Feeling nervous?

We’re in healthcare. We follow the same standard of hygiene you would expect at a hospital, and are held to high standards by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

We use sterile equipment, sanitise our sites regularly, and store blood components correctly. We also ask donors who are unwell to wait until they’re better before they donate.

Let us know if you have any concerns and we can talk you through any specifics.

Most donors feel fine after donating blood. Some even feel better than fine, buzzing from the feeling of saving lives!

But it’s true, some people do feel light-headed or dizzy. It’s usually preventable by hydrating properly, eating a meal before coming in, and not rushing to get up after you donate. We’ll give you more information at your donation, but it mostly comes down to taking it easy for the next 12 hours.

Lots of people are nervous around needles — including a lot of our donors. Let our team know when you arrive that you’re nervous. They’re very experienced and can talk you through the process. The actual needle is only for a short time, and most donors report feeling a bit of a pinch.

You should bring a book or other distraction to keep your mind off it. You might even find chatting to other donors really helpful.

We take privacy extremely seriously. We collect personal and health information to keep donors and patients safe, and we’re committed to protecting it.

Read our full privacy policy here