Giving Blood

Ghost Buster · 04-02-2014 09:43AM

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 · 04-02-2014 09:45AM

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::(

04-02-2014 09:52AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:12AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:18AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:19AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:23AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:24AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:25AM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

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

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

Ghost Buster · 04-02-2014 10:29AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:30AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:49AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:51AM

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 · 04-02-2014 10:59AM

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 · 04-02-2014 11:28AM

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 · 04-02-2014 11:32AM

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 · 04-02-2014 11:43AM

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 · 04-02-2014 11:50AM

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 · 04-02-2014 11:50AM

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

HeidiHeidi · 04-02-2014 11:51AM

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!)

Aglomerado · 04-02-2014 11:53AM

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Easiest good deed you'll ever do

But God be with the days of a glass of Guinness / Harp (although maybe not the Harp :eek:).

Used to love the Guinness, especially as I used to give blood in my old secondary school hall and and it was surreal drinking alcohol in the same space I'd done my Leaving Cert exams in.

donegal__road · 04-02-2014 12:09PM

I overheard some tizzy on the radio last week, about Irish Blood and the fact that they sell on the blood from their banks for something like €750 per pint/litre. I can't find a link online and I dont know what radio show it was on, I only heard it in passing..

snowbabe · 04-02-2014 12:11PM

There are alot of restrictions and the pool of people able to donate is getting smaller all the time.I really think it needs to be brought home to schools the importance of giving blood.Its particularly important for the O neg and B neg blood types even one pint donated of these types will insure there is 8pints there for them for surgery or if theyre involved in an accident.Also many people probably dont realise that in the cases of car accidents where there is no time to match bloods O neg is compatible with everyone.Obviously then its important for all the other blood groups to keep the bank full for surgerys etc.My husband gets regular texts etc,and they have even offered taxi to collect him on occassions when supplies are at a very low level.

Macy0161 · 04-02-2014 12:23PM

Would do, and did when I lived in Britain. Can't here, because I did live in Britain.

Vote 4 Pedro · 04-02-2014 12:41PM

Macy0161 wrote: »

Would do, and did when I lived in Britain. Can't here, because I did live in Britain.

I'm just the same, shame really.
If anyones blood who lived in the UK in that time is so dangerous then how are the UK blood banks doing, they have no problems with it.

tomwaterford · 04-02-2014 12:47PM

SweepTheLeg wrote: »

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.

I'm B- as well and they do be ringing and texting if they stuck:D (only people who ever text me:o).....im surprised they havnt come up with some test for the mad cow thing??

Joshua J · 04-02-2014 12:48PM

donegal__road wrote: »

I overheard some tizzy on the radio last week, about Irish Blood and the fact that they sell on the blood from their banks for something like €750 per pint/litre. I can't find a link online and I dont know what radio show it was on, I only heard it in passing..

Yeah I heard that too was on Highland Radio. Guy was on thought when he gave blood that it was giving to the hospitals but they actually have to buy it off the Irish Blood. The CEO of IB was on saying they got €248 for a unit of red blood cells and a unit of platlets, made up from three donations, was like €800. Theres a third constituent they sell but he didn't remember what it sold for. The DJ asked him how much a donation of blood was worth to them and he hymned and ha'd and avoided the question.

He did say that it costs €64,000,000 per year to run Irish Blood. I think there's a few Board member making killing while your saving lives.

donegal__road · 04-02-2014 12:59PM

Joshua J wrote: »

Yeah I heard that too was on Highland Radio. Guy was on thought when he gave blood that it was giving to the hospitals but they actually have to buy it off the Irish Blood. The CEO of IB was on saying they got €248 for a unit of red blood cells and a unit of platlets, made up from three donations, was like €800. Theres a third constituent they sell but he didn't remember what it sold for. The DJ asked him how much a donation of blood was worth to them and he hymned and ha'd and avoided the question.

He did say that it costs €64,000,000 per year to run Irish Blood. I think there's a few Board member making killing while your saving lives.

I remember hearing this part alright.

.

Arthur Beesley · 04-02-2014 01:05PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

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

I asked a question. Hardly a definitively answer.

Ghost Buster · 04-02-2014 02:16PM

SweepTheLeg wrote: »

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.

Im B+ , rare enough at only 9% but got a text today-

"B+ stock is now 8.4 days. Please consider skipping donating this time. We hope to see you there the next time"
I feel rejected!:(

Giving Blood

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