How to donate blood in Colorado

Donating blood is a selfless act that can truly help people in need. Simply making one donation can save up to three lives.

Have you given blood before? It may be easier than you realize. The whole process can take as little as 45 minutes, and most of that time is spent doing the health assessment and the prep. The actual needle in the arm donation time is usually about 10 minutes.

There are very few things in life that can have such a positive impact that take under an hour. The “ultimate pay-it-forward moment” is what Vitalant calls it. So if you are willing and able, consider scheduling a donation today.

January is National Blood Donor Month. It was established in 1969 to encourage blood donation during a time of year when donations often slow down (due to colder weather and the holidays). This ensures the safety and continuation of the nation’s blood supply. If you are able, please consider donating this month.

Below are some facts about blood donation, including changes in eligibility requirements, and details of what to expect when you book an appointment.

Quick blood donation facts

Blood is composed of several important components. Plasma is the base, made of mostly water. Red blood cells pick up oxygen from the lungs and transport it via the circulatory system to every cell in the body, providing energy. Platelets help the blood clot to reduce bleeding.

• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S., along with nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma, according to the American Red Cross.
• In Northern Colorado, someone requires a blood transfusion every 37 minutes, according to Bridget Aesoph, donor recruiter for Garth Englund Blood Donation Center in Fort Collins.
• In the U.S. every 2 seconds of every day, a patient needs a blood or platelet transfusion.
• If just 1% more Americans donated blood, shortages could disappear.
• You can donate whole blood every 56 days (8 weeks)

Who receives the donated blood?

When trauma patients are brought into a hospital, up to 100 pints of blood products can be used per patient. On top of that, “women with complications during pregnancy sometimes need a blood transfusion,” along with cancer patients and “children with severe anemia and many who have complex medical or surgical procedures.” So there is a huge need.

Are you eligible to donate blood?

Eligibility varies from blood bank to blood bank. All donors must be in good health, show a photo ID, and fill out a basic health assessment. Vitalant requires donors to be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. UCHealth’s Garth Englund Blood Centers require you to be at least 18 years old (or 17 with a parent’s permission) and weigh at least 120 pounds.

Can you donate if you have a tattoo?

This is one of those eligibility rules that has changed over time. As long as you got your tattoo in a state that regulates tattoo parlors, such as Colorado, you should be good to donate.

Garth Englund Blood Center shares:

“Most people can donate blood immediately after getting inked, as long as the tattoo was applied at a state-regulated entity that uses sterile needles and ink that is not reused. Colorado regulates tattoo parlors; only Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania do not. If you’ve gotten inked at a Colorado tattoo parlor, you can donate blood immediately.”

Other recent FDA updates

The FDA has also recently updated donation rules around international travel and sexual history. There was a severe shortage of blood donations during the pandemic, causing concern for the U.S. blood supply. This was mostly due to social distancing and cancelled blood drives. The FDA updated the guidelines to encourage donations.

Does donating blood hurt?

Needles are different for everyone. Let me share some personal insight. My first time donating blood was 20 years ago and now I do my best to donate every 8-10 weeks.

The insertion of the needle is initially uncomfortable, as it is with any type of injection (such as a flu or COVID shot) or blood draw. However, for most blood donors that is the worst of it, and it doesn’t continue to hurt as long as you sit still. My advice: never look at the needle.

My regular blood donation center is Garth Englund in Fort Collins. I can vouch that they are super friendly and organized and have the best snacks and swag.

What is the process?

Online scheduling is usually available for donation. When you arrive, you first answer a series of health-related questions. Next, they check your blood pressure and your temperature. Then to check your hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, they prick one of your fingers for a drop of blood.

After that, you move to a comfy donation chair. The phlebotomist (a medical professional trained to perform blood draws) asks which arm you want to use and cleans the area thoroughly. The needle is inserted. To help blood flow you are usually given a stress ball to squeeze. Roughly 10 minutes later, the needle is removed. You will be asked to stick around and have a snack if you feel light-headed. Some places have great selections of snacks and drinks. Some places give you a gift card for free ice cream or coffee for donating.

Do you know your blood type?

It is strange that our blood type is not common information in our medical chart. Some 66% of Americans report not knowing their blood type. Donating blood is the best way to find out what type you are.

Where to donate blood in Colorado

• Garth Englund Blood Donation Center in Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley
• Vitalant has locations across Colorado
• Denver Red Cross
• The American Red Cross can help you find blood drives in your area
• Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora

You can also use this locator tool from the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) to find a donation site that is most convenient for you.

Finally, consider hosting a mobile blood drive at your work or in your community. Most of the blood donation centers above have information on their websites about mobile blood drives. The Red Cross also has information on how to run a virtual blood drive.

See more ways to support your community on our Community Resources page.