Who receives the blood donated?
Your donation will be used for patients being treated throughout the hospital.
Is donating blood safe?
Yes, donating blood is a safe and easy process. The blood bags and needles are new and sterile, and are only used to collect your blood.
- It is not possible to get HIV/AIDS or other infectious disease by giving blood. A sterile, disposable needle is used for each blood donation. Once used, the needle is discarded.
- Feeling faint or fatigued after donating blood is rare. If it occurs, it most likely will pass in a matter of hours.
- You can only donate if your health history permits and you feel well. You are asked some health questions and are given a mini physical - temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and red cell count check - prior to donation to ensure that you are feeling well and that it is safe for you to give blood.
- Your health history and test results are confidential and cannot be given out without your permission, except as required by law.
Testing your blood
Your blood will be tested for syphilis, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), hepatitis, and other factors. We will notify you if tests show you may have a health problem. Your blood would not be used if it could make someone ill.
Do not give blood to find out whether you test positive for the virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. Call the Blood Donor Center for a list of sites offering free testing. Remember that giving blood only to obtain test results is a felony in the state of California.
If you are temporarily deferred from giving blood, please don't give up! We hope you will return to donate blood once your deferral period is over. If you are permanently deferred, please help by encouraging your friends and family to donate.
Community Blood Drives
Too many Americans wait until they need blood before they truly realize the importance of volunteer blood donations. In addition to collecting autologous and directed donations, the hospital holds at least four blood drives per year to collect blood from the community. Many people know that when you donate blood it goes to people in need, but what you may not know is how great the need is. Every three seconds, someone needs blood. Please call the Blood Donor Center for the date of the next drive. If your business, church, or school would like to host a blood drive (all blood goes to the patients at Northridge Hospital), please call our Donor Recruiter at (818) 885-8500, extension 4856.
