Poll: Do you give blood?

[Instinct Blues]

I can't give blood at the moment. I signed up for a blood drive at my college, and the nurse who gave me the form looked me up and down and asked me my weight. Apparently I'm underweight, and would have to gain about 12-14 lbs before they'll take my blood.

Maybe it makes me kind of an asshole, but I don't want to have to gain that much weight just to donate some blood.

Wait are you underwieght in general or just underweight by the requirements to donate blood? I'm not really sure if there is a difference seeing as I've donated many times and that has never been a problem for me. Either way putting on those more pounds can't hurt especially if you're underweight in general which can't be such a great thing.

I donate as often as I can seeing as I'm not on any medications, I don't travel outside of the country, I don't have a fear of needles, and I'm O+ so I feel like I should. I can understand people not donating due to fear of needles and other medical conditions, but if neither of those describe you then you should at least try to donate.

 

[Mr Shrike]

I owe my life to blood donors, so I sure as hell should give blood.

..except that here in the UK you've gotta be 18. Only 6 months to go!

As soon as I hit 18 I'm getting an appointment. It's the least I could do.

 

[AvsJoe]

I haven't since grade school. I often think about giving some but I have a very common blood type so I never end up doing so.

 

[Brandon237]

No, I'm too young, and in this country needles are not things you trust with our medical services being shite and our aids rates being just as shite. So no, I do not and unless I know it is a private operation, I will not in this country out of fear for my own health

 

[amadhatter]

Can't do it, I had cancer.

 

[aww yea]

ewww no, i watch my girlfriend do it sometimes and i feel like im going to throw up. I hate needles and i hate blood.

Ive got nothing against the idea though, even if its really weird.

They take so much! *shudder*

 

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

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.

To the contrary, my blood people looooooove me. AB- is the rareist, but is also the universal donor for plasma, and the apheresis process for plasma's only about 45 minutes. I usually nap through it.

Universal plasma is critical in transplant procedures, as transfusions vastly reduce rejection rates.

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 surprised, myself, that they haven't reworked those regulations, though if you are female and had sex with a man who has had sex with a man, you qualify again if that was over a year ago. At least here in California, that's the case.

I'm on a rather large dose of antidepressants and have a pretty long history of self-harm. I think that precludes me...

No antidepressants, nor a history of self-harm should preclude you from giving blood. I'm maxed out on Cymbalta, myself, and they don't even blink.

238U.

 

[Pscyon]

To the contrary, my blood people looooooove me. AB- is the rareist,

Wow. Just looked it up. Apparently 0,6% in my country have AB-. That's... not a whole lot of people considering the population is about 5 million or so. That does make it rare... I've gravely misunderstood someone thinking the "demand" (so to speak) is low.

but is also the universal donor for plasma, and the apheresis process for plasma's only about 45 minutes. I usually nap through it.

Universal plasma is critical in transplant procedures, as transfusions vastly reduce rejection rates.

Huh. That's quite interesting. This whole thread is, actually, I've learned quite a bit now. *bookmarks thread*

 

[Luthir Fontaine]

I wish i could! But they said i cant since ive been to iraq boo

 

[Digital_Hero]

I dont, but I should since I have O- but I really dont know where to go for it lol

Interestingly, I was scolded by a bio teacher a few years ago when I said I have O- but don't donate. Responsibility to those in need my ass >_> i'll donate but not because some bastard says I should just because my blood is something certain

 

[Laser Priest]

I already gave all of my blood.

 

[Dags90]

I'm surprised, myself, that they haven't reworked those regulations, though if you are female and had sex with a man who has had sex with a man, you qualify again if that was over a year ago. At least here in California, that's the case.

Attempts by the CDC, American Red Cross, and American Association of Blood Banks and the American Medical Association to change the regulations have been met with pretty strong resistance by the FDA.

I dont, but I should since I have O- but I really dont know where to go for it lol

Interestingly, I was scolded by a bio teacher a few years ago when I said I have O- but don't donate. Responsibility to those in need my ass >_> i'll donate but not because some bastard says I should just because my blood is something certain

As someone with O-, you can only accept O- blood, so it's in your own interest to make sure hospitals have plenty of O- blood.

 

[JochemDude]

I have AB- like only 0.5% in my country, averagely only 1% of the world population has it and we can receive every blood type, but can only donate to other AB's. I do however give blood because AB and AB- are able to produce the emergency 'plasma' stuff.

 

[Mad1Cow]

I...I can't...I just...huaragh...I have an intense fear of blood, it's part of the reason I didn't do so well in Biology at GCSE. Seeing it go through pipes, on skin, in patches, just thinking about it. I also have a rational fear of needles (ya know the feeling you get when looking over a really tall tower and going "wow that's tall", well I sorta get that with needles. I can work up to them but anything bigger than a knitting needle, just, no). I know it's for a good cause but honestly I'd just rather donate £1000 to the charities that collect it then donate my own...it's just...huaragh...I couldn't...

 

[El Poncho]

As far as I know i'm not allowed to until i'm 18.

 

[rayen020]

i always want to, i just puss out. god i'm a chickenshit, a selfish chickenshit at that...

 

[s2dio]

My ex-wife nearly bled out after an accident, and she needed 3 transfusions, which going by them hems and haws of the medical staff, seemed to be a lot. But that's only because the supply is so low, they have to make sure none is "wasted". Since then, I've gone regularly. An added benefit is that they screen your blood for EVERYTHING, so it's like a free mini-physical that you get a cookie and a cola after.

 

[Fleeker]

I give blood once in awhile O- type so I'm a universal donor (for those that don't know what that means is that it can go to anyone regardless of blood type) but I have blood flow issues so sometimes my blood flow isn't strong enough for to give, so I give blood when I can and I make sure I drink a ton of water for a day or two before to help.