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I just gave blood for the first time today, something I have been meaning to do for a while but couldn't due to my continual adding of tattoos to my body. So I was on my way to get that healthy snack of cheesy chips when I noticed the blood bus outside my community centre and decided to see if I was eligible to donate, not having had a tattoo in the past 12 months or so, I get the nod so get and demolish a large portion of chips ready to donate so I don't pass out. Having done so I have felt a real buzz of doing something worthwhile rather than my usual sitting around doing nothing. If I had known it was there and wasn't going out I wouldn't have bothered, was a complete spur of the moment thing.

Have any of you ever given blood? If not is there any particular reason? Following on is there anyone who is an organ donor and wants to say, what are your opinions on the matter?

PS apologies if it doesn't make much sense and rambles, bit lightheaded after giving the blood then rushing around cleaning the house and getting food for dinner from Asda.

Given blood 6 times so far.
Signed up at 17 with a friend.
I'm also an organ donor...
I don't really have an opinion on the matter, if i die and there is something someone can use the Government can yoink it out of me and give it to them.

Blood for the Blood GOD!

I have given gallons fo the stuff, and only slagged off relatively recent due to medical stuff. I have a closet full of donation shirts I use for everyday.

I got up to about 7 or 8 donations before I just could not face doing it again. Not a massive fan of needles (I don't have a problem just getting an injection or something, but sitting there with one sticking in your arm I find really uncomfortable mentally which developed as I carried on giving blood to the point where I really do not want to do it again).

I have in the past.
I got the afternoon off work to do it, so I could drop off a couple of pints then head to the pub....

I cannot donate blood :(

Oh I have a slight fear of needles as well, more the going into the skin than anything else. Not as bad as it was thanks to tattoos.

Marv335, see what you did there, certainly makes for cheaper time.

I gave blood, but I haven't gotten round to it again due to (unfortunately) often being away when the time comes around.

Castiel wrote:I gave blood, but I haven't gotten round to it again due to (unfortunately) often being away when the time comes around.

Most permanant centres offer a walk in service. I used to give in the permanent centre in Sheffield and you could just rock up whenever you wanted, so long as it was a minimum time between donations.

I'm an organ donor (although due to shenanigans my title appears to be Ms on the system) however I've never gotten around to giving blood.

I give blood. Everytime they take 1/2pint out and then i go put 2 pints (of beer) in. Makes for a really cheap night as I'm done after that

SilverMK2 wrote:

Castiel wrote:I gave blood, but I haven't gotten round to it again due to (unfortunately) often being away when the time comes around.

Most permanant centres offer a walk in service. I used to give in the permanent centre in Sheffield and you could just rock up whenever you wanted, so long as it was a minimum time between donations.

Really? I'll have to check that out then! Thanks!

I am forbidden.

I try to give blood regularly, every 6 weeks when the office has a blood drive.

It's unfortunate that it's such a PITA to donate. I just want to walk in, donate (takes about 5 minutes), and walk out. Having to read pamphlets and fill out a questionaire every time you donate is a waste of time.

Given about 8 times, probably helpful because I have high iron (last time it was ~17.5 g/dL) But unfortunatly two bad icidents have stopped me from donating every year, first was when I volunteered to do the ALYX machine(filers red blood cells from everything else, only takes red blood cells, which they love because of my high iron and large veins) but the second time I donated that way, the nurse was new, she told me this to ask if she could use me to practice(again, because I have large veins) but she put the needle too far down, like a normal donation(which she was used to) so when it went to reutnr my plasma, the pressure blew out the back of my vein(man, i'm shaking writing this, it felt like lava) thankfully I calmly stated what I felt and her supervisor shut it of. She felt bad but as I said, "better me than someone who'd freak out and scream and thrash"

The second incident was 2 years later( now was uncomfortable donating) at a church drive, I'd gained about 20lbs by this time, at first it was muscle but then I stopped going to the gym so the fat crept up on me, I opted for regular donation and everything went fine, until I got up to go to the table, I felt weak, and warm, very warm, sweating even, and had to lay down for a half-hour(and thus was ate for work) This was the first time I'd ever felt anything other than normal from dnating, not sure why, but I haven't donated since

I used to give on a regular basis. Then the Blood Institute decided that you cannot donate blood if you lived in Europe during certain periods of the 90's.

Something about the British not being able to keep their cows from going crazy...

I used to give blood all the time, but then I ended up going to the wrong countries at the wrong time, and now they no longer want my blood.

Corpsesarefun wrote:I'm an organ donor (although due to shenanigans my title appears to be Ms on the system) however I've never gotten around to giving blood.

From now on I shall refer to you as Ms Corpsesarefun

I've donated about 26 times so far.

I try to do it every three to six months or so.
I've had to miss a few times due to sniffles or a tattoo, but the rest have been painless and quickly over with.

I'm also an organ donor (when I die, they can take what they need if it is viable) - and my wife and family all know this and support that decision.

I've always wanted to, but I do not deal with Needles well.


I usually start thinking about it maybe once a month, start driving into town, Start Imagining the needle breaking skin and slowing sinking into my arm, then I end up going to the FLGS instead of donating blood, just because I drove all the way into town, may as well do something.

my blood would literally get you stoned


maybe even drunk depending on when you took it

I gave blood once, a long time ago... I was quite young at the time... (Is there an age limit? I remember going with my Dad...)

My Mum and Dad are both Organ Donors; I would be the same, I'm just not sure if the relevant forms have been filled in

d-usa wrote:I used to give on a regular basis. Then the Blood Institute decided that you cannot donate blood if you lived in Europe during certain periods of the 90's.

Something about the British not being able to keep their cows from going crazy...

Yes, the Japanese have the same rule.

Of course they have also had Mad Cow Disease but what the hell.

I have given blood a number of times. The company where I work used to have regular sessions but since they stopped them I haven't given because it is too much of a hassle to get to a donation centre.

Since I'm 0-, ahm always receiving requests of family and friends for thelselves or someone thwy know.

And aye, the pamphlets and such... when I've lost the count of times I've donated, one col asume I know the do's and don'ts.

Tibbsy wrote:I gave blood once, a long time ago... I was quite young at the time... (Is there an age limit? I remember going with my Dad...)

My Mum and Dad are both Organ Donors; I would be the same, I'm just not sure if the relevant forms have been filled in

AFAIK 17 is the minimum age...

Castiel wrote:

SilverMK2 wrote:

Castiel wrote:I gave blood, but I haven't gotten round to it again due to (unfortunately) often being away when the time comes around.

Most permanant centres offer a walk in service. I used to give in the permanent centre in Sheffield and you could just rock up whenever you wanted, so long as it was a minimum time between donations.

Really? I'll have to check that out then! Thanks!

http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/where-can-i-go/

I usually give it as much as I can, I like the feeling as the blood goes down the hose strapped to my arm, nice and warm.*

Thanks for reminding me to go get my platelets tested though.



*totally not a crazy blood cultist, it's just unusual

purplefood wrote:

Tibbsy wrote:I gave blood once, a long time ago... I was quite young at the time... (Is there an age limit? I remember going with my Dad...)

My Mum and Dad are both Organ Donors; I would be the same, I'm just not sure if the relevant forms have been filled in

AFAIK 17 is the minimum age...

Hmm...

Maybe theres a parent/guardian thing involved though... I can't have been much more than 8... So unless I went there for something completely unrelated while my Dad gave blood I don't know... I'm sure I did though...

I gave a few times, but being a wee little wisp of a man (125 soaking wet most times) I had a decided tendency to pass out after I gave. Now I am also forbidden, which isn't a big deal. AB+ blood is not in high demand- I'm the universal receiver, so any blood will do.

Tibbsy wrote:

purplefood wrote:

Tibbsy wrote:I gave blood once, a long time ago... I was quite young at the time... (Is there an age limit? I remember going with my Dad...)

My Mum and Dad are both Organ Donors; I would be the same, I'm just not sure if the relevant forms have been filled in

AFAIK 17 is the minimum age...

Hmm...

Maybe theres a parent/guardian thing involved though... I can't have been much more than 8... So unless I went there for something completely unrelated while my Dad gave blood I don't know... I'm sure I did though...

Did your 'blood donation' end up with you waking up in an ice bath in a shady hotel?

I have done so exactly once. I found the experience exceedingly unpleasant and don't foresee doing so again unless it's some sort of family related emergency.

I am an organ donor, though.