Have you donated blood ?

That wasn't the worst one. I was placing a subclavian and the patient was having seizures Q 3 minutes. I had a feckless tech hold the right arm down. He turned to talk to someone, the patient seized and the trocar penetrated my thumb. The patient was Hep C and B positive. Waiting that six months to see if I'd convert and need interferon and all it's side effects was awful. I didn't have to get it thank god.

Liquid, that's almost like me but mine was even dumber. I was putting in a RIJ central line and it went perfectly. I was suturing the line in and on the last stitch the patient moved and I stuck myself with the suture needle. Fortunately all the multiple blood tests over several months were negative. It was years ago but I think the pt was positive for Hep B and C but not HIV.

Wow to both of you LIquid and Eric. I am so glad you are both okay. The general public really never know how often and how easily it is for us to put our own lives on the line every single time we clock in for work.

Mashie

I know how life saving blood donation is, but since i have a very real phobia of needles have never given blood except for testing.

Yes, every two months. There are many lives that can be saved by donating.

Yes, every two months. There are many lives that can be saved by donating.

Indeed. However, I am surprised that in the USA the minimum interval for whole blood is just 56 days.

In the UK the minimum interval is 12 weeks for men and 16 weeks for women.

Due to my level of activity I keep to a conservative 4 month interval and donate at the same session as my wife.

I donate every three months. I work in ems and know the shortages in our area. I think a good thing to do

I have never given blood. I hate needles and I have always been afraid of them. Now, after getting so many blood tests this past year and a half, I am not so fearful of them (at least the butterfly needles). I don't suppose it would be worse than a regular i.v., would it? I wouldn't mind giving, if they would take mine.

Breaze and tarzansmom, If you are donating for the first time, make sure you are well hydrated before you attend. I don't know if it is any different in the USA, but in the UK we are given 500ml of water to drink immediately before we donate to counteract the effects of lower blood volume. The water you have just taken in enters the circulation to help make up the loss of fluid and help maintain blood pressure. Preparation beforehand is important, and make sure you drink plenty of fluids afterwards. Essentially, look after yourself for the rest of the day and avoid any strenuous exercise or activities. My wife and I always feel fine after donation because we prepare well.

I used to donate a lot. The place I went to had juice, snack bars, and fresh fruit on table after you were done. Don't know if they still do this at these clinics, maybe some do and some don't.

Mike, In the UK there is tea, coffee, juice and biscuits waiting for you after donation. While you take refreshments, the staff in attendance will arrange your next donation appointment for you. They also keep a special eye on first time donors to monitor them for ill-effects.

Once. I was a senior in highschool & the American red cross went to get seniors (18 yrs) to donate. I wanted to see/feel the needle. I was supposed to go to the nurses office before, have her weight & write down my height. I was hardly 100 pounds, so I signed the form & lied about it. According to me, i was 110, just enough to be able to donate,i was nervous & noticed that the needle was bigger than usual. Everything went well untill a few hours later, I got home and fainted.

I try to do it once a year, but sometimes I forget

Yes i had donated almost 10 times.

. . . . I was hardly 100 pounds, so I signed the form & lied about it. According to me, i was 110, just enough to be able to donate, . . . . Everything went well untill a few hours later, I got home and fainted.

That's why they usually give you juice or milk and cookies after you donate--they want you hydrated and your sugar level up.

Didn't they give you something after donating?

I usually give platelets when i donate blood...had a friend who died because his body couldn't produce enough as he got older.

Probably past the 2 gallon mark!

Everyone should give blood if possible! !!!!!

.FYI:

Older men when, they give actually reduces the iron in the blood, which is a good thing as we get older.

I've never donated blood!

I donated blood only 1 time

Yes, 201 times and had to quit after being diagnosed in '00 with prostate cancer or I'd still be donating.

1st time was in '66 aboard the USS Ticonderoga* on Yankee Station. 2nd time after first deployment and at NAS Lemoore. 3rd & 4th times in NYC. Remaining times in Toronto or in other towns throughout Ontario wherever I might happen to be working and using my lunch break to donate. I carefully kept a record on a special date calendar to donate as often as I could, once even having elective surgery scheduled after donating, because knowing I'd have to wait a longer period after the surgery before my next donation date. Once narrowly missed donating bone marrow.

*There were no wimpy waiting times here after donating. As soon as the needle was out of my arm, I was up and running to my work station.

Yes. I donate Plasma more often.

I will donate a pint when the 'Battle of the Badges" competition happens at the Red Cross. This is a "battle" between FD/EMS vs. PD where donors specify who is to be "credited" their pint!

I always donate for the FD/EMS.

Thanks to all who donate !

I have never done it. Do you need an exam before you can donate blood?

When I lived in the UK I have blood at every opportunity. However after 1991 after my first visit to the USA, that put a bar on giving blood in the UK. Also I am not allowed to give blood in the USA because of the amount of countries I have visited and the specific location. Which is a pity, I liked the idea of regular free screening

I have tried to donate multiple times but have never been able to. In the beginning it was because my normal blood pressure was too low, I used to run about 90/50. then as I got older it was because of the amount of medication that I take for my lung issues. My dad always donated every 2 months for about 50 years, that was one of the reasons that I kept trying to donate.

Thank you to all of those who donate.

Have a couple times and second time I got so light headed and they had me lay their after to make sure I was ok to drive home and that was a few years back and haven't went back, funny thing is I'm fine getting numerous injections but when it comes to giving blood I get more light headed and feel like I'm sick....wonder why that is?. I have rolling veins and maybe that has something to do with it as they can't ever seem to find a vein:-(. IV's are the worst for me!.

Havent donated lately but I think I still have my 5 gallon pin that I got donating during the Vietnam era-----I think it was about every 2-3 months for years

Yes, I have donated blood many times. Then one time, they could not find my vein in my left arm (My fav. arm to donate), so now I'm stuck with my right arm and when/if they can't find the vein in my right arm, I'll give it up. (Side note, I like the attention you get from all the workers in the blood bus).

Until recently I haven't met the weight requirement to give blood. You have to weight at least 110

I'm a Universal o+ type. I've donated blood many times and have passed the 5 gallon mark long ago. Over the last few years I've done the Double Red donation. It takes quite a bit longer than a regular donation and causes some aching pain by having to stay in a motionless position for the donation period. I give two units of blood that is ran through a machine and the red blood cells are separated. I'm back filled with a saline mixture that feels very cold going back into my body. I normally have or feel like I have more energy when the process is complete. I'm not sure but I think the blood can be used without further processing? I have to wait at least 112 days between Double Red donations. Some where out there I know I've helped someone who is in need. Someone who is less fortunate than I. And I get all the cookies, candy bars, pop or juice that I desire when my donation is finished. I like helping the Red Cross to help people.

I used to do it as often as possible. I wish I could say it was for selfless reasons, but the truth is, I loved the mini exam with the big needle in the arm. Never admitted that before.

I haven't given blood since hubby and I started swinging. Doesn't seem responsible. I miss it though.

Yes.on a regular basis. My Dad was type O and back in the 1950,s our local Dr.[ small town ] would not let him donate blood, saving my Dad and another man in our town as emergency donors locally. I recall several times these guys saved a life by being here and able to give immediately. Different times of course, Jim.I,m a common B+.