World Blood Donor Day

Today is World Blood Donor Day. Roll up your sleeve and save a life!

Did you know?
A single unit of donated blood can save up to three lives.

Every year 107 million blood donations are collected worldwide. Approximately half of these are collected in high-income countries, home to only 15% of the world’s population.

Approximately 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, but in Pittsburgh, less than 3 percent do.

Giving blood is fast. The entire life-saving process takes approximately 45 minutes. The actual donation time is only 5-10 minutes.


Requirements to Donate
To donate, you must be in generally good physical health and feeling well that day.

To donate whole blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with signed parental consent form*) and weigh at least 110 pounds.

There must be at least 56 days between whole blood donations.


Places to Donate
Central Blood Bank
Jameson Health System, South Campus
1000 South Mercer Street
New Castle, PA 16101-4672

Tuesday, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Call 1-866-366-6771 to schedule an appointment.

American Red Cross Donor Center
125 North Jefferson Street
New Castle, PA 16101

2nd and 4th Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. (Whole Blood)
To schedule a blood donation appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

Before You Go
You can do a few things before you give blood to make sure that you have a good experience:

• Make sure you feel well. Don't give blood if you feel ill.
• Eat a good breakfast or lunch. But avoid fatty foods. They can affect some of the tests done on donated blood to make sure it's safe.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before.