/tiles/non-collection/p/part2_08_foraker_joseph_lc.xml Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Joseph Foraker of Ohio, chairman of the Senate Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico, was a Civil War veteran.
1 You cannot donate within 72 hours of your surgery. 2  Acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin and alcohol should be avoided for 48 hours before your donation. 3  Your hemoglobin/hematocrit will be checked and must be at a satisfactory level before donating.
Donating blood is relatively simple and entirely safe, however, taking just an hour and requiring little preparation. There is little risk of adverse reaction when donating blood, and you can donate whole blood every 56 days; blood platelets every three days, up to 24 times a year. However, a few people may feel dizzy or faint during the process.