What's your question?

There will be a blood drive at my high school in the coming future, and I'd very much like to contribute. That said, 5 days later, I have a league championship swim meet. Does the forum think that donating blood would greatly affect my performance?

I read that the plasma is replaced 24 hours after giving blood. That said, are there other factors I should be looking out for?
Also, if it helps, I will likely be swimming three sprint events: the 50 butterfly, the 100 freestyle, and the 50 freestyle.

As long as you eat and drink I doubt you'll have much if any negative impacts on your performance. Eat good hearty meals the days before, of, and after, and I don't think you'll have any issues.

grking, as an army JROTC cadet who has run several blood drives with my school I can give you some facts:
-For 24 hours strenuous physical activity is not suggested
-You may feel light headed and weak after donating
-Eat a breakfast full of carbohydrates and iron. (I suggest some potatoes with a spinach omelet)
- Generally speaking the red cross people will do a thorough examination and clear you medically. I suggest looking to see if the red cross in your area prohibits certain food or drink before a drive. I know for example our redcross requested you stay away from onions or garlic for 24 hours (they can not check for this, it is a trust thing)

In the end my suggestion is if the race is important to you for your safety do not donate blodd if it is on the same day. reschedule or wait til the next drive.

@grking- on a more personal note my entire JROTC team wanted to donate blood one year but the date was scheduled the same day as a competition so we all decided not to do it. Then as a team we went to a red cross location and donated blood on a different day.

I'm guessing you already discussed this with your coach or you wouldn't be bringing it up.

If you are tapering and shaving for this meet, and if it is likely to be your last swimming competition, then you need to consider all the work you've done up until that point. You can always donate blood another time, but you can't always compete at your peak performance after months of training.

It will probably be safe, but I tend to feel less than 100% for several weeks after giving blood. Giving blood is a great thing, but can be done any time. Swim first, give blood another day.

Yeah I agree, I give plasma fortnightly and if you're looking to perform in peak condition then donating so soon beforehand is something I'd probably avoid.

Thanks for all the advice!
My coaches said the same thing, so I'll likely be giving blood after the meet.

In the longer term, donating blood removes some old blood cells (random mixtures of blood have some old and some new cells), but when your body replaces these cells they are all new.

This can have a net positive effect on your system.

@Draffin, who takes your blood fortnightly? I'm only allowed give blood once every 3 months, as is everyone else in ireland...

I give blood every 3-4 months. I do the double red cell donation where they put the blood through a centrifuge, take the red cells and put back the plasma. In addition to all of the things orathaic said, it's a good thing you're doing for other people, especially if you have a universal or rare blood type.

You can feel a bit light after donating but that can be taken care of by a heavy, iron rich meal afterwards. I take it upon myself to knock back a big-ass Fatburger on the way home and that always puts me right back where I need to be...

After 5 days, you should be fine.

Also, once you're 18, consider joining the bone marrow donation registry (BeTheMatch.org). It's one of the best things I ever did.