What To Know If You Want To Donate Blood After Getting Tattooed
Donating blood is charitable and people who practice that are greatly valued and respected, especially if they have a blood type that is high in demand and necessary to save life. Still, there are a few things that you need to consider if you want to donate blood after giving blood.
Below, we will list what you need to know before you donate blood after getting a tattoo.
I Need To Talk To Someone About My Debit Card
Although Octapharma Plasma issues the prepaid card to donors, you will need to contact the associated debit card provider directly for questions specific to your card. Debit card providers are able to help with, but are not limited, to the following:
- How do I check my card balance?
- My card is lost or stolen. How can I get a replacement?
- Can I add money to my card?
- Who do I talk to about charges on my card?
- I forgot my pin number. How do I reset it?
We have two debit card providers. Here is contact information for each:
Northlane Debit Card
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You Also Cant Donate If You Have Any Piercings That Are Less Than 3 Months Old
You often cant donate blood for 3 months after getting a piercing, either.
Like tattoos, piercings can introduce foreign material and pathogens into your body. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV can be contracted through blood contaminated by a piercing.
Theres a catch to this rule, too.
Though many states regulate facilities that provide piercing services, there are specific rules regarding eligibility based on the equipment used.
If your piercing was performed with a single-use gun or needle at a state-regulated facility, you should be able to donate blood.
If the gun was reusable or youre not absolutely sure that it was single-use you shouldnt give any blood until 3 months have passed.
Conditions that affect your blood in some way may make you ineligible to donate blood.
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Donating Blood Is Easy
Donating blood is about a 45-minute process, but the actual donation of one pint takes about eight to 10 minutes. People can donate every 56 days, but the body replenishes the fluid lost during donation within 24 hours. It is important to eat a good meal and hydrate the day before and the day of a donation.
Donations can be scheduled at either of Garth Englunds blood donor centers in northern Colorado the center at 1025 Pennock Place in Fort Collins or the center at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., in Loveland. Interested donors should call or fill out this form to schedule an appointment at either of these locations.
Other organizations outside northern Colorado also operate blood donation centers and host blood drives. Contact your local blood donation center today to donate.
To donate, a person must be at least 18 years old and show photo identification. New donors must weigh at least 120 pounds and be in good health. Prior donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors can donate 14 days after having a COVID-19 vaccination.
Show off that ink and give the gift of life. Sign up to donate blood today.
If I Used To Live In Mexico Can I Donate Blood
Yes. However, if you lived in Mexico for 5 or more years, you must live in the United States with no travel to Mexico for 3 years. This is because you would be considered a resident of a Malaria-endemic country according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you travel to Mexico during the 3-year waiting period, you must wait 3 years from the date of returning from Mexico. Once you have been in the United States for 3 years without travel to Mexico, you can travel to Mexico on occasion and would only be deferred from donating if you visited a region with malaria.
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Are There Any States Where I Cant Give Blood After Getting Ink
Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia. This doesnt mean you cant give blood, just that you might have a deferral period. Potential donors should discuss their particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation through the Red Cross.
Are There Any Donor Rewards Or Donor Programs That I Can Get Involved In
Yes we have two donor programs. All donors are automatically enrolled in the Gallon Milestone Recognition Program where donors receive special rewards and recognition for reaching specific gallon milestones. Donors may also sign up for the Guardians Circle Donor Pledge Program. This is a membership-based appreciation program for donors that pledge to donate within 8 weeks from the day they are eligible to donate. .
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The Problem With Lying About When You Got A Tattoo
Some people will actually lie about when they got their tattoo when they go to donate blood at a donation center. This is a pretty common occurrence, but its a dangerous thing to do.
In fact, you can actually risk another persons life by donating blood just after getting a tattoo. Most of the time a blood and plasma center wont actually take the chance that you are lying and will simply do tests on you before you donate, so if you lie you will get caught out.
Itll just be embarrassing for you and wont benefit you at all. Any tests that they do before you donate blood are designed to figure out if you have any infections or diseases that could make the donation dangerous for the recipient.
Tattoos can sometimes cause blood infections. Of course, if you get a tattoo theres no guarantee that you will get a blood infection, though it is made a little more likely if you get a tattoo thats poor quality and things havent been sanitized properly by the tattoo artist.
Since a needle is being put into your skin, your body needs time to recover from the process, putting your immune system into overdrive.
The same can be said when you get a piercing. During this time period, you are more likely to contract things like infections and viruses. Conditions like hepatitis can even occur.
Its especially crucial if you have friends or family members that need your blood, but you cant donate because of a pointless lie.
What Happens After Donation
You have just had some blood removed. This procedure is called phlebotomy .
People have their blood taken for several reasons. You may have just donated blood so that it can be used to help someone else. Or you may have had blood removed to treat a medical condition, such as hemochromatosis or polycythemia. These take more blood than the sample that is needed for simple lab tests. For donation, about a pint of blood is drawn. If it’s drawn for treatment, then more or less than a pint may be taken.
The puncture wound caused by the poke from the needle for giving blood usually heals without trouble. Most people feel fine after they give blood. But there are some simple things you can do to take care of yourself before you go home.
- Right after you give blood, you may be asked to sit for a while and have some water or juice and a snack.
- When you leave, get up slowly to make sure that you’re not lightheaded. You may want to have a family member or friend take you home.
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Can You Donate Blood If You Have A Tattoo Eligibility & More
You may be eligible 3 years after treatment for malaria or 3 months after traveling to a place where malaria is common. You may be eligible 10 days after ending an antibiotic injection treatment. If you have a history of heart murmur, you may be eligible as long as you receive treatment and are able to go at least 6 months without symptoms. Youre ineligible for at least 6 months after any of these events. If you have a bleeding condition, you may be eligible to give blood as long as you dont have any issues with blood clotting and you arent taking blood thinners.
Who Can Donate Blood
You are eligible to donate blood if you are in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and are 17 years or older.
You are not eligible to donate blood if you:
- Have ever used self-injected drugs
- Are in a high-risk group for AIDS
The FDA regulation states that a male who has had sex with another male at any time since 1977 is prohibited from donating as a volunteer . Some health considerations or medications may require temporary deferral from donating blood. Donor eligibility is determined at the time of donation by trained personnel. See Basic Eligibility Guidelines for more details.
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Yes You Can Donate Blood If You Have Tattoos
If you got a tattoo in the last three months, it is completely healed, and was applied by a state-regulated facility, which uses sterile needles and fresh inkand you meet all donor eligibility requirementsyou can donate blood!
The same rules also apply to ear and body peircings. Remember, tattoos also include tattoo touch ups and permanent cosmetic tattoos.
Did you know that California is a state that regulates tattoo shops? That means once healed, you are able to donate as long as you meet all the other basic donor requirements.
States that do not regulate tattoo parlors:
Connecticut Georgia Idaho Maryland Nevada New York Pennsylvania Utah Wyoming
You need to wait 3 months after getting a tattoo in any of the above states or outside the United States. Set a calendar reminder to donate blood after your 3-month deferral period.
Do Come In To Donate Before You Get Your Tattoo
Youve got your design ready and youre probably on a wait list for the next available appointment. It can feel like going under the needle is ages away, so what better way to kill some time than coming in to donate with us? If you can squeeze in a donation before you get inked, youll be helping to save lives, and we know youre not afraid of needles!
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Some States Dont Regulate The Tattoo Facilities
Depending on where youve got your tattoo done, there are different times that youll have to wait before you can donate blood. In The United States, most of the states do have regulatory bodies that can regulate and control the tattoo studios and other tattoo facilities that provide inking services.
For that purpose, these regulators will check if those facilities use new ink and replace needles before applying it to their clients. However, that doesnt mean that the tattoos done in all facilities are regulated, and chances are that you will have to wait before you can donate blood.
At the moment, 10 states dont regulate their tattoo facilities. They include:
- District of Columbia
What does that mean?
If youve gotten inked in one of the aforementioned states, youll have to wait a minimum of 3 months before you can donate blood. The waiting time can be extended up to 12 months if there was a side effect or potential infection that emerged after getting some part of your body inked.
Currently, the waiting time of 3 months as stated by the Red Cross.
Common Questions And Donation Restrictions
Age
There is no maximum age to give blood. The minimum age to donate whole blood is 15 years old. The minimum age to donate platelets and plasma is 17 years old.
Antibiotics
You can donate blood if you have completed the prescribed dose of antibiotics and no longer have any symptoms of what caused them to be prescribed.
Blood Pressure
Before donation, every potential donor has his or her blood pressure taken to ensure readings are safely within guidelines to donate. Extreme levels are 90/50 and 180/100. Below the first or above the second will defer the potential donor. And you always get a free check to know for sure!
Cancer
- If you currently have any form of cancer, you may not donate.
- If you have non-melanoma skin cancer , you may donate as soon as you are healed from the complete removal of the area involved.
- For melanoma skin cancer, you must wait 1 year from the date of treatment completion.
- If you have ever had leukemia or lymphoma you may not donate .
- All other types of cancer are acceptable IF your doctor has declared you cancer-free and your treatment is complete. Note: Females with breast cancer who are taking hormone-blocking medications are eligible, and donors who are cancer-free but have radioactive implants are also eligible.
Diabetes
Heart and Lung Problems
High blood pressure
Low Iron or Anemia
Medications
Pregnancy
Sexual Contact
Tattoos and Piercings
Travel
Vaccinations/Immunizations
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Why Donate Blood
Blood donation is one of the most important things you can do for others. It allows you to help save the life of a premature infant or trauma victim, or vastly improve the health of someone fighting a chronic disease or cancer. There is no substitute for human blood, which means local hospitals rely on the generosity of our community for the gift of life.
How It Is Done
You will fill out some forms and answer questions about your health.
A health professional will measure your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. They also will use a finger-stick test to make sure that you have enough hemoglobin in your blood.
The health professional will clean the arm you will use to give blood. Then they will put a needle into a vein on the inside of your elbow. The needle is attached to a bag to collect the blood. You will probably feel a quick pinch when the needle goes in.
You may be given a soft ball or another object to squeeze every few seconds to help the blood flow.
When the bag is full, the health professional will take out the needle. You will get a bandage wrapped around your arm to stop any bleeding.
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Are You Allowed To Give Blood If You Have A Tattoo
Unlike what you may have heard to try and deter you from getting tattooed, or perhaps youve not been put in the loop of the new laws and rules surrounding donation, you are more than likely allowed to donate blood and save many lives after getting a tattoo. Like all regulations around blood work and disease, there are a few regulations you need to follow in order to donate.
How Often Can I Donate Blood
Donating blood requires a waiting period between donations. If you donate:
- Whole blood you may donate 56 days after your last whole blood donation.
- Double Red Cells- you may donate 112 days after your last double red cell donation. Double red cell donors must meet certain weight, height, and hemoglobin requirements.
- Platelets- you may donate 7 days after your last platelet donation, with a maximum of 24 donations per year.
- Plasma- you may donate 28 days after your last plasma donation.
- 16-18-year-old males 56 or 112 days, depending on donation given
- 16-18-year-old females 112 days
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Who Can Give Blood
In addition to registration, there is a short mini-physical involved with any blood donation. This is to ensure the person meets the requirements to give blood. These requirements vary depending on which type of donation you wish to pursue . Most people give whole blood, so we will refer to whole blood donation requirements when answering the questions below.
At a minimum, a person needs to be in good general health and feeling well to donate blood. They must also be at least 17 years old . Marisa Munafo, BSN, R.N., Education Specialist at Firelands Regional Medical Center, organizes the blood drives for the organization. Below, shell give more details to the question: who can give blood?
Now that weve covered many of the eligibility requirements to donate blood lets answer other questions, such as how long it takes to donate blood and where to give it near you.
Can You Donate Blood If You Have Tattoo
Are you thinking of getting a tattoo? Many people are growing more accepting of the tattooing process, although there are some people with controversial and reserved thoughts about the inking process. One of those reserved thoughts and prohibitions includes donating blood after getting your body tattooed.
There are a few things that may disqualify you from becoming a donor for blood, such as age, potential life situations, and events and diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV or AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, as well as some severe lungs diseases. In some facilities, you could also be ineligible for giving blood if you recently had a tattoo or a piercing.
In this article, were going to talk about whether its allowed to donate blood if you have a tattoo, as well as some regulations from facility to facility. Make sure to read the article, if youre a regular blood donor, but you want to embark on the tattooing journey.
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