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1. It is imperative that you be deemed medically fit by your Surgeon or General Practitioner prior to the day of donation.

2. You may be required to take blood/vitamin supplements to prevent you from becoming anemic. Normally you will be given a prescription for this at your interview visit. It is advisable to begin this treatment one week prior to donating your first unit of Blood and to continue until you complete your donations. These supplements may cause some minor discomfort.

3. If you are not feeling well prior to your Blood collection, you must be certain to contact the donor center. It may be necessary to cancel the donation and make a later appointment for the collection when you are feeling fit.

4. Wear comfortable clothing preferably with a short sleeved top.

5. Take a good notepad and a couple of working pens. Remember, to take a lot of notes, your doctor does!

6. Consider scheduling, and taking along with you, a 'donor buddy.' This helper can drive, if necessary, and help you in taking notes, holding things and more.

1. Confirm your appointment to have your Blood drawn on the day before and on the morning of your visit to the Blood donor center.

2. Remember to set aside on your schedule one to two hours for each donation visit. This will allow enough time for extra waiting, paperwork, screening, donating your Blood and some recovery time.

3. Take a working pen and a convenient note pad and USE THEM A LOT; take a lesson from physicians, they write everything down!

4. Take ALL of the paperwork that you have signed pertaining the donation.

5. Take all of your historical notes with you; for certain, they will be needed.

6. It is good to have a reasonable and complete (not huge) breakfast. Also be sure to drink at least two or three glasses of fluid in the hours prior to the Blood donation. This will help to keep you from feeling faint during and after the procedure.

7. Bring a complete list of the medications that you are taking.

8. Bring identification and verification of your social security number.

9. If you need eyeglasses, be certain to take them with you.

10.   Remember, most problems with autologous Blood transfusion are caused by human error. Your job is to remind the Blood donor center of the guidelines that it has promised to follow. One of those is, the labeling of your Blood, in your presence at the exact time that it is drawn. Copy all of the numbers and the other information on the label to your notes.

11.   Remember to take along your 'Donor Buddy' during your visit to the Blood donor center, as you may feel light headed or tired after the process.

12.   Take a lot of notes!

What must I remember in the days following my Autologous Blood day?

1. Do not eat any large and rich meals, or plan any strenuous or unusual activities for at least 24 hours following your donation.

2. Avoid lifting any heavy items with the arm from which the Blood was collected for 24 hours as a precaution against any bruising.

3. Report all out of the ordinary or strange feelings or pains that you experience for three days after your Blood donation to the Blood donor center and your Physician.

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