- Myth: I can’t donate if I have tattoos.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I got a piercing recently.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve just been to the dentist.
- Myth: Blood can be manufactured.
- Myth: Blood donation is painful.
- Myth: Blood is only needed in times of emergency.
- Myth: Donating blood causes my body to start over producing blood cells.
- Myth: Donating blood makes you gain weight.
- Myth: Donating blood takes a long time.
- Myth: Donating blood will impact my ability to do my daily activities.
- Myth: Giving blood will harm me by taking away red cells or platelets that my body needs to function.
- Myth: I can catch an infectious disease by donating blood.
- Myth: I have a common blood type, so you don’t need my blood.
- Myth: Donating blood can harm my immune system.
- Myth: Other people are already giving enough blood.
- Myth: Vegetarians or vegans cannot donate blood.
- Myth: I cannot donate blood because I have diabetes.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve had low hemoglobin (iron) levels in the past.
- Myth: I must make an appointment to donate blood.
- Myth: I should fast before I donate.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood when I’m on my menstrual cycle.
- Myth: Sometimes, needles and other materials are reused.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood because phlebotomists won’t be able to find my veins.
- Who can give blood?
- Where does my blood go?
- Which patients use what blood components?
- What types of photo ID are accepted?
- What tests are performed on blood?
- What is vCJD?
- What happens when somebody tests positive for an infectious disease marker?
- What can I eat to raise my hemoglobin levels?
- Is it safe to receive blood transfusions?
- I don’t have sickle cell anemia, but I carry the trait. Can I still give blood?
- How will I feel after I give blood?
- How often can I give blood?
- How much blood is taken?
- How long does it take?
- Can I give blood for myself?
- When was Carter BloodCare founded?
- Can people with high blood pressure donate blood?
- Can people who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS donate blood?
- Can gay or bi-sexual men donate blood?
- What is Apheresis?
- How long can blood be stored?
Myth: Blood is only needed in times of emergency.
Medically reviewed on July 14, 2024.
Here’s the Truth
Blood is needed in our community every day. There may not be a big news event-type emergency (explosion or terrorist event) today, but our friends, family and neighbors are having their own emergencies each day – unexpected heart surgery, new diagnosis of leukemia, pregnancy delivery gone wrong, car crash, etc. Blood needs to be collected, tested, and transported to the hospital and on the shelf ready to go 365 days a year to be immediately available for critical patients. If you wait until the news of an emergency, it’s too late for the blood to get ready to treat injured patients.