Do you give blood? And if not, why not?

[pauli cee]

treid a few times, but my blood seems to tick too many of the 'no thanks' boxes..

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

All the blood is scanned for HIV, hepatitis and other nasties anyway, so anything problematic should (!) be weeded out, I guess the questions just help to narrow down the possibility in the first place.

If the Blood Transfusion Service can scan for these things you would think that the American Red Cross could similarly scan blood for BSE/CJD as many of us Brits living in the States are currently excluded from being potential blood and organ donors due to the rules relating to mad cow disease.

 

[robinsonsgrin]

ive been giving blood for past 5 years. it was a good job i am stubborn as my first pint took an hour of laying on the couch.. and both arms mullered.... but.. i wasnt giving up and at last a pint was given in the due time... they showed me! i know prewarn people that i have difficult access to veins... but a couple of years ago whilst down in torquay i went to a walk-in session... and got mullered on both arms and then they had to abort as not enough had come out in time. doubly annoyed as was off to malta ( to be stranded by volcanic ash ) with lovely plasters on both arms looking like a junkie! even through all that.... it has been worth it. last time i was in and out in record time..woohoo.. next sesh is end of this month. GO ON... DO IT...

 

[Steve Foster]

Just back from my blood donation. No KP crisps but out of date Walkers. How dare they!

 

[Seagull Steve]

I can't give blood as the medication I am on would probably knock the receiver out cold.

 

[Cian]

Not allowed.

As I'm O- I had a friend who worked in the BTSB labs and begged me to just lie about the THREE reasons I'm not allowed due to short supply, though.

 

[Tomo1794]

Although you've been corrected, to be honest, so what if it was? Giving blood is something to be proud of, and if this thread makes another person do it, great.

See post #26

 

[Norman Potting]

They get paid about £12,000 a year for working 60 hours a weak and get constant shit from members of the public, often travelling hundreds of miles every week as well, so give them a break.

The staff who run the sessions that I go to are always unfailingly polite and grateful.

 

[El Presidente]

What is alarming is that there has been a drop of 20% in donations from people under 30.

 

[Box of Frogs]

Used to but don't any more due to a serious bout of Sarcoidosis a few years back.

 

[maltaseagull]

Just wondering, like.

I do...wondering how many posters do, and what the reasons are for not doing it?

The whole "I don't like needles" thing is a bit lame if you ask me, as nobody actually LIKES having sharp things stuck into them. And if you were lying on a hospital bed, fighting for your life and desperately in need of blood (supplied by other people of course), would you tell the doctors then you don't like needles?

My Wife gave blood in the UK and got to 49 pints- when we got together she persuaded me to donate and I started. It's no big deal.

However we moved to Malta in 2003 and they will not accept blood from anyone who lived in the UK for more than 6 months in the 1990s due to BSE concerns.

 

[zfleas]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2070628/Turbo-Shandy-promo-team-slammed-handing-free-alcohol-blood-donors.html

Might start giving blood in Leeds...

 

[rcf0712]

always used to in England but after 17 years the Aussies still don't want my potentially mad cow contaminated blood - and the stocks here in WA are seriously low - bonkers....

 

[lost in london]

Have never given blood, tried to book an appointment but again told there are no appointments when I can go (any time between 12 and 2). Third or fourth time I've tried now only to be told there's no space. Things can't be that bad.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Good question - I am O- and have donated close to 20 times, but not in the last 5 years, due to a flounce. I know I should get over it, but the system they use for booking appointments is perfectly fine if you have plenty of time on your hands. When I stopped going they had just introduced a smart card system for booking, which they then promptly abandoned and I ended up in a long chain of paperwork and a queue.
I did try again last Christmas. I went to the website and requested an appointment for first thing in the morning, so I could waste as little time as possible. The automated response came back no slots available. So no suggestions of alternatives and no follow up. What do these people want Blood ?

 

[Walkers Cajun Squirrel]

I have wanted too but since turning 18 things have got in the way. 2 tattoos and an operation.

 

[BlockDpete]

Have never given blood, tried to book an appointment but again told there are no appointments when I can go (any time between 12 and 2). Third or fourth time I've tried now only to be told there's no space. Things can't be that bad.

You don't actually need an appointment to donate, you can just turn up and see what the situation is. The staff will always be gratefull to see you and do what they can to fit you in.

Thats what I've done the last couple of times I've donated. There are always a few no shows amongst the appointments anyway.

 

[User removed 4]

I have done several times before, I havent for a while due to apathy/laziness, i really should get my act together and donate.

 

[fly high]

You don't actually need an appointment to donate, you can just turn up and see what the situation is. The staff will always be gratefull to see you and do what they can to fit you in.

Thats what I've done the last couple of times I've donated. There are always a few no shows amongst the appointments anyway.

I'm just off to give at session in Crowborough. Never had an appointment & never had to wait too long. Definitely less people giving.

 

[ezzoud]

Didn't start until I was nearly 40 due to apathy/laziness mentioned above but regularly do my 3 times a year now....

I think if it was made easier for people to do it the first time more people would sign up as it doesn't hurt and takes very little effort once you're on the couch - it's getting in the door that needs to be made simpler IMO....