Blood

• Drink plenty of liquids, especially when it's hot, during the 24 hours before.
• Avoid intense exercise in the 3-4 hours prior.
• Preferably eat something salty in the 3-4 hours before.
• Drink 3 large glasses of water in the 3-4 hours before.

In the meal before donation:

• Avoid eating a lot of fats, such as fried food or heavy meals
• Avoid sugary drinks or commercial fruit juices
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid consuming ice cream and foods with a high sugar content

Fats can be carried by blood, and if consumed in excess, your donation may not be able to be used.

These are the steps to donate

1. Make an appointment
   Through the Blood and Tissue Bank website, you can make an appointment to donate blood. Once requested, there will be a record of the day, time, and location for donation.
2. Identification
   Remember that you always need to bring an official identification document (ID card, NIE, passport, or driving license) to donate.
3. The pre-donation questionnaire
   You will need to fill out a questionnaire about your health and lifestyle habits.
   To manage your data and extract your blood, we will always need your consent, in a confidential manner and in compliance with the regulations.
4. The medical interview
   A medical interview will be conducted, and measures such as blood pressure and haemoglobin levels will be taken.
   To ensure that the donation will be safe for you and the person who will receive your blood, we will rely on the results to determine if you can donate or not.

• If you feel dizzy, stay calm. Do not strain to stay standing, lay down on the ground with your legs up to promote circulation.
• Keep in mind that you can change your mind at any time.
• You can ask as many questions as you want to the professional assisting you.
• The extraction lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, the time needed to donate about 450 ml of blood and save up to three lives.

• Do not remove the bandage until, at a minimum, 2 hours later.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke during the following 2 hours.
• Do not make significant physical efforts, especially with the punctured arm, during the next 24 hours.
• Drink plenty of liquids during the next 24-48 hours.
• Avoid very warm places, it's better if they are well-ventilated and cool areas.
• Do not stand for long periods. Avoid queues or standing on public transport in the next 6 hours.