Chris L

Here's something we can all do. I'm already a regular blood donor, but only approximately 6% of the population give blood. You can bet that stocks in London will be running low. And once you've done it this time, carrying on giving - it doesn't hurt and will only take you about 20 mins 2 or 3 times a year!

You can look at the closest donor sessions to you on the National Blood Transfusion Webpage - you can even book an appointment online.

While you're there - have a look at the blood stock counter - it's very sobering, especially if you are a relatively rare blood group, like me, such as B-

It makes you think...

mr & mrs carlos uk300

i'm due to give blood again for the second time

fainted the first time tho DOH!

Mrs C

Chris L

Well at least you tried. I know some people do have a problem with it and there are various medical reasons, but 6%!! There are plenty who could make the effort.

pslewis

Now, why doesn't that surprise me??

Pete

16vmarc

Im a blood doner

Chris L

Sorry Pete you've lost me

Dazza01

and speaking as a receiver i thank you all
i received 7 pints of blood many years ago when i was hit head on by a 17tonne army truck whislt on my motorbike

Downside is im not allowed to repay the favour because i suffered from Glandular fever when i was at school and apprantly this bar's me from donating

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

At the risk of sounding smug, I gave already:




Actually I'm off at the moment due to anaemia. Proably c'os of all that blood being sucked out...


M

Jap2Scrap

300 pints?

Jesus, that must have left you a bit wobbly eh?

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

I tried but because of the medication I have too take they said no

*Jen*

I give blood - worthwhile and you get free biscuits!

Considering the bone marrow doning at the moment... more research needed though...

OllyK

I'm about due to see the vampires again

OllyK

How have you managed 300 donation, unless you are doing component donation or organised a work based donation? Normally you can donate 3 times per year, so that's 100 years worth of donations.

jbryant

My work arrange for a mobile van to come round 3/4 times a year, which is really convenient and rather successful. Each van probably takes 20-30 units a day.

Meridian - If you're only allowed to donate 3 or 4 times a year then you must be 100 years old (I know - I guess the rules were not so stringent before and you could give more often!) CONGRATULATIONS

I'm only just in double figures, and started giving blood to try and get over a needle phobia. Didn't work (well, not totally) but felt too benevolent afterwards to stop !

Joolz

Brendan Hughes

I had glandular fever, but I thought that only disbarred you for a couple of years, not the rest of your life? I also had ear piercings (oh, the days when I was young and wild) which stopped me for six months a time. Never actually done it.

Iwan

Spooky, just got a letter this morning saying my next session is 2 weeks away. This time i've given them a call to make an appointment (first time i've tried this) so no waiting around (hopefully) waiting to donate my rare-ish blood.

Hanley

I'm scared of needles

Some may say that's a lame excuse but I don't care

Jap2Scrap

I'm on the bone marrow register but I don't give blood. Figure that one out...

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Well after reading that, i was in work early (yes central London ) and thought sod it. so i found my local donor centre, gave them and call and have just come back from them about 10 mins ago.
ist timer so i didnt get any tea , just lemon squash..
Apparently i was the fastest donor there today , though not sure that is a good thing as it means my blood literally shoots out of me !!
Felt dizzy, had a lie down and then came back to work.
But they only tell you the downside after the donation, no **** for 2 hours, no drinking for 4-6 hours and no heavy lifting.
Well bang goes my normal friday then
all worthwhile though

scoobykaren

I've given blood for 10 years now.

As said, only takes 30 mins of your time, doesn't hurt..
And saves lives.

Cant beat that really.

OllyK

They "advise" that, I'd be careful of the heavy lifting or you may get bruising. As for the smoking or drinking - business as usual, it may just be a cheap night tonight!

Reffro

I am a donor, and I can donate whole blood every 12 weeks. When I was a plamsa and platlets donor I would donate once a month. As for how many donations I have made, I guess its a combined total of 60 over the last ten years, but I haven't been donating as regularly as I would like recently, having moved jobs and house, but I will be starting again next week.

BeverleyJM

I registered this morning to be a donor - just waiting for my appointment to be confirmed.

Iwan

I think it's one good thing that can come from a tragedy if it makes people think about starting giving blood. I used to be afraid of what an IV needle would be like (not scared of 'needles' in general though) so i never got round to giving blood until 9/11 happened. Even though i'm in the UK not USA, that gave me the incentive to try and help people so i went along to a session the same day.

It wasn't anywhere near as bad as i imagined it would be, the finger ***** test stung more than the IV needle. Also, until I gave blood for the first time i wasn't aware that I was type 0 neg which is one of the rarer and more in demand types. It can be given to ANY blood type people in an emergency. Now i'm even more aware i could be helping people so it feels good to be doing it.

The main thing is to keep going along regularly once you've started.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

First is correct: I do apheresis (platelet donation). Usually I donate every other week, and each donation counts as two points. That may sound like a cheat, but it takes nearly two hours to complete.

As for anyone thinking about giving - please go ahead and do so.


M

CrisPDuk

Would if I could, unfortunately my blood has is something in it that's not right Apparently it has this in common with my head