By Susan Quilty, Contributing Writer

According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every 2 seconds. Blood donation is needed to save the lives of people who are in accidents, those who need surgery, or who have serious illnesses, such as cancer or hemophilia. When you decide to donate blood, you are giving the gift of life.

There are many ways to arrange to donate blood. There may be periodic blood drives at your work or school. This is often a convenient way to arrange a blood donation. You can also find locally scheduled American Red Cross blood drives, as well as additional blood donation information, by visiting www.givelife.org.

Before you arrive for your blood donation, you should check the eligibility requirements set by the American Red Cross. To donate blood, you must be healthy, be 17 years old or older (16 in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, and have not given blood in the past 8 weeks. You will not be permitted to donate blood if you are pregnant or are taking antibiotics for an infection.

In addition, you will not be able to donate blood if your iron level is too low. A technician will check your iron level before collecting your blood donation. If you are a woman, keep in mind that your iron level may be low when you are menstruating, so try not to schedule donations during this time.

Many people with chronic conditions believe that they are unable to donate blood. However, many chronic conditions will not prevent you from donating blood as long as your condition is under control. Check with your local American Red Cross branch or visit www.givelife.org for more information.

On the day of your blood donation, be sure to bring a valid drivers license or ID card with you. Expect the entire process to take approximately one hour, although the blood donation itself may take as little as 10 minutes.

Before you can donate blood, you will be asked to answer some questions, either on a paper form or through a computer interface. The questions are about your medical history and about behaviors that may put you at risk for disease. Topics covered include general health, drug use, recent tattoos, travel to foreign countries, and sexual practices. It is important to be honest. The information will be kept confidential and will only be used to assess the safety of your blood donation.

Next, you will have a private interview to review the information you have provided. This is a good opportunity for you to ask questions, especially if you are nervous about donating blood. After the interview, a technician will take your temperature and pulse. You may be weighed if you appear to be less than 110 pounds. This is to be sure that you meet the eligibility requirements to donate blood as set by the American Red Cross. The final step of the medical screening will be to test your blood iron levels. To check your iron level, the technician will prick your fingertip or earlobe. Iron levels fluctuate daily and being turned down for low iron will not prevent you from donating blood in the future. If you are turned away, follow up with your own doctor if you are concerned or if your iron level is very low.

After you have completed the interview and medical screening, it is time for the blood donation to begin. First, the technician will clean your arm at the inside of your elbow with an alcohol wipe. He or she will then wrap an elastic band temporarily around your upper arm to make your vein more visible and insert a needle that is attached with tubing to a clear bag.

Once the needle is inserted, the band will be removed from your arm and you will only need to lie back and relax. You may be given a ball or squishy toy to squeeze to help the blood flow more quickly. The blood donation bag will be usually be stored below you. This allows gravity to help the blood drain more quickly.

While your donation is being collected, it may help to know that the amount of time that the donation takes will vary. Do not worry if other people seem to be filling their bags more quickly or more slowly. The next time you donate blood, you may notice that the speed of your blood donation is faster or slower. The speed often changes from one visit to the next and is not a sign of a problem.

Do not be embarrassed to tell the technician if you begin to feel anxious or dizzy, or if you experience any discomfort where the needle is inserted. The technician will be able to check for problems and reassure you. It may be reassuring to know that you are donating only one pint of blood and that the average adult body contains 10-12 pints. Your body will easily regenerate the blood you have given.

Once a pint of blood has been collected, the technician will remove the needle, apply pressure to the insertion site for a moment, and bandage your arm. You will be asked to stay for a few more minutes and will be offered a snack, such as juice or cookies.

Your blood donation will be marked with a unique barcode and prepared for storage. When you are cleared to leave, you may resume your normal activities.