What if you have a few tattoos and are planning to donate blood? Does the thought of being inked stop you from taking going ahead and donating? Has someone pointed out to you that now that you have a tattoo, you can no longer get inked?
Or are you a regular blood donor and want to get inked for the first time, but are worried you won’t be able to donate blood any longer?
If all this is going through your head, you are not alone.
There are a lot of people like you out there who face this same dilemma, so if you’re looking for some answers, take a look.
Red Cross Says You Can
If you have heard of Red Cross, you would probably know that they are a humanitarian organization that has won numerous Nobel prizes for their contribution to society and humankind, and they are also the most common name that organizes blood donation camps all across the world.
According to Red Cross, if you have a tattoo, you can still donate blood, but the only thing that you need to keep in mind is that you need to wait out for four months from the time you got the tattoo made till when you donate blood. However, some places actually do not have any regulations in place, and you may even be allowed to donate blood almost as soon as you get a tattoo done, with bare waiting time.
What Should You Keep In Mind?
Image Credit: reliantmedicalgroup
There are of course a few things that you have to keep in mind if you have a tattoo and also want to donate blood.
- Always ensure that you get the tattoo done from a hygienic place and that the needles used are sterile.
- These days, most tattoo studios, at least the reputed and good ones, will open the sterile needles in front of you, and also ask you to sign a confirming the same.
- Your tattoo should not have any signs of swelling, redness, rashes or any form of infection.
- You should not suffer from any fever soon after you have had the tattoo, as that could signal a potential infection you may have caught from the ink.
Keep in mind that when you reach the spot to donate blood, you may be asked a few questions related to your overall health and about your tattoo, so make sure you provide the right information.
DISCLAIMER: While we have taken steps to check the accuracy of information & practices shared here; it is not a replacement for a doctor’s opinion. it is important to first always check with your own doctor before trying any medication, practice or suggestion from this site.
