Blood donation Facts for Kids

A member of the US Navy donates blood.

The pictogram for blood donation

Blood donation is when a person freely gives some of their blood. This blood can then be used to help other people. It is often used for blood transfusions, which means giving blood to someone who needs it. Blood can also be used to make special medicines.

Places called blood banks store this donated blood. The blood helps people who have lost a lot of blood, like after an accident. It also helps people with certain illnesses.

Before someone donates blood, they are usually checked. This includes testing their blood for diseases that can spread through blood. Donors also answer questions to make sure it is safe for them to donate. This keeps both the donor and the person receiving the blood safe.

Sometimes, people donate their own blood before a big operation. If they lose too much blood during the surgery, their own donated blood can be given back to them. This is a special way to make sure they stay healthy.

Images for kids

Blood donation center at the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland.
A blood collection bus (bloodmobile) from Japanese Red Cross in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
A patient's health screening report given after a blood donation.
A donor's arm at various stages of donation.
A machine gently mixes the blood with special liquids to stop it from clotting.
Platelets collected using a special method called apheresis at an American Red Cross center.
A relatively large needle is used for blood donations.
Bruising three days after donation.
Whole blood is often separated into parts for storage and transport.
UK awards for 50, 25 and 100 donations.
Ruby award from the Singapore Red Cross for 75 voluntary donations.
Monument to blood donors in Ávila, Spain.

Blood donation facts for kids

Images for kids

See also