All it takes is a deep breath and a little relaxation to give the gift & it doesn’t take more than 30 minutes and leaves just a small bruise, but it could save someone’s life in the future.

Heartland Blood Centers came to Stevenson North on Monday seeking blood donors. According to the center’s Web site, www.heartlandbc.org, the center provides blood for area hospitals in 12 surrounding counties. The center needs 100,000 units of blood each year to keep an adequate supply in local hospitals & that means about 1,900 donors each week to meet the demand.

The entire process starts with paperwork. First, a representative must review a donor’s qualifications. Donors must be at least 17 years old, more than 110 pounds, in good health and they need to have waited at least one year since getting a tattoo or piercing, according to center’s donor qualification guide. Other conditions that may disqualify a potential donor will be determined in the next step.

If a donor meets the major qualifications, a member of Heartland Blood Centers will ask a series of questions about a donor’s health level for the day as well as past sexual encounters.

The representative then will prick the donor’s finger to determine his or her iron level.

Jessica Anderson, a phlebotomist from Heartland Blood Centers, said an iron level of 12.5 grams or higher is required to donate blood. A donor’s temperature and blood pressure also will be taken before donating.

If potential donors are scared of needles, though, blood donating may not be for them.

Once the needle is inserted, the worst is over. Some people count, say their ABCs or take deep breaths to help calm down. Monday’s donors used multiple techniques when they gave blood. Depending on body size, it takes about 10 minutes to obtain a specimen.

After blood has been taken, donors get “I donated blood today” stickers and are asked to stay around and have some juice or something to eat to help with the woozy feeling some get after donating blood.