Giving Blood

stupid head

I was considering doing this...any reason not to??

hairyprincess

You need it stupid head

robertpatterson

No reason if youre healthy and not barred from donating
Ive been giving it for years and think it should be encouraged more tbh

FearDark

Depends who you're giving it to.

The Backwards Man

I always give blood. Well apart from a few times when the stupid restrictions stopped me.

But that's the thing. Because they have so many restrictions, every who can give blood should, in my opinion. Some day, you, or someone you know, will need blood yourself.

FearDark

It's a terrible idea for a gift.

"Happy Birthday, I got you some blood"

hairyprincess

On a serious note, unless you don't satisfy the criteria for giving it them there us mo reason not to. It is the best thing you can do as a human being. Who knows when you might be in the situation that you or someone you love will need a transfusion.

And the free Coke, crisps and biscuits are a major bonus! Not to mention the free pencils!

promises

No reason in the world not to give it. I try and attend every 3 months.

The Backwards Man

hairyprincess wrote: »

On a serious note, unless you don't satisfy the criteria for giving it them there us mo reason not to. It is the best thing you can do as a human being. Who knows when you might be in the situation that you or someone you love will need a transfusion.

And the free Coke, crisps and biscuits are a major bonus! Not to mention the free pencils!

It's pens now instead of pencils. Better deal for me, as I have neither a pointer nor a rubber.

Sir Arthur Daley

I would love to donate blood but faint when i see it plus cant stand needles either, fair play to everyone who does.

obplayer

stupid head wrote: »

I was considering doing this...any reason not to??

No reason at all if you pass their rules for who they will accept from.

hairyprincess

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It's pens now instead of pencils. Better deal for me, as I have neither a pointer nor a rubber.

A pointer no less! It was a topper in my day. I can see how having no rubber could be highly problematic for you.
I could do with auld pen

Manach

Sometimes afterwards the BTS serve plain biscuits without any chocolate covering- the horror.

The Backwards Man

hairyprincess wrote: »

A pointer no less! It was a topper in my day. I can see how having no rubber could be highly problematic for you.
I could do with auld pen

Silly billy. Toppers are rubbers. Pointers are sharpeners. Well, that's we called them anyways.

Then again, we called every one 'fannypads' in those days, even though we hadn't a clue what a fanny, or a pad for that matter, was.

Meangadh

I haven't done it in a while but next time they're around I'll go. I hate doing it because I always get weak and have to do the whole embarrassing nurses-hovering-around-me in case I faint (including one time having to put my legs up in the air while they ran for a cold swab, I was mortified!) but I know it's a good thing and that some day I may need it too. I have to do it on an evening I've nothing on though because I just fall asleep really early that night.

You do feel great for doing it though- I give money to charity every month but giving blood feels like a properly good thing to do.

hairyprincess

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Silly billy. Toppers are rubbers. Pointers are sharpeners. Well, that's we called them anyways.

Then again, we called every one 'fannypads' in those days, even though we hadn't a clue what a fanny, or a pad for that matter, was.

Tut tut tut, what did they teach you up there? A topper is a sharpener. A rubber is an eraser.

Classes will resume in the morning. Bring me a blood pen. 8)

TeddyTedson

When are they going to allow gay folk donate blood?

AnonoBoy

TeddyTedson wrote: »

When are they going to allow gay folk donate blood?

..."OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!" - John Waters.


Unless that blood could actually save his life and then it's "oh yeah, gimme that homosexual plasma!"

robertpatterson

They do allow gay men to donate blood

sawdoubters

Dracula will love you

TeddyTedson

robertpatterson wrote: »

They do allow gay men to donate blood

Not if they've been sexually active.

robertpatterson

They do, youre asked the question ' have you ever had sex with another man, even once, even if you used a condom? '
There is no bar at all from giving blood just because you are gay

J_E

Absolutely do it, many of us can't for whatever reason, no reason not to if you have time and eligible.

robertpatterson wrote: »

They do, youre asked the question ' have you ever had sex with another man, even once, even if you used a condom? '
There is no bar at all from giving blood just because you are gay

Yeah but come on...very, very few gay men haven't ever performed oral or anal sex once in their lifetime.

TeddyTedson

robertpatterson wrote: »

They do, youre asked the question ' have you ever had sex with another man, even once, even if you used a condom? '
There is no bar at all from giving blood just because you are gay

You're being pedantic now.

MadsL

I can't give blood because I didn't eat cow during the Mad Cow outbreak in the UK, but I lived there so barred in Ireland and the US. :rolleyes:

They generally wince when I tell them I am also O negative...damn useful in other words.

McBain11

I was thinking of giving blood this week, but I had a small op on my knee a couple of weeks ago. Nothing major, but will they stop me from giving blood over this does anyone know?

Ted_YNWA

McBain11 wrote: »

I was thinking of giving blood this week, but I had a small op on my knee a couple of weeks ago. Nothing major, but will they stop me from giving blood over this does anyone know?

There is a time frame for it. Not sure offhand. Should do, was reading the gumpf earlier when I gave blood.

Don't mind needles or blood but ended up fainting. Had the nurses hovering over me on the ground & separate bed for over hour. Only thing injured was pride. Embarrassing as fcuk. Never happened before.

Won't stop me going again. Should be an opt out process if you meet criteria. never know when you or loved one Will need it. A negative too so rare enough & suitable for neo-natal care.

keithclancy

MadsL wrote: »

I can't give blood because I didn't eat cow during the Mad Cow outbreak in the UK, but I lived there so barred in Ireland and the US. :rolleyes:

They generally wince when I tell them I am also O negative...damn useful in other words.

Same for me. O Neg also and lived in the UK during that period.

Arthur Beesley

FearDark wrote: »

It's a terrible idea for a gift.

"Happy Birthday, I got you some blood"

Not as bad as a goat for Christmas.

Arthur Beesley

TeddyTedson wrote: »

When are they going to allow gay folk donate blood?

Is that a rhetorical question, or do you think After Hours users will have the answer?

Maximus Alexander

stupid head wrote: »

I was considering doing this...any reason not to??

Nope. Do it.

I went with a friend to do it for the first time many years ago, basically just tagged along to keep him company. I was glad I did and went a few more times over the following couple of years, but then, as so often happens, I got a bit lazy and just sort of stopped going.

Until one day I got a text from the IBTS telling me that there was a baby scheduled for surgery and that I was part of a small group of people whose blood they badly needed for the little guy. They were opening the clinic out of hours specifically to accommodate people responding to this request.

I don't know much (anything) about the chemistry involved but, apparently, there was something in my blood which is fairly rare and was exactly what they needed for this baby. The impression I got was that it was more involved than a simple blood type (mine's pretty common).

Needless to say I went along gladly, and it was one of the best feelings I've ever had to know that an hour of my time and a bit of blood might have helped to save the life of a baby. They never did tell me how the surgery went though.

It's well worth doing, and you can get a bag of Tayto and a Cadbury's mini roll for free afterwards. Can't say fairer than that.

Ghost Buster

stupid head wrote: »

I was considering doing this...any reason not to??

No reason at all. I've been doing it for years. Donation 29 happening tomorrow .
Worth it for the Minderrill an Tayho if nothing else.

Ghost Buster

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Nope. Do it.

I went with a friend to do it for the first time many years ago, basically just tagged along to keep him company. I was glad I did and went a few more times over the following couple of years, but then, as so often happens, I got a bit lazy and just sort of stopped going.

Until one day I got a text from the IBTS telling me that there was a baby scheduled for surgery and that I was part of a small group of people whose blood they badly needed for the little guy. They were opening the clinic out of hours specifically to accommodate people responding to this request.

I don't know much (anything) about the chemistry involved but, apparently, there was something in my blood which is fairly rare and was exactly what they needed for this baby. The impression I got was that it was more involved than a simple blood type (mine's pretty common).

Needless to say I went along gladly, and it was one of the best feelings I've ever had to know that an hour of my time and a bit of blood might have helped to save the life of a baby. They never did tell me how the surgery went though.

It's well worth doing, and you can get a bag of Tayto and a Cadbury's mini roll for free afterwards. Can't say fairer than that.

Yup. Im a B+. Only 9% of us guys so my fluids are in high demand.
Sadly not all of them::(

D

MadsL wrote: »

They generally wince when I tell them I am also O negative...damn useful in other words.

Fancy pants here swaning in with their O- like they are better than every one else.

They are. (when it comes to blood donation)

Best reason to give blood is the free drinks and sweets. A distant second is the whole saving life thing.

whitewave

Everyone who can should do it, definitely. All the snack bars you could want, and a car sticker to show off to other people how you're superior to them.

You just have to put up with being looked at suspiciously when you say you don't do drugs (or handle monkey faeces). "Really? Ever? Even a little?"

LoonyLovegood

Anyone who can, should. I'm going back in in about two weeks to donate, it's been six months because my iron was borderline last time. This'll be my sixth (I think) donation in two years. Went in on my 18th birthday, haven't looked back since.

Arthur Beesley

whitewave wrote: »

Everyone who can should do it, definitely. All the snack bars you could want, and a car sticker to show off to other people how you're superior to them.

You just have to put up with being looked at suspiciously when you say you don't do drugs (or handle monkey faeces). "Really? Ever? Even a little?"

So you think you are superior to others because you give blood? Stay classy.

Ghost Buster

Arthur Beesley wrote: »

So you think you are superior to others because you give blood? Stay classy.

Or cos the Op is being funny...maybe....;)

whitewave

Arthur Beesley wrote: »

So you think you are superior to others because you give blood? Stay classy.

No, I was taking the p*ss...I also don't rob loads of snack bars after giving blood, in case anyone wants to call me on that too

Arthur Beesley

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Or cos the Op is being funny...maybe....;)

Or maybe not...neither of us can answer for the OP.

Ghost Buster

Arthur Beesley wrote: »

Or maybe not...neither of us can answer for the OP.

I said 'perhaps'. You stated that you think the op is being superior.
I didnt give a definitive answer...but you did.:)

Ghost Buster

whitewave wrote: »

No, I was taking the p*ss...I also don't rob loads of snack bars after giving blood, in case anyone wants to call me on that too

And does this make you feel superior?:cool:

Corcaigh84

Relax with the bickering kids...

Blood donation Pro Tip: That fridge loaded with sambos and Lucozade Sport? It's not for the nurse's lunch breaks :pac:

Ghost Buster

thefloss wrote: »

Relax with the bickering kids...

Blood donation Pro Tip: That fridge loaded with sambos and Lucozade Sport? It's not for the nurse's lunch breaks :pac:

Wha?????? My clinic only does fizzys, water, Tayto, tea , coffee and biscuits!!!!

Corcaigh84

St Finbarr's in Cork, it's the job. Sandwich, Barry's Tea (naturally) and Tayto have you sorted for the spin home... with some Cadbury's Caramel in your pocket

January

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Wha?????? My clinic only does fizzys, water, Tayto, tea , coffee and biscuits!!!!

D'olier St has the sambo's!

Local clinics don't.

LoonyLovegood

D'Olier Street is the business. I'll go there on my weekends home rather than in the hotel down the road from my apartment.

SweepTheLeg

I'd love to donate some of my rare B- blood. But I don't qualify since I lived in England when all that mad cow stuff went on.

Only 2% of the population are B-. Gutted I can't donate.

Aglomerado

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

Don't mind needles or blood but ended up fainting. Had the nurses hovering over me on the ground & separate bed for over hour. Only thing injured was pride. Embarrassing as fcuk. Never happened before.

That happened to me the last two times I went. Horrible sensation, sweating and blurred vision also. I ended up getting a letter saying I wasn't to donate for 5 years. I'm gutted as well as it's a good thing to do.

Sams63

It's a cheap way to get yourself tested for nasty bloodborn diseases.

HeidiHeidi

Easiest and cheapest good deed you'll ever do

But God be with the days of a glass of Guinness / Harp (although maybe not the Harp :eek:). Somehow a few Custard Creams and a cuppa coffee don't quite seem the same.....

Number 50 is looming for me, if I can ever get past the time limit for having gone on holidays to a malarial area (even though it wasn't!)