Do you donate blood?

Abrasax · 10-07-2010 08:29AM

I don't bother coz I've AB type blood.
I can receive anyone's but mines useless for almost everybody (I think).

Lynnsie · 10-07-2010 08:31AM

I donate every time I'm eligible. I'm O-,universal donor, so they ring me sometimes if the supplies are low and ask me to go in. Makes me feel very special

Yeah it can take a while but spending an hour or two there a maximum of once every three months isn't much to ask. And D'Olier st have free sandwiches as well as tayto and chocolate :cool:

spurious · 10-07-2010 08:36AM

I'm on tablets so they won't take mine, but I'll say I have deh BSE cos you never know.

gerrycollins · 10-07-2010 08:40AM

Miss Lala wrote: »

I donate every time I'm eligible. I'm O-,universal donor, so they ring me sometimes if the supplies are low and ask me to go in. Makes me feel very special

Yeah it can take a while but spending an hour or two there a maximum of once every three months isn't much to ask. And D'Olier st have free sandwiches as well as tayto and chocolate :cool:

im a grown man(in body) but I get calls to donate when there are children been admitted to hospital with serious cancers etc. they usually ring me 2 months in advance to see if I can.

I used to donate every time i was able to so far donated 11 times but since I moved out of Dublin 2 years ago havent donated since. Last time they called me I was on anti-biotics so couldnt. am currently so trying to make it my business to get up there soon just to get the free tayto and chocolate too hee

CathyMoran · 10-07-2010 08:41AM

I am AB+ so can take blood from anyone (I think), just as well as I had 3 pints of blood 3.5 years ago after major surgery. I respect anyone who gives blood.

Wacker · 10-07-2010 08:47AM

Technically, no, they do not discriminate based on sexuality. If they question asked was 'Are you gay?', then that would be obvious discrimination. What they ask is, if male, whether you have ever had oral or anal sex with another man. Also, women who have have had sex with a man that has ever had oral or anal sex with another man are prohibited from donating for one year.

Basically, they don't care if a guy shows up wearing pick lederhosen and drinking white wine spritzers. They're just trying to limit the exposure to high risk groups.

Anyone who feels vitriolic about this had better be regular donors themselves, (or be precluded for some of the dozens of reasons). Otherwise, it would make one a f*cking hypocrite.

_JOE_ · 10-07-2010 09:03AM

Always donate when eligible...I'm A-

Slogger Jogger · 10-07-2010 09:16AM

Started donating blood when I turned 18.. many moons ago. Donated plasma then when they did that and now I occasionally donate platelets. Slightly put off by the formality of it now. The form has gotten more complicated and ridiculous year by year and you feel like you are getting interogated. I think there is a question there about where you handle monkeys.. I kid you not. I used to find it very friendly and enjoy going. Not quite the case any more.

As well, I made the suggestion before that while people are donating blood and they have the results of your blood tests on file, can they not share that back with you so you at least get a health check feedback. Didn't go anywhere. Instead I need to pay to get bloods checked as part of a near annual medical I do with my GP. Don't know why they don't do that as part of the 'service'.

Javelin77 · 10-07-2010 09:16AM

Only when i was in the army. I did it to get a 10 days reward vacation.

QuiteInterestin · 10-07-2010 09:18AM

Never have, keep meaning to. Was on antibiotics the last time the blood bus was in town! Next time hopefully. For those of you interested heres the breakdown of the blood group %s from the IBTS website. http://www.giveblood.ie/All_About_Blood/Blood_Group_Basics/

Irish Blood Group Type Frequency Distribution
Blood group O Positive is the most common group in Ireland while AB negative is the least common.

O Positive 47%
A Positive 26%
B Positive 9%
O Negative 8%
A Negative 5%
B Negative 2%
AB Positive 2%
AB Negative 1%

For those of you interested, there are lots of other blood group systems, the ABO and Rh are just 2!!:) (though they are the most important!)

Victor McDade · 10-07-2010 09:20AM

Jeez, I really should get back in the habit of donating, I'm o- and the mobile unit come to my workplace, I've no excuses!

QuiteInterestin · 10-07-2010 09:30AM

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

As well, I made the suggestion before that while people are donating blood and they have the results of your blood tests on file, can they not share that back with you so you at least get a health check feedback. Didn't go anywhere. Instead I need to pay to get bloods checked as part of a near annual medical I do with my GP. Don't know why they don't do that as part of the 'service'.

As far as I know, they wouldn't be doing the standard blood tests that a GP would order e.g. cholesterol etc on donated units. They would just be testing for blood type and other transfustion transmitted diseases e.g. Hep B, HIV etc. If you were positive for any of these they'd let you know. Also I'd imagine the anonymity of blood transfusions would make your above suggestion quite hard to work.

LeNNoX · 10-07-2010 09:37AM

I have donate before but I'm disqualified at the moment until they say otherwise - I spent 2 months in the amazon 2yrs ago and there's a slight possibility I might have some dormant bug in me hiding (don't think they can detect it either).

Otherwise, I'd donate several times a year.

Quackles · 10-07-2010 09:41AM

I go down and try to give blood every three months when it rolls into town, but I haven't given in almost 3 years due to a)pregnancy, b)you can't give for a year after giving birth, and c) the two times they've come since I've been eligible I've had a cold

They're fierce fussy about taking it off you for ones who beg for it so much!

I'm o-, every time they come to town I get two letters, a phone call and a text. Just in case you might forget, like.

manster · 10-07-2010 09:50AM

used to give blood but then I heard about platelets and the benefits that brings lives. Donating now every 4 weeks so am not allowed donate blood anymore. tbh the clinic is close to where I work and that makes it easier. Personally the feel good factor aterwards is huge.

Elessar · 10-07-2010 09:57AM

Once. I had a terrible time afterwards. As the donation was coming to an end I felt weak and lightheaded, started panicing. The doctor came over and lay me down, raised the legs. I felt like I was going to pass out. I'm a grown man and it terrified me. I spent an hour on a stretcher afterwards. There is nothing as frightening as feeling you're going to pass out and not being able to do a thing about it.

I'd like to donate again, but after that experience, never again.

sam34 · 10-07-2010 10:07AM

i used to, but cant do it anymore due to a medical condition

Xiney · 10-07-2010 10:15AM

I've donated blood several times, I think four times in Ireland now. They come to Galway once every three months or so... but they're not coming by again until August 24 which is a gap of 5 months this time.

Absurdum · 10-07-2010 10:15AM

I donate every three months.

Leeg17 · 10-07-2010 10:24AM

Thanks to the thread for reminding me to give blood. I checked and I was right about having to be 18. They're coming to Tuam for 3 days in August. The clinic will be in the hotel, 50 metres up the road for me. No excuses

I'm ****less of needles, but I'd rather help someone.. Be good for something for once

zenno · 10-07-2010 10:26AM

was thinking of giving blood a while back but i heard a few stories saying they won't take 0 rhesus negative blood in the place i was going to go to so i never bothered. a free pint of guinness would be nice if i did.

yoshytoshy · 10-07-2010 10:43AM

Anywhere in Dublin to donate thats not in the city centre ?

Sorry I found a link

Cheap Thrills! · 10-07-2010 10:47AM

No way. I need all my blood for me!

I smoke weed so I don't think they'd want it anyhow.

There was an ad on the radio about it a couple of years back, it was that aul' one female actress who always reads out 'serious' stuff on the radio. Sounds like a traveller?

Don't know her name but she always speaks in a 'whisper roar' -is supposed to sound profound and arresting but just sounds like a dememted blood thirsty tinker vampire in the ad: 'GIV BLUD lalala blah blah'

Well she put me right off.

bluto63 · 10-07-2010 10:52AM

I tried but they didn't want my blood for several reasons. The strangest one being that I've handled monkeys in my past

Leeg17 · 10-07-2010 10:59AM

bluto63 wrote: »

I tried but they didn't want my blood for several reasons. The strangest one being that I've handled monkeys in my past

Handled them where...?

donkey balls · 10-07-2010 11:03AM

i used to give blood every three months years ago, and after so many donations they sent you out a silver pin with their logo on it.
i havent donated for years now do to the fact that i was in certain countries for a period of time,i must check it out with them if i can donate again.

also i remember something on the card that they gave you saying that if you needed a blood transfusion it was FOC since your a blood donor:eek:.
who remembers going to the clinic on mespil road in dublin were they served either guinness or harp,many a time me and my mate would float out of the place:D

Dancor · 10-07-2010 11:04AM

Ive only donated 3 times. Last time, 2 weeks ago, at a mobile clinic while getting the iron test done from my finger the nurse had to sqeeze real hard to ge a drop out but a big shot of blood sqirted right on her face and into her eye :eek:

Que an awkward silence, her a bit shaken and me thinking should I reassure her I told the truth on the form or give her the bad news about the aids.