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Blood Donor Drive.

banie01

Hey AHers!

This thread might be a little serious for the shenanigans that usually go on in here

But as the busiest forum on here, I think its the best place for it!
I came across a post over on Reddit, from a lady who was donating her 11th pint as part of her paying back the transfusions her own mum received whilst waiting on a liver transplant.
It really struck a chord in me for personal reasons.

All too often its the big ticket organ donation that gets the headlines, and theres nothing wrong with that organ donation is vital, it saves and improves lives!

But the regular donations of blood and platelets save many many more lives without the headlines that the organ donation generates.
The number of transplants every year in Ireland is in the low to mid 100's.
The number of blood transfusions is that every single day!
Each one of those donations helps heal, prolong and improve a life!

The recent bad weather coupled with an overall decline in Blood Donor numbers is putting pressure on the supply and at one stage recently the supply was as low as 3 days!
The Blood service rely on a dedicated cohort of repeat donors many of home are getting on and not as fit as they used to be.
I'd love to see us Boardsies be able to put a boost in those numbers!
Be it once off donations!
Or some of us becoming regular donors hoping for a badge

So I put it out there to the good folks of boards, to the people behind the SSF!
Lets see if we can boost the country's blood banks and who knows how many we can help in the process!

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Ciaran_B

Gavin shels wrote: »

Just on the platelets - I'm **** scared of needles (even to the point after 27 donations I still close my eyes when it goes in and tissue over the needle), is that process any different? Someone mentioned the needle being bigger, is there any bigger pinch or pain or that? May look into it.

My new job actually does a blood drive every 3 months - allow staff go over in a group on the companies time. With the recent news from IBTS the company said staff could take the time off at their preferred date/day outside of the company blood drive. Great to see when companies back good initiatives like that.

Not in my platelets experience. Same tiny bit of discomfort when the needle goes in and that's it. The process takes a good bit longer though.

erica74

beertons wrote: »

I assumed you got your bloods tested with your doctor before.

I have had my bloods done many times in the past 5 years but they don't have my blood type on record, is that normal or was the nurse wrong?

Seth Brundle

Gavin shels wrote: »

Just on the platelets - I'm **** scared of needles (even to the point after 27 donations I still close my eyes when it goes in and tissue over the needle), is that process any different? Someone mentioned the needle being bigger, is there any bigger pinch or pain or that? May look into it.

I hate needles.
With an absolute vengeance!

However, for some weird reason, I didn't mind the platelet needle which is bigger than a standard injection needle. It sounds weird but it just was fine. Yeah, I'd become tense knowing it was going in but it was never as bad as my mind had built it up to be.
The staff in James were good at distracting you or helping get my mind over it.

Funny, now when I've to get a blood test the GP uses the same spot to stick the syringe as where the platelet needle used to go and now I'd barely notice it go in!

Paddy Cow

erica74 wrote: »

Slightly off topic but does anyone know how you find out what blood type you are? I have literally no idea and I'd like to know.
I thought there was a blood test you could have done so when I was having my regular bloods done recently I asked the nurse and she said that there isn't a test, the only way of finding out is to donate blood, have surgery or get a blood donation.

IF you're Irish you're probably blood group O.

Gavin "shels"

Ciaran_B wrote: »

Not in my platelets experience. Same tiny bit of discomfort when the needle goes in and that's it. The process takes a good bit longer though.

kbannon wrote: »

I hate needles.
With an absolute vengeance!

However, for some weird reason, I didn't mind the platelet needle which is bigger than a standard injection needle. It sounds weird but it just was fine. Yeah, I'd become tense knowing it was going in but it was never as bad as my mind had built it up to be.
The staff in James were good at distracting you or helping get my mind over it.

Funny, now when I've to get a blood test the GP uses the same spot to stick the syringe as where the platelet needle used to go and now I'd barely notice it go in!

Cheers!

Time isn't that much of a matter if my new job don't mind leaving an hour early. Shall have a think about it.

Squiggle

I'm a regular donor and don't mind the mild discomfort of the needle. Shortly after my last donation in December I received a text from BTSB thanking me and telling me my donation had been issued to Crumlin hospital. Genuinely made my day and brought home the reality of how important donations are.

January

I wonder is there a way of getting a new mobile clinic up and running... think one in Tyrellstown would be successful (I don't live there just think it'd be a great place.

quickbeam

Have tried a few times over the years. My veins just don't wanna give it up

A great thing to do if you can though.

MurmanskRun

kbannon wrote: »

When you donate blood, the needle is connected to a bag which gets filled up with blood.
When you give platelets, the needle is connected to a machine. The machine draws out a cupfull of blood and using a centrifuge, extracts the platelets and places them into a bag. The remaining blood is pumped back into the donor. The equipment is disposed of each time.

When you give blood, you're limited to one donation every three months. With platelets, you can donate monthly. Also platelet donations can be single, double or triple (i.e the quantity extracted).

Platelets are used by cancer and leukaemia patients amongst others. Apparently mine were suitable for new born babies.

Ooh, every day is a learning day, thanks for this, KB.

I've been sneaking back home to NI for the last ten or so years to give blood to the NIBTS due to the madness coursing through my pipes (CJD - "Have you spent 12 months or more in total in the UK between 1980 and 1996, including living, working or on holidays?")

The Princess Bride

erica74 wrote: »

I have had my bloods done many times in the past 5 years but they don't have my blood type on record, is that normal or was the nurse wrong?

Unless they do a specific Blood Group test, nobody would know.
Not the nurse's fault - most routine blood tests at GPs don't require doing this.

I'm donating my 48th unit next week.
Feels so good to get the text now telling me where my donation has gone.

Easiest hour of your life you could ever spend, helping others.

Fann Linn

I used to donate plasma on a regular basis however as I lived in the Uk I've been excluded for over 20 years ever since.

I'd imagine at this stage some test would be available for screening.

Hitman3000

They like my blood 0 neg, try to give as often as I can. It's a pity they don't have drop in clinics at the weekend. I work shifts and it's not always possible to donate and then head to work. I don't live in Dublin, Midlands.

Gwynplaine

Over 30 donations. B negative. I think it's in the 2 - 3%. They nearly always ring me to make sure I'm coming in. The text a few days later to see where it's gone really is heartwarming.

Darren 83

Not a big fan of needles but managed over 20 donations so far, always go with my brother and sister.

It really hits hit home when some close needs a transfusion, My best friends wife nearly died after giving birth if it where not for donations from people like us who knows what would happen.

maudgonner

Best thing about giving blood is the totally guilt-free crisps and fizzy orange afterwards.

And the free pens. Obviously.

I'm also signed up for the bone marrow donor register, which you can do when giving blood. It's a very slim chance that I'll ever be matched with a patient in need of a transformation, but what an amazing thing it would be if it ever happened. (Simple to sign up, and the donation process has gotten much easier in recent years)

LirW

I'm organ donor and bone marrow donor, the only reason I'm not donating blood at the moment is that the closest clinics is 40 - 60 km away from where I live.

Ave Sodalis

What does bone marrow donation involve now?

maudgonner

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

What does bone marrow donation involve now?

Instead of extracting the marrow directly from your pelvis, they give you a drug that makes your bone marrow produce lots of stem cells which are released into your blood. They take your blood, filter out the stem cells and return the blood.

erica74

The Princess Bride wrote: »

Unless they do a specific Blood Group test, nobody would know.
Not the nurse's fault - most routine blood tests at GPs don't require doing this.

So there is a test? The nurse told me there is no test to find out your blood type.

Convinced my husband to donate! Woohoo!!

Capt'n Midnight

If you can't give blood because you've lived in the UK then you can donate up North or across the pond.

Down here the IBTS is paranoid because so many people were infected in the past through contaminate blood products.

https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/vcjd/facts

In a recent study of French vCJD cases, the incubation period has been estimated to be around 13 years (95% CI: 9,7-17,9 years)

Which leaves a 5% chance that the time between eating tainted UK beef and catching a fatal disease could be either less than 9 years or more than 18 years.

Hitman3000

maudgonner wrote:

Instead of extracting the marrow directly from your pelvis, they give you a drug that makes your bone marrow produce lots of stem cells which are released into your blood. They take your blood, filter out the stem cells and return the blood.

Good to know as I 'm on the bone marrow register. I'd still have done it if called, but the thoughts of extraction filled me with dread.

dastardly00

I'd love to donate but I'm not eligible currently

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

Capt'n Midnight

w/s/p/c/ wrote: »

well worth it when you get the text saying your donation has been used. Plus the free biscuits and crisps afterwards are great!!

Last time it went to Cork UH.

Do they tell teh langers how lucky they are to get good Jackeen blood ?

Seth Brundle

erica74 wrote: »

So there is a test? The nurse told me there is no test to find out your blood type.

Change your nurse!

erica74 wrote: »

Convinced my husband to donate! Woohoo!!

Well done. It really is a noble act and because of the relative anonymity it's somewhat selfless. It all helps treat people (even of the blood isn't good enough to transfuse) and in all likleihood someone out there will be alive because he dpnated.

Icemancometh

erica74 wrote: »

So there is a test? The nurse told me there is no test to find out your blood type.

Convinced my husband to donate! Woohoo!!

Labs won't do the blood test from primary care. Only hospital based tests are performed, and only for patients who are anticipated to need a blood transfusion. Clinically, it's of limited use to know beforehand. You could be in an accident and lose half your blood and if you have your blood type tattooed on your forehead, they're still going to do a cross-match before transfusing anything other then O neg.

Paddy Cow

Darren 83 wrote: »

Not a big fan of needles but managed over 20 donations so far, always go with my brother and sister.

It really hits hit home when some close needs a transfusion, My best friends wife nearly died after giving birth if it where not for donations from people like us who knows what would happen.

On the other end of the scale, my mother had terminal cancer and was in a hospice and wanted to pass at home. The staff were fantastic and she was given steroids and either a blood/platelet transfusion to make her strong enough for the journey home. It was her body failing, not her mind and I know it gave her a lot of comfort being at home surrounded by loved ones. As upsetting as it was for us to watch her fade, it must've been awful for her knowing what was going to happen. When she passed she was in familiar surroundings, with people she loved and she had some peace in that. I know it would have been a lot more distressing for her if she was still in the hospice.

My veins aren't the best but I'm going to give it another try. Ten years ago I was in Australia and I donated there. Maybe if I drink loads of water beforehand it'll help.

Canis Lupus

I had multiple blood and platelet transfusions during my chemo. It's awesome that people donate. You literally save lives even tho I imagine it's a pretty mundane thing to do.

Canis Lupus

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Good to know as I 'm on the bone marrow register. I'd still have done it if called, but the thoughts of extraction filled me with dread.

Not actually that bad. The gas is kinda fun. Feels icky more than anything else.

erica74

Icemancometh wrote: »

Labs won't do the blood test from primary care. Only hospital based tests are performed, and only for patients who are anticipated to need a blood transfusion. Clinically, it's of limited use to know beforehand. You could be in an accident and lose half your blood and if you have your blood type tattooed on your forehead, they're still going to do a cross-match before transfusing anything other then O neg.

Aaaaaah okay it makes sense, the nurse probably just said there is no test because she knows she can't request it just for my curiosity. Okay that's grand so, thanks for your help.