Appointments
Can I donate blood and plasma at different centers simultaneously?
Unfortunately, no. For safety reasons, you would not be able to donate both whole blood and plasma at the same time. You would need to wait at least 56 days from the date of your whole blood donation to come in to donate plasma.
I’ve been donating plasma somewhere else, can I switch to Parachute?
Yes, you can choose to donate with Parachute instead. Please note there are rules for the number of times you can donate at any facility within a 2 and 7-day span. We do recommend waiting at least 7 days from your most recent donation to ensure you ...
I’m a returning member and the app won’t allow me to schedule more donations.
There are five possible reasons why this may be happening: You’ve already scheduled 2 donations in a rolling 7-day period. You’ve already scheduled the maximum number of allowable donations in your 30-day cycle. We outline this here. You’re ...
I’m a new member. Why can’t I schedule more than 1 donation?
As a new member, the app will only allow you to schedule 1 donation at a time. Once you complete your first donation you’ll be able to schedule additional appointments.
Schedule/Reschedule/Cancel a Donation
Our app is designed to be self-service so you can schedule, cancel and reschedule donations as needed.
How do I cancel a donation?
To cancel, tap the ‘Donate’ icon in the navigation menu. Select the date of your existing donation appointment and press the ‘Cancel Booking’ button. Once your existing appointment is canceled you’ll be able to schedule a new one.
How do I reschedule a donation?
To reschedule, tap the ‘Donate’ icon in the navigation menu. Select the date of your existing donation appointment and press the ‘Cancel Booking’ button. Once your existing appointment is canceled you’ll be able to schedule a new one.
How do I schedule a donation?
To schedule, tap the ‘Donate’ icon in the navigation menu and select the date you’d like to come in to view appointment availability for that day. Once you select your desired appointment time, you’ll be able to confirm the appointment by tapping the ...
Can you explain how I get started? / How does this work?
All scheduling is done easily right in our app. When you come in for your first appointment, you will get registered, have a health screening and review some educational materials, and then give your first donation. For your first visit, I would ...
Donor Center Rules
Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of rules that our center staff enforces. Donors are asked to employ common sense and treat every individual with courtesy and respect while at our centers. Failure to follow the rules, or modify ...
Can I bring someone along to assist me with reading the paperwork?
Unfortunately, you would not be able to. Donors must be able to read and comprehend educational materials and answer questions about the donation process without assistance. All of our documents and our educational video are in English.
Can I request a certain phlebotomist to assist me?
When you come in, you can let a screening technician know your preference and we will do our best to accommodate.
How often do I need to have a physical exam?
The physical is required on your first visit, once a year thereafter, or if you haven’t donated within a period of 180 days from your last physical. Additionally, a physical will need to be repeated if we are not able to collect a donation of at ...
At what point would I be considered a new donor if I don’t donate for a while?
Great question! If there is a 180-day or greater lapse between your donations you would technically be a new donor in our system. At that point we would require you to go through the registration process again.
Do I need to fill out a questionnaire each time I donate?
Yes, but it will be an abbreviated version of the Donor Health Questionnaire that you are required to fill out on your first visit.
Do you offer blankets at the center if I get cold while receiving saline?
We do not offer blankets at this time. I would suggest bringing a sweater, blanket, or light jacket to keep you warm.
Can I bring a laptop?
Donors are allowed to bring laptops. However, our team may ask you to put away your laptop if it's interfering while donating or being used to record center processes.
Can I bring someone along to wait with me before my donation?
Unfortunately, you would not be able to bring anyone along with you to wait during your donation. We are not able to accommodate individuals who are not donating with us in our facility. If your guest is interested in donating as well, they are ...
Can I bring my child along with me to my appointment?
Unfortunately, we’re not allowed to have any children or any individuals under the age of 18 in our centers.
What happens if I miss my appointment?
While you will not be penalized, we do ask that you try to cancel appointments ahead of time so that another member can take the spot. You are able to check in at any point during your 20-minute time slot. If you are later than this you will still be ...
What is the latest I can arrive for my appointment?
We do offer a 5-minute grace period on either end of the appointment. If you are later than that, you can still check in for the appointment, but you would not receive your time incentive bonus and there may be an additional wait time.
Can I arrive early for my appointment?
There is no need to arrive early for your donation appointment. The earliest you would be able to check in is 5 minutes prior to your scheduled donation.
When should I arrive for my appointment?
You can arrive at any point during your 20-minute donation time slot. There is a 5-minute grace period on either side of the appointment. Keep in mind, if you arrive after your scheduled time slot you won't receive your time incentive bonus.
How can I best prepare to donate?
We recommend drinking plenty of water the day before and the day of as well as avoiding any caffeine and alcohol. I would also make sure you have something to eat within two hours of your appointment. Foods that are high in protein and iron are ...
How often can I donate?
You can donate a maximum of 2 times during a rolling 7 day period with at least 1 day between donations.
Do I have to pay anything to donate at Parachute?
Not at all! We will pay you. As a brand new donor, you will earn a $25 bonus (”First Donation Bonus”) on your 1st donation and a $60 bonus (”Welcome Offer”) on your 3rd donation. Total bonus value = $85 or a total earning of up to $200 on your first ...
What if I have to leave early or can’t stay the full time?
We understand that sometimes things happen. If you need to leave early, please notify a staff member as soon as possible. However, since incomplete donations may not be usable, we ask that you make arrangements to stay for the entire time. We ...
How long do donations take?
Donations take about 60-90 minutes. However, for your first donation, please allow for 2.5 hours because of the registration and health screening, which is required for new members.
How can I reach my local center?
Our donation centers are focused on facilitating donations and are not equipped to handle incoming donor phone calls, so they do not have a direct line available. You are welcome to call (940) 340-5674 to leave a voice message, and someone from our ...
How do time incentives work?
We offer time incentives for coming in when our center is less busy, which helps us manage our schedule, minimize wait times, and offer a quick and consistent experience at each visit. If you arrive to your appointment on time, meaning you've arrived ...
I had to cancel my appointment but now I can donate. Why can’t I have my original Time Incentive?
Our Time Incentive calculations are dynamic and fluctuate based on current availability. If you cancel an appointment, there is always a risk that Time Incentives can change. Be sure to take a look at the other available slots before you cancel or ...
Why are the payment amounts always different?
You might notice that some appointment times offer higher payment amounts. We use Time Incentives to help our centers balance their day. Time slots during slower parts of the day will have higher time incentives to encourage members to come in during ...
What time do you close?/When is the last appointment?
You can view the hours of operation for the center closest to you by entering your home zip code in our Location Finder. Each center will allow return donors to check-in for an existing appointment up until closing time. Since these appointments take ...
Do you take walk-ins?
In order to keep wait times down and ensure a smooth experience for everyone, all of our donors need to make an appointment before donating. Appointments can be scheduled from our mobile app where you can find a donation time that works best for you. ...
Are you open on weekends?
At the moment only a few select locations offer weekend appointment times. You can find current hours of operation for the center nearest you by entering your home zip code in our Location Finder. We are looking forward to expanding our weekend ...
I am out of town/visiting family/away from home. Can I do a one-time donation at another location?
We understand how important it is to be able to donate, even when you’re out of town. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate one-time donations at different centers. Occasionally, changes can be made in the event of an emergency, center closure, or if ...
I've been donating with one center, but I want to donate at another center now. Can I do that?
If you are eligible for more than one center, and you decide a different center will be more convenient, you can go into your preferred center to request a change.
I've moved, and I want to donate with a center that's closer. What do I do?
If you’ve moved, you can go into the new center that’s closer to you in order to update your address - no appointment is needed! You will need to bring a current Proof of Address document for your new address, and we will get your center updated.
I just signed up, but I chose the wrong center. How can I change it?
If you haven’t had your first visit yet, and you need to change your center, please contact Parachute support via the app. You will need to provide your current zip code and the center you would prefer to donate at.
Some of my information has changed. What should I do?
If you’ve changed your phone number or email address, you can update it from your app directly by following the instructions here. It’s important that your information on file stays up to date to ensure you don’t miss any communications. If you’ve ...
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