The Common Cold: Why You Must Stay Home

It's just a sniffle, right? Wrong. Donating while sick is dangerous for you and the recipient.

Why It's Ban

1. Viremia: The virus is in your blood before symptoms peak. Giving this to a chemotherapy patient could be fatal.
2. Dehydration: You are already losing fluids to mucus/sweat. Losing blood on top of that lengthens your recovery time.

Rule: You must be symptom-free (no fever, no heavy cough) for 14 days before donating.