Information for Student Athletes
As a student athlete, here are some important things you should know about donating blood.It is recommended that blood donors not participate in strenuous activity for a period of time following the donation. If you are a student athlete, this may interfere with practice and game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t donate. |
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Keys to Success
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Talk to your coach about your interest and the importance of making a difference through blood donation.
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Try to plan your donation around practice and games. If necessary, ask if you can miss practice for one day to participate in this life-saving cause.
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Encourage your teammates to donate with you and make it a team effort!
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After blood donation, student athletes should wait about 12 hours or more before resuming strenuous exercise, depending on how they feel.
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You temporarily lose fluid after donation which your body replaces within 24 hours or sooner if you drink extra fluids.
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As a precaution, do not donate blood on the same day of a competition or strenuous practice.
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Your body replaces the red blood cells (the cells that deliver oxygen to muscles and tissues) within about two to four weeks, depending on nutrition and iron status.
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High-performance competitive athletes may notice a marginal decrease in exercise tolerance for about one week after donation.
