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Information for Young Blood Donors

Information for Teen Donors

Blood donations help save lives and are a great way for young adults to give back to the community.

Thank you for choosing to help save lives through blood and platelet donations. Young donors, like you, play an important role in helping to make sure that blood is available when and where it is needed most. The American Red Cross wants you to have the best possible donation experience as you begin your life-long donation journey

As a blood donor, you donate one pint of blood, which your body quickly replaces. As someone who is new to donating blood, we encourage you to focus on being a healthy blood donor. Here are a few things you should do to have the best possible experience:

General Guidelines for Blood Donation
 
  • Be in good general health and feeling well.
  • Maintaining your iron level is an important part of being a healthy donor. We encourage you to learn more about iron and donating blood
  • Be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years old with parental consent in some states).
  • Weigh at least 110 lbs. Additional height and weight requirements apply for donors 18 years old and younger and all high school student donors.
  • Have not donated blood in the last 56 days.
View All Eligibility Requirements

Height and Weight Requirements

Female donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Female Donors

Male Donors

Female donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Male donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Female Donors

Female donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Male Donors

Male donors who are 18 years old and younger must weigh 110 lbs. or more, depending on their height. See chart below:

Parental Consent

Some states allow 16 year olds to donate with written parental consent.
Find Your State Parental Consent Form

Select your state from the list below to download and print the appropriate form for your state. The parent or guardian must read all of the information provided about blood donation and research and must sign the consent form in black ink. The student must present the signed consent form on the day of donation.

16YO Non-Donor ("DE","FL","HI","NM","WY")

Sorry, you must be at least 17 years old to donate blood in this state.

16YO Parental ("AL","AK","AZ","AR","CA","CO","CT","GA","ID","IL","IN","IA","KS","KY","LA","ME","MD","MA","MI","MN","MO","MS","MT","NE","NV","NH","NJ","NC","NY","ND","OH","OK","OR","PA","PR","RI","SC","SD","TN","TX","DC","UT","VT","VI","VA","WA","WV","WI")
16YO Donor ("ANY")
16YO Grifols ()
16YO Roche ()
16YO Spanish ("ANY")


Materials also available in Spanish

16YO Parental ("AL","AK","AZ","AR","CA","CO","CT","GA","ID","IL","IN","IA","KS","KY","LA","ME","MD","MA","MI","MN","MO","MS","MT","NE","NV","NH","NJ","NC","NY","ND","OH","OK","OR","PA","PR","RI","SC","SD","TN","TX","DC","UT","VT","VI","VA","WA","WV","WI")
16YO Donor ("ANY")
16YO Grifols ()
16YO Roche ()

Proof of Age

Donors must have proof of age to ensure they meet the minimum age requirements and present either a primary form of ID or two secondary forms of ID.

Primary Form of ID

Secondary Form of ID

Students at High School

The donor needs either an American Red Cross donor ID (preferred) or an acceptable primary picture ID such as:

  • Driver's license
  • Immigration and Naturalization Service card (green card)
  • State ID
  • Employee ID
  • Passport
  • Student ID
  • Military ID

When a primary form of ID is not available, the donor needs two secondary forms of ID such as:

  • Student ID (without a photo)
  • Driver's license without a photo
  • Credit card or bank card
  • Employee ID (without a photo)
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • Personal checkbook with name and address
  • Social Security card
  • Voter registration card
  • Payroll stub
  • Vehicle registration
  • Fishing or hunting license
  • Grocery store frequent shopper card or VIP card
  • Club or museum membership card
  • Library card with donor's name
  • Professional license (such as: RN, LPN or MT)
  • Non-American Red Cross donor card
  • Selective Service card
  • Insurance card

Without any of the previously listed forms of ID, the ID and date of birth of a high school student may be checked by the following: 

  • School officials determine the donor’s identity and date of birth from a list of potentially eligible donors (may use the yearbook to assist with the determination)
  • Adult volunteers instructed on ID verification using a current yearbook picture and an additional piece of ID containing the donor’s name and age
  • A parent or legal guardian can provide a document with the donor’s legal name and verbally provide the name and age when the donor does not have ID due to age
  • High school students may not check identification on other high school students at high school blood drives

Primary Form of ID

The donor needs either an American Red Cross donor ID (preferred) or an acceptable primary picture ID such as:

  • Driver's license
  • Immigration and Naturalization Service card (green card)
  • State ID
  • Employee ID
  • Passport
  • Student ID
  • Military ID

Secondary Form of ID

When a primary form of ID is not available, the donor needs two secondary forms of ID such as:

  • Student ID (without a photo)
  • Driver's license without a photo
  • Credit card or bank card
  • Employee ID (without a photo)
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • Personal checkbook with name and address
  • Social Security card
  • Voter registration card
  • Payroll stub
  • Vehicle registration
  • Fishing or hunting license
  • Grocery store frequent shopper card or VIP card
  • Club or museum membership card
  • Library card with donor's name
  • Professional license (such as: RN, LPN or MT)
  • Non-American Red Cross donor card
  • Selective Service card
  • Insurance card

Students at High School

Without any of the previously listed forms of ID, the ID and date of birth of a high school student may be checked by the following: 

  • School officials determine the donor’s identity and date of birth from a list of potentially eligible donors (may use the yearbook to assist with the determination)
  • Adult volunteers instructed on ID verification using a current yearbook picture and an additional piece of ID containing the donor’s name and age
  • A parent or legal guardian can provide a document with the donor’s legal name and verbally provide the name and age when the donor does not have ID due to age
  • High school students may not check identification on other high school students at high school blood drives

How should I prepare for my blood donation?

Please make sure to bring your photo identification or Red Cross donor card with you. You should feel well on the day of donation. If you're not feeling well, we ask that you wait and donate when you're better. Here are some other helpful tips to prepare:

  • Get at least eight hours of sleep the night before your appointment

  • Eat a healthy breakfast or lunch – or both, if you’re donating later in the day

  • Choose lean proteins (lean meat, cheese and yogurt) or complex carbohydrates (bread, cereal and fruit) and avoid fatty foods

  • Drink a few extra glasses of water, including an extra glass about 10 to 30 minutes before your donation

  • Wear comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be raised above your elbow

It is also important that you have a good understanding of your medical history. You will be asked a series of questions that are personal in nature – about travel, medication, drug use and sex. It’s important you answer questions honestly. Remember, your answers are confidential.

Visit the blood donation process page for more information about what to do before and after your donation.

Additional Information for Students

More Ways to Make a Difference

Host a Blood Drive
Host a Blood Drive

Develop leadership skills and help save lives by hosting a blood drive.

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Start a Virtual Blood Drive
Start a Virtual Blood Drive

Invite your family and friends to commit to give blood.

Visit SleevesUp
Become a Volunteer
Become a Volunteer

Build your resume with more Red Cross volunteer opportunities.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Maintaining your iron level is an important part of being a healthy donor. We encourage you to learn more about iron and donating blood.

Why should I consider taking a multivitamin with iron after donating?

Your body loses iron during blood donations. Low iron, also known as iron deficiency, may lead to health problems, such as anemia, if left untreated. Healthy iron levels are important for your overall health and help to maintain strength and energy.

Replenishing iron levels after donating is especially important in younger donors, as your body is still growing. Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet with foods rich in iron and high in vitamin C can help. But, recent research has shown that diet alone may not be enough. Taking a multivitamin with 18 mg of iron for 60 days after each blood donation, or for 120 days after each power red donation, will help replenish your iron levels. Before making changes to your health routine or adding a multivitamin with iron, we recommend you consult with your health-care provider.

I was told I couldn’t donate today. What now?

Thank you for attempting to donate today. Each donor undergoes a mini-physical and confidential health history interview to make sure you’re healthy enough to donate. The Red Cross wants to make sure we’re focusing on the health of our blood donors and the patients they help.

The amount of time we ask you to wait before returning to donate will depend on why you were asked to wait. The staff should have provided you with some helpful information. If you’re still unsure, please call us at 1-866-236-3276.

My hemoglobin level was too low. What should I do?

Before each donation, the Red Cross checks your hemoglobin level using a finger stick. This process determines how much hemoglobin is in your blood. Hemoglobin is the protein in your blood that gives it the red color. It carries oxygen from your lungs to nourish tissues throughout your body. If your hemoglobin is too low to safely donate, we will ask that you wait.

A Red Cross staff member will provide you with an information sheet on ways you can help increase your hemoglobin such as eating foods rich in iron and high in vitamin C while limiting foods that might block iron absorption. You can also speak with your health-care provider about taking a multivitamin with iron.

Do I need to talk to my doctor about my test results?

It is normal for hemoglobin and iron levels to fluctuate, whether you donate blood or not. If you are concerned about your test results, we encourage you to discuss them with your parents and your health-care provider.

My parents have some additional questions, where can they learn more?

We have some additional resources on our website where your parents can learn more:

Frequently asked questions about iron and blood donation
Learn more about being a healthy donor
Recently deferred donors

You can also call us at 1-866-236-3276.

I recently received a letter telling me I had a low ferritin level. What does that mean?

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in tissues throughout your body. To continue providing the best possible donation experience for young donors whose bodies are still growing, the Red Cross is testing ferritin levels for all whole blood and power red donors between the ages of 16 and 18. If your ferritin level is too low, we will ask that you wait 12 months to return to donate. The additional time between donations will allow your body to replenish the iron it needs. You may also benefit from taking a multivitamin with iron to help maintain healthy iron levels. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider before doing so.

Learn more about being a healthy donor
Recently deferred donors

You can also call us at 1-866-236-3276.