Please note that our South Bay donor center at 295 E. Hamilton Avenue in Campbell is temporarily closed for renovations. Alternate donation location information can be found here.
Did you know…?
About every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
That means, this many people have needed blood since you arrived here:
PRIDE Stories 2025 :: Blåz Bush
Blåz’s story is one that is shared by so many folks in our community. From his reflections on his first experience with blood donation to his journey as a regular blood donor, Blåz has shown that healing can be as much a part of the narrative for a blood donor as it is for a patient.
We’re incredibly grateful for Blåz and all of the donors like him who are stepping up to engage in this lifesaving practice for the first time.
……
Watch more stories at https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/SBCTV
Do you have a PRIDEstory to share? Send us a message here: https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/sbc-stories/share-your-story/
Blood Donation: How It Works
Before your appointment:
- Always be sure to drink plenty of water before donating blood!
- Eat an iron-rich meal. Eating enough iron is essential to ensuring that your hemoglobin level is right for donating. You can check out some tips on getting enough iron here.
- Bring your donor ID. If you have a donor ID, be sure to bring it with you to your appointment. First-time donors or returning donors without a donor ID card should bring a valid state-issued photo identification.
Avoid alcohol and fatty foods for 24 hours, and aspirin (if donating platelets) for 48 hours, before your donation.
The Donation Process
Congratulations, you made an appointment to donate blood and save lives! So what happens now? There are four basic steps to every blood donation:
- Registration
- Medical History
- Donation
- Rest & Refreshments
After your blood donation:
- Always be sure to drink plenty of water to rehydrate.
- Sit down or lie down if you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Call our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 if you feel unwell.
- Rest and replenish iron. We recommend you take an iron supplement and/or eat foods rich in iron combined with a source of vitamin C after your donation.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and vigorous exercise for at least 24 hours after donating, and be sure to keep that bandage on for a few hours!
Please call our post-donation callback line at (650) 725-9968 immediately if you:
- feel that your blood should not be given to a patient;
- are not sure that your blood is safe;
- develop a fever within 24 hours after donating;
- have any illness within two weeks of your donation; or
- are diagnosed by a physician as having West Nile, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, or Ebola virus Infection.
HEMOBLOGIN: THE SBC BLOG
Breaking Barriers: One Advocate’s Journey to Blood Donation
Growing up in a small rural town in Texas, blood drives at Bláz Bush’s high school were a community event. Students were eager to participate, perhaps because it meant skipping class and enjoying free cookies. But for Bláz, these events were filled with a sense of unease. Students often made jokes and disparaging remarks about…
Honoring Anthony Lichauco’s Legacy
By Samm Baker, Communications Strategist Stanford Blood Center’s own Melissa Lichauco has been given an extraordinary opportunity to continue her late husband Anthony’s legacy by participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Visionaries of the Year campaign. This campaign is not only about fundraising; it’s about bringing hope to families fighting blood cancers and…
New Red Cord Program Celebrates High School Donors Making a Difference
At Stanford Blood Center (SBC), we’re proud to celebrate the compassion and community spirit of our youngest donors through the launch of our brand-new Red Cord Program. Introduced this year, the program was created to re-engage high school students in blood donation efforts following the challenges of the pandemic—and to recognize their lifesaving contributions in a…
Honoring Jaime Eredia and His Years of Service as a Blood Drive Coordinator
Since 2007, Jaime Eredia has been the driving force behind the Stanford School of Engineering’s blood drives by organizing and promoting them, and often rolling up his own sleeve to donate. But as Jaime prepares to retire from his role as the blood drive coordinator, he leaves a lasting impact on the lives of countless patients in…
Beyond the Donor Chair: Eric Steger’s Extraordinary Donation Story
Some people donate blood once or twice in their lives. Others make it a regular habit. And then there’s Eric Steger. His passion for giving has led him to explore a variety of opportunities to help patients in need. From stem cells to solid organ donations, plus an incredible 200 blood donations (and counting), Eric’s…
Celebrating Black History: Pioneers in Transfusion, Transplantation and Biosciences
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of Black scientists and medical professionals whose innovations have shaped modern medicine. From groundbreaking discoveries in transfusion medicine to pioneering research in immunology and pathology, these individuals represent a small fraction of the contributions of Black scientists and innovators who have left an...
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