Whole Blood

Donating whole blood is the most common way people give blood. The whole process takes about an hour—including a quick health interview and some time to have a snack afterward. You can donate at a local blood drive or at the blood bank, whichever works for you. During the donation, about one pint of blood is collected from your arm. You’re eligible to donate whole blood every 56 days.

When you donate whole blood, you’re not just helping one person—you could be saving up to three lives. That’s because your donation gets separated into different components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Each part is used for things like cancer treatments, bleeding disorders, or helping someone after a serious accident.

Thanks to advances in medicine—like cutting-edge cancer care, organ transplants, and heart surgeries—the demand for blood is higher than ever. And as the older generation of donors ages, the pressure on our national blood supply keeps growing.
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Blood isn’t just needed for the big emergencies you see on the news. It’s essential for daily care and those unexpected moments, like accidents or disasters. That’s why regular volunteer donors are so important. When you roll up your sleeve, you’re stepping up for your neighbors—and for people you’ll never even meet. Every donation truly matters.