Donating Blood

[Rob]

Rob, do u hear from the bone marrow people atall? cos i signed up to be on the register, gave a sample etc & then never heard from them again, not even a confirmation type thingy...so i dont know whether to try signing up again, or what.

Dont panic Farmer... Took six years before they matched anyone to mine. As long as you keep them up to date with your address, you will still be on register.

[FarmerJon]

cheers

[Lowe]

Given blood once, wasn't too bad an experience, however where they needled me it's left a scar. Now I'm not really sure that I want to look like a junkie for the rest of my life so I don't know if I'll be going again.

Also they got my blood group wrong so I'm wondering how competent the service is...

[Grey M@a]

I give blood when ever I see the van in town (about 3 times a year) I must admit though the first time I went in was because I was skint and you got a free cuppa and a biscuit so I gave blood, got me lunch for nowt

[mr_anderson187]

im like superman, i cant give away any of my bodily liquids incase others get my powers, lol, i would do it, but over here in northern ireland its pretty rare to see a blood van. which is weird cos we would need some, so many of us are fighting and killling each other in northern ireland, is it not true too that in america you get payed for it? as well as giving your sperm?

[Honoop]

I try to give blood whenever I can (ie. when the blood service are back locally) - and I have been doing so for a few years now.

Funnily enough my last donation was on Wednesday, but I currenly have a HUGE bruise on my arm because of it!
Ive got skinny veins and they hide from the nurses!! First time Ive not been able to complete my donation in the alloted time. (Personally I think the nurse stuffed up getting the needle in right!)
Having said that it, hasnt put me off of going again. The donation itself doesnt hurt (neither does my bruise actually) and its good to take an hour out of your life to do something good.

I find it funny that whenever I go to donate you hear people chatting about what blood group they are and how the Blood Service like them to donate cos their blood group is rare/common are they are special - thing is we are all special for doing this minor good deed which means so much to the people who need it, whatever blood group we are!
The slogan says it all: Save a life, Give Blood

(Incidentally: Im O Rh Negative and IM SPECIAL - Ok???!

[Jiff Lemon]

I agree with Zak.

I would love to give blood, but I am a busy guy and even after working in a hospital for 6 months I am not sure where to go to get it sorted. Why cant these blood vans be going to peoples work places, I would have no problem taking half an hour out of my working day to go and get blood taken, If they made it easier I am sure there would be a shed load of people giving blood.

Was thinking about this one.... See, if the blood bank had to come to your work, it's going to take time for them to set up and take blood from people. Now, what if theres only 20 people at your work? Also given that after giving blood you're supposed to not do anything too strenuous, can you see and industry such as Zaks (motor trade) agreeing to have the entire workforce sat around doing little or no work?

I think a better option would be that IF you can prove you have an appointment to give blood, that the company should give you up to 2 hours PAID leave to do so. Obviously you'd have to back it up with proof of donation, but knowing I could get 2 hours paid leave, and the obligatory cup of tea and a biscuit, would certainly swing it for me.

[Cat Woman]

I've never given blood, even though I've tried several times. For some reasons, I've relatively low blood pressure for a long time. Nowadays it is approaching normal, but still on the low side. To add to that, I've low blood sugar level, which means that loosing large quantity of blood and being active at the same time can give my serious migraines.

I have'nt given blood before, but I also suffer from (very) low blood pressure and I was'nt sure whether I'd be able to for that reason, otherwise I'd really like to.

[Shogun]

Got my first donation on Tuesday at 2:30. Last time I went for a blood test it took them about half an hour and about 2 needle marks in each arm. Wasn't too nice. Hopefully everything will go fine. How long does it normally take in total?

[Honoop]

The whole process usually takes about an hour, but only about 20mins of that is actually the donation.
You have to do form filling and a test to check the iron level in your blood first (just a prick on the finger).
And then afterwards you enjoy the free drinks and biscuits!

[Stubzz]

I'm a regualr doner (by which I mean I've donated once), I'm off to my second session tonight.

I don't understand why more people don't do it, it doesn't take long and is painless. Some people are just too lazy*

(excludes people who are scared s******s of needles or honestly too busy (ie, not just lazy) and any other groups who i've forgoten)

[tiggerai]

I'm not allowed... Heart condition and low blood sugar.
I'd love to. but it's too risky for me.

however my mother has been giving blood for about 20 years... God Bless my mum!

It's a good idea to get the vans to the workplaces... esp now people have their 2 hour lunches on flexitime... and I'm sure companies wouldn't mind donating some staff time for the good of the country. (they let them out for other fundraising!)

[LWA]

I have done it for the last two years I hope to go again sometime soon.

Free tea and biscuits! Yum yum yum

[alexander]

Btw, does it hurt when they do it? Is it like an injection? I remember having my TB and it killed I cant stand pain when I know im gonna recieve it but when I dont know im gonna get it its all fine

[Shogun]

Btw, does it hurt when they do it? Is it like an injection? I remember having my TB and it killed I cant stand pain when I know im gonna recieve it but when I dont know im gonna get it its all fine

Had mine done today, last week I had the wrong week

It's just like an injection, stings a little but not too much, I was kept talking by a nurse while i was doing it which was good. Also signed up for the bone marrow register while i was there, they just take another blood sample. I would recommend doing it. They only use one needle for the whole procedure and don't move it at all