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Blood Drive

Honolulu Community College actively engages in promoting the Blood Bank of Hawaii's efforts of maintaining an ample supply of blood for our community by hosting periodic Blood Drives on our main campus.

For your convenience, you may also make your blood donation nearby at the Blood Bank of Hawaii, 2043 Dillingham Boulevard (phone 845-9966). Be sure to mention that your donation is on behalf of Honolulu Community College (for statistical purposes).

Donors Needed Now More Than Ever! Will you please join us at our next Blood Drive?

Call or email us for dates and information on upcoming on-campus Blood Drives. Blood Donors are always needed! We welcome appointments and walk-ins to fill cancellations or no shows! Contact the Health Office directly by calling 845-9282 (voice/text) or by e-mailing health@hcc.hawaii.edu. If it's more convenient, you may donate at the Blood Bank of Hawaii's Downtown or Dillingham Donor Center.

Blood donors who wish to sign-up with the Health Office are asked to provide the following information to facilitate pre-processing of information by the Blood Bank of Hawaii:

  • Full legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Mailing address
  • Email address
  • Daytime phone
  • Status: Faculty, Staff, Student, Alumni, Supporter
  • Alternate time(s) by 1st or 2nd choice
  • Note if you have previously donated blood.

Why give blood?

  • Giving blood is easy and safe.
  • The process of giving the gift of life, a pint of blood, takes about an hour.
  • Your blood is separated by various components consisting of red blood cells, plasma and platelets to name a few, that may help several people with your one donation.
  • Your pint of blood can save lives and improve the quality of life for newborns, cancer patients, the elderly and accident victims.

Who can give blood?

  • Nearly all adults can give blood.
  • Be in good health.
  • Be 18 years old (or 17 with signed parental consent)
  • Weight at least 110 pounds.
  • Wait 8 weeks between donations.
  • Possess a valid photo identification card.
  • What's involved in donating blood?
  • Register by presenting a photo ID with your birthdate and complete a Blood Donor Record.
  • Donor interview to review your donor record, health history and check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and red blood cell count.
  • Donation process with surgical cleansing and use of a sterile and disposable needle used only once to draw your blood (takes 5-8 minutes).
  • Blood is sealed and kept sterile. Testing is done to ensure tests are normal.
  • After resting and having refreshments, you will be ready to leave.
  • The entire process from registration to refreshments takes about an hour.

Before giving blood, be sure to:

  • Get a good night's rest.
  • Eat foods high in iron.
  • Begin drinking more fluids (many will say they feel better afterwards when they do this!).
  • Have a good meal. You'll feel much better afterwards than if you just ate a donut & coffee before donating!
  • Give yourself an hour or more in your schedule. Don't rush yourself.
  • Bring a list of daily medications (prescription and over-the-counter). Not only does this save you time when you are asked this question, but it's always a great idea to keep a list of medications handy in your wallet in case an emergency arises and you are not able to share this information with emergency personnel.

After donating blood, be sure to:

  • Drink plenty of fluids to replace the pint of donated blood.
  • Limit yourself to non-strenuous activities.
  • Contact the Blood Bank of Hawaii at 845-9966 and ask to speak to be connected with "Nursing" if you encounter any unusual symptoms or pain to where blood was drawn.

Learn more why you may have been deferred from giving blood and when you may be able to give blood:

  • Don't be disappointed or feel rejected if you cannot give blood. You may have been deferred because what we want to protect your health as well as that of the patients who will receive your blood. There are many other ways you can help even if you can't donate blood!
  • If your hemoglobin level was low, eat foods high in iron.
  • If you had cold or sore throat symptoms, wait 3 days after you are fully recovered and have been off antibiotic medications for 1 week.
  • If you had recent surgery it would depend on whether you are completely recovered and released from your doctor's care.
  • Tattooing and some body-piercing procedures may defer a blood donor for a year.
  • Travel - check how long deferral is for. Visiting a malarial country--you will be deferred for one year after you departed that country or if you lived in a malarial country you will be deferred for 3 years.
  • FDA new travel restrictions were enacted as a precaution against variant Creutzfelt Jakob Disease, commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. As of May 15, 2002, individuals with a history of the following became ineligible to donate blood: (1) Residence in the U.K. for 3 months or more, between 1980 and 1996, (2) Recipients of a blood transfusion in the U.K. between 1980 and the present, (3) Residence in Europe for 5 years of more, between 1980 and the present, (4) Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time on military bases in Europe for 6 months or more between 1980 and 1996.

If you are unable to commit to an on-campus appointment, kindly consider donating at the nearby Blood Bank of Hawaii location, 2043 Dillingham Blvd. Visit the Blood Bank of Hawaii web site for more information or call 845-9966.

Wanted: Volunteers

Committed persons and campus organizations needed to help recruit blood donors or coordinate on-campus blood drives!
Giving blood can be a rewarding experience. Help is needed to recruit blood donors for our on-campus blood drives. If you or your Registered Independent Student Organizations would like help or co-sponsor a campus blood drive, contact the Health Office! The sky is the limit to what and how we do this (within reason~smile!), however, the Blood Bank has an excellent web page entitled, "Blood Drive Coordinator's Corner" that would answer questions as to the "why" and "how" of putting on such an life-saving event! If you have any questions, contact health@hcc.hawaii.edu or the Health Office at 845-9282 (voice/text).