
I'm on medication. Can I donate?
Most common medications will not affect your eligibility to donate blood.
Blood pressure, oral medications for diabetes, and cholesterol-lowering
medications are usually not a concern if they are controlling the symptoms.
Some medications may require a doctor's note. It is best to contact the
NCBB Collections Staff (402-486-9434) for specific direction.
How often can I donate?
The most common donation of whole blood—which contains red cells,
plasma, and platelets—can be donated once every 56 days (8 weeks).
Other blood donations include the red cell pheresis, or "double red
cells," and platelet pheresis. The process for red cell pheresis involves
taking two units of red cells and returning all other blood components
to the donor. This can be done once every 112 days (16 weeks). Red cell
pheresis is a great way to make two donations in a single visit. Platelet
pheresis donations can be made once every 14 days (2 weeks). It involves
collecting and separating the whole blood and returning the plasma and
red cells to the donor.
How long does it take? What happens?
Allow about one hour when donating whole blood. During that time you will
register, fill out a medical history questionnaire, complete a medical
assessment, and enjoy refreshments. The medical assessment includes a
temperature and blood pressure check, a review of your medical history,
and an iron level test. The actual donating time is less than 10 minutes!
The pheresis process will take approximately 90 to 120 minutes. You may
watch television or videotapes, listen to music, or sit back and relax
while helping to save a life.
Where can I donate?
The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has four convenient Lincoln locations:
East: 100 N. 84th
St.
Downtown: 131 S. 13th St.
South: 2917 Pine Lake Road
North: 2700 Fletcher Avenue
Appointments can be as early as 6:15 a.m. and as late as 6:00 p.m., depending
on the location and the day. Blood drives are also conducted regularly
at more than 200 locations.
What's the next step?
Call, send e-mail, or check the NCBB Web site to make an appointment—and
be the type that gives!
NCBB Appointment Line: (402) 486-9414
Toll-free Appt. Line: 1-877-486-9414
E-mail: lifesaver@don8bld.org
Click here
Your Privacy
The Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) protects the confidentiality of all personal
registration information, medical information, and testing results obtained
by blood donation. NCBB does not rent, sell, exchange, or in any way provide
personally identifiable information to any third-party organization and
will only disclose information when legally required to do so. You may
be contacted by NCBB to schedule future blood donations, clarify accuracy
of information, or provide information about your blood donation.
Licensing and Accreditation
Founded in 1962, America's
Blood Centers is North America's largest network of community-based
independent blood programs. Recognized by the U.S. Congress for its critical work
in patient care and disaster preparedness and response, the federation
operates more than 600 blood donor centers providing nearly half of the U.S. and
a quarter of the
Canadian blood supply.
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