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Do you give blood donations on the regular?

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entremet

entremet

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I've been doing it for ages and definitely recommend it as there are always shortages, especially if you're a rare type. I am being an -A.

This link shows your how rare each type is.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types

Moreover, especially for males, since we do not lose blood regularly, it also helps prevent any iron buildup, which has oxidative effects.

But yep, I highly recommend it even for the squeamish. It really not that bad at all. The thing I hate the most is the finger prick honestly. But that's nothing.

And you also feel like a hero. The place I donate guilts(LOL)/persuades me to give by calling and letting me who my blood went to and who's lives my donation saved. They also have a points system for rewards.

People need blood from car accidents, surgeries, cancer treatments, and on and on.

So kinda a PSA thread. Give blood!
 
A blood mobile comes by my work several times a year so I always sign up. I'm not too squeemish around needles, but it always makes me cringe a bit. I just try not to think about it. Definitely makes me feel good afterwards, plus there are free cookies.

One great thing is that I can look up various blood test results online, tabulated by date, so I can track things like cholesterol.

Really, if you are able to get past the needle part, it is the easiest thing in the world and more people should do it.
 
Banned for life



Potential donors are excluded on a permanent basis for the following reasons :

People who have spent five years or more in Western Europe since January 1, 1980. Western Europe includes: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Note that the time spent in the United Kingdom and France since January 1, 1997 must not be included in the cumulative period.
 
Yeah.

I'm O- so United Blood Services calls me the day I'm eligible. I put them in my phone as "Vampires," because I make jokes that can only be awkwardly explained.
 
For some reason I've been anemic for the past year. I am one donation away from making my gallon. It's beyond frustrating.

I really don't see why anyone wouldn't give blood(considering they are able to). It's just a completely selfless thing you can do to help a complete stranger. But it also helps that they usually give you free stuff and people think pretty positively of you if you do it.
 
Any way to get around the whole Mad Cow disease thing? What if I got tested, can I be certified so I can start donating blood?
 
Last time I got my blood checked turned out I was anemic, but that was a few years ago so I should really get my shit together and go get tested again.

This thread makes me feel pretty guilty, not gonna lie.
 
I would, quite honestly, love to donate blood. But alas:

"You are not eligible to donate if:

From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK)"

Born in England, lived there for three or so years in the eighties.

Irobot82 said:
Any way to get around the whole Mad Cow disease thing? What if I got tested, can I be certified so I can start donating blood?
Click to expand...

Nope, Prions are a slippery bitch.
 
Featheredkitten said:
I would, quite honestly, love to donate blood. But alas:

"You are not eligible to donate if:

From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK)"

Born in England, lived there for three or so years in the eighties.
Click to expand...

Boom me too. Live there for a few years, Dad was in the Air Force, Mum is full brit.

Edit: While it could explain my madness, I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by now.
 
Featheredkitten said:
I would, quite honestly, love to donate blood. But alas:

"You are not eligible to donate if:

From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK)"

Born in England, lived there for three or so years in the eighties.



Nope, Prions are a slippery bitch.
Click to expand...

So what do British people use, American blood?
 
Karakand said:
AB+

Should get back into plasma donation though, I think it works in reverse (i.e. AB+ is the universal donor).
Click to expand...

Correct, you don't make antibodies for A or B, so they're not kicking around in your plasma. Learned about that when an AB+ (unknown at the time) friend of mine went to give blood with me and was not exactly hounded to give whole blood again.

I usually donate through an ALYX machine. Smaller needle, for those of you squeamish about that. Though you will be laid up for half an hour, with your plasma and some saline pumping back into your arm through the needle. The anticoagulant making your lips tingle and a lingering chill from the room temp. fluid is about the worst of it, if you can grit your teeth through the stick.
 
Featheredkitten said:
Well my brother already has an account and I don't speak to my sister, process of elimination.

It seems as though the AF dad Brit mum is a common combo.
Click to expand...

Appears so. We lived in Greenam Common (I think that the name), it was the nuke base. My Dad was in Nuke Safety or something. We moved to vandenburg and I got to see the missile launches all the time...

AND thread derailed...sorry.
 
Irobot82 said:
Appears so. We lived in Greenam Common (I think that the name), it was the nuke base. My Dad was in Nuke Safety or something. We moved to vandenburg and I got to see the missile launches all the time...

AND thread derailed...sorry.
Click to expand...

We lived in Oxford and my dad was stationed in Hereford. And...done with thread derail.


It is interesting the different ways you can be disqualified for donating. I really wish there was some way to detect if you're infected with prions. I would be awesome to donate. I always feel guilty when there are blood drives on campus and I can't donate.
 
Never. I'm terrified of needles and haven't had my own blood checked in about 10 years.

Edit: If I had a rare blood type or and or family member needed my blood, I'd give it. I'm O - though, which I don't think is too rare.
 
I'm gay, so the Red Cross won't take my blood even I wanted to donate it -- which, incidentally, I don't. Being around needles makes me pass out.
 
Featheredkitten said:
The British are (i imagine) a lot less concerned because if there are Prions in the blood/food supply....everyone is infected.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but surely the risk is incredibly low compared to the often stated high demand ofr donors? A quick google says they are expecting 1000 cases from blood born prions in the UK.

Anyway, since I'm on the banned list anyway I don't really care, it just seems a bit over cautious.
 
I cry from needles going near me, and I ball when a needle is inserted into my skin, so no.

I've ripped needles out of my arm, that's how much I hate those things.
 
Blood, yes.

Did the plasma thing once, didn't work out. Well, I can't remember if it was plasma or something else. They took a lot of blood out, filtered it for what they needed, then put shit back in me. I remember being nauseous just thinking about the process. The whole, 'we're stripping you of your resources then pumping the pomace back in' vibe. I don't want that shit! Like, why did they need to put anything back in, will I die without it? I didn't even want to do it, but peer pressure and all. Anyway, I started to let my mind wander about my veins swelling from pump malfunctions, then there are people all around me and I'm looking up at them. I passed out lol!
 
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