Poll: Do you give blood?

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

Nope. I can't, really. I'm terribly afraid of things that doctors stick under your skin (syringes, intravenous things, etc). It's so bad that I feel sharp pains in my arm whenever I think of one, and being near one makes me panic. I can't go near any blood donation event.

 

[trooper6]

I used to give blood regularly.

However, in the US, you can not give blood if you are a man who has ever had sex with another man, or if you are person regardless of gender who has ever had sex with a man who has had sex with another man.

So despite the fact that I am perfectly healthy and willing to donate blood, the fact that I have had sex with men who have had sex with other men disqualifies me from donating.

I'm in a similar position, here in the UK, if you're a guy who has done ANYTHING with another guy then you're disallowed. It wouldn't have bothered me so much were it not for the fact that not only did the nurse seem really snobbish about it, but actually encouraged me to lie about why i couldn't give blood to my friends. They all already know i'm bi, so the "Oh yeah, go lie." line from here nearly made me throw the pen i filled out the questionnaire with at her >.>

Like you, I'm bi, so I'm disqualified. And like you, I was encouraged to lie by snobbish people who worked the bank. And I refuse. 1) Because I'm not a liar, and 2) I all the men who've had sex with men and women who've had sex with men who've had sex with men refused to give blood as they are not allowed to do, then maybe they'd change this outdated and homophobic rule.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

I am O+ and I would love to give blood, but being on some mild medications is enough to make someone's blood unwelcome at local drives. Makes me sad that they won't take my blood, there's nothing WRONG with it... but I guess they can cry shortage and also be choosy, I don't know.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

Yes. Now they call me the second I am available to give blood again, they're worse than vampires, but it's for a good reason so I can't complain too much.

 

[Lionsfan]

I can't, not for lack of want thought. I've got no problems with needles, it's just that when I was 3 I was diagnosed with cancer, so even though it's all gone now I'm still prohibited. I completely understand though, don't need to take that extra chance

 

[BlueRawen]

I will do it when i'm old enough

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I do. And it doesn't take long for me either. I think I have really high blood preasure.

The only part I hate is when they do a pin prick on your finger to see if you have enough iron.

O+ blood type. Like a good number of people

 

[CrustyOatmeal]

i give blood all the time but i hate needles and my veins are hard to find. i have had my veins bruised 3 times and there has only been one time that the they found my vein on the first try

the good news for me is that since im a tall guy i have a lot of blood in me so i dont feel light-headed afterwards at all

 

[Telumektar]

I would if I could, but as Katherine Ciesla I take some medications, for allergies in my case.
They are quite soft but it's ok if they don't want to take it. Last year I tried to donate not knowing that this meds were treated in the same way as say, psychoactive meds, I bet 90% of those around me were on Aspirines or some sort of self medication, that without countig three or four weird looking people that were waiting to donate (they looked like they had to take medicines in order to be alive, multiplicity of ticks and some faces that expressed some degree of mental alteration). The thing is that when the nurse asked me if I had taken anything in the last week I answered yes, immediately her face changed and looked at me as if I was some sort of terrorist, I thought I was just being a little too analitic on her expression but she then procceeded to aknowledg me that even if I was unaware o this my actions were just not right. After that she calmed, maybe she realized about her over-the-top reaction, but the moment was a bit awkward.

 

[marcooos]

Nope. I have AB- blood, which is apparently useless to anyone who isn't also AB, thus making the demand for it rather low apparently. Or that's how I understood it anyway after someone went through a lengthy explanation of the whole blood type thing that really just left me somewhat confused on the subject.

Well my friend had a rare blood disorder called severe aplastic aneamia and he was also ab- and they were always worried cos not enough people who donate have the rare groups

 

[high_castle]

Yes, I donate whenever I can. I was once in an accident that required a blood transfusion. You just never know when something like that might happen to you. Don't you want to know that someone out there, some random stranger, might have the power to save your life?

 

[winginson]

I seem to have quite a list for no:
I have recieved blood after 1980 (motorcycle crash)
I have and imbalance of white and red blood cells (too many white per red)
I am borderline underweight (for my height)

If I didn't have these then I would. Worth mentioning that I don't have a fear of needles, apart from in the one exact place they stick it. I cannot deal with sharp being around that area.

However I am looking into becoming a bloodrunner, so I'm still gonna do my bit. I know how important blood can be and I can't stand the thought of someone getting into my situation and not getting any.

 

[Humble Grapefruit]

I have once and plan to again; however, I got sick last time so we'll see how it goes...

 

[rotkiv]

Do I get payed for my blood? is the blood going to be used in blood magic or given to a vampier?
if not, nobody will get my blood!

edit:

All the time. A+. It only takes about 10 mins and it's a free bag of chips, some cookies, and an orange juice.

wait a second,


I get cookies for blood?







how want some blood?

 

[Phlakes]

I would, but I'm bad with having my blood sucked out of me. Blood on its own is fine, but things like seeing it sucked through a pipe or, in one unrelated case, having to hold two sections of flesh together with my hand to close a deep cut, make me lightheaded. I can barely even stand having blood taken for testing, so going for that long... yeah.

But I would.

EDIT: Also, I have a pretty serious phobia of pain, but the needle itself doesn't bother me.

 

[Gwarr]

I have AB+....yeah , I am kinda useless

 

[emeraldrafael]

I do everyy so often. When its easy to get to and convenient. And when I do, i usually give a alot, to the point where Its pretty much illegal for them to take that much from me.

One of my friends gets letters every day int he mail though from the red cross and the hospitals and local drives, cause he has O- type. Though he doesnt give, mostly cause he's sickle cell, and they dont like to take that kinda blood. Good help him if he ever gets hurt though.

 

[Arafiro]

Can't, because of the whole sex with a man thing.