Meet Amber

Sharing diverse, remarkable, and inspiring real-life stories is what the I am OneBlood movement is all about.

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Host a Blood Drive

Become an agent of change and host a blood drive.

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Our Service Area

We are committed to saving lives in your community.

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Earn Rewards

You get rewarded every time you donate with OneBlood.

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Whole Blood Donation

Whole blood donation is the method that individuals are most familiar with. This is the traditional way of donating and allows us to draw a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time.

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Whole Blood Donation

Whole blood donation is the method that individuals are most familiar with. This is the traditional way of donating and allows us to draw a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time.

Find a Donation Center or Blood Drive Save a Life

 

What Does the Donation Process Look Like?

The process of a whole blood donation involves several simple steps. Watch the video to learn more. 

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Quick Facts

Whole blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, all of which are suspended in a liquid called plasma.

How Often Can I Donate

You can donate whole blood every 56 days, or approximately every eight weeks for a total of six donations a year.

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Time Commitment

The total donation process takes about one hour, with the donation itself typically lasting around 15 minutes.

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Whole Blood Storage

Whole blood can be refrigerated for a period of up to 35 days.

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Blood Types

People with the following blood types should consider donating whole blood:



O- O+ A- B-

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Making an Impact

Each whole blood donation is separated into its component parts: red cells, plasma, and platelets. This means your whole blood donation can be transfused to up to three patients. Whole blood donations play a vital role in saving the lives of patients battling cancer, blood disorders, traumatic injuries, and other critical conditions.

Meet Eric

A drunk driver hit the paramedic’s motorcycle head-on, causing him extensive injuries and severe internal bleeding.

Eric paramedic

Common Whole Blood Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions that arise when individuals are asked to donate whole blood.

Does It Hurt?

At the beginning of the donation, you may only experience a brief pinch from the needle, while throughout the process, you should feel the sense of fulfillment, knowing that you are making a positive impact on patients within your community.

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Why Donate Blood?

There is no substitute for blood. Lifesaving blood transfusion can only come from generous volunteer donors. Their contribution is essential for providing support to those in need.

Alyse and her baby boy

How Much Blood Do You Take?

On average, a blood donation is one pint. As a general guideline, adults usually have around 10-12 pints of blood circulating in their bodies.

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Learn About Donation Procedures

There’s more than one way to give blood. Let your blood type lead the way in targeting the best way for you to donate your powerful lifesaving gift.

Whole Blood

This is our most common procedure, drawing a pint of blood containing all blood components at one time.

Blood 101

Double Red Cell

During a double red blood cell donation, we only collect your red blood cells, excluding the platelets and plasma.

Blood Drive

Platelets

During a platelet donation, we only collect your platelets, returning the rest of the blood components.

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