Blood donation is a voluntary process that can save numerous lives for accident victims, cancer patients, pregnant women and others. Any donor who is willing to donate blood must meet the following requirements;

• The donor should not suffer from any transmittable diseases
• The acceptable age for donation should be between 18-60 years with a minimum weight of 50Kg
• The minimum Haemoglobin level should be 12.5%
• The time gap between two donations should be 3 months

Once the requirements are met, any donor can donate up to 350 millilitres (ml) of blood. Although donating blood is a safe way to save people, it can lead to some side effects such as fatigue or anaemia.

By following some tips, these side effects can be minimized and ensures a smooth blood donation process.

1. The donor should eat regularly before donating to keep the blood sugar levels stable.
2. Foods that are high in fat should be skipped since they can interfere with the blood testing process, rendering the blood unusable.
3. It is also important to drink around 500 ml of water immediately before donation. This will prevent a drop in blood pressure during donation and thus avoiding getting unconscious or dizzy.
4. Alcohol should be avoided at least 24 hours before giving blood since it produces dehydration.
5. It is necessary to avoid vigorous exercises before and after donating blood.
6. Resting the body helps to replenish the fluids that are lost during donation.