Donating Blood. Anybody done it?

i gave blood a few months ago but unfortunately i fainted twice after giving it (not enough iron in my blood apparently) so now i can't give it again, wish i still could though.
 
ellspark said:
The worst part for me is when they take a sample to make sure that the bp isn't too high, they like prick your finger and I find that strangely the worst bit. The rest is fine. Just don't look, if you're a bit squeamish, and don't think about it too much. It's over quick enough.

And you get fizzy drinks, biscuits, tea etc afterwards. Good cause and nice treat afterwards.
Click to expand...

^^This^^.
I have been donating now for almost 10 years but still think the iron/BP whatever test is worse than the actual donation.

I did faint once a few years back but this was due to not eating much during the day had a couple of tea's a lie down and all was fine 10 minutes later.
Make sure you eat and drink plenty during the day and always have a drink and something to eat afterwards.

I would also recommend booking an appointment. Where I donate, Edgley Park, it can get busy late on and you can be waiting around for up to an hour.

If I were in power I would make it law for everyone to donate where possible. It is all positives, your helping out the NHS and getting a free blood test at the same time. If they find any nasty diseases they will let you know.
 
Just like Kippaxian, I donate platelets. Its a great feeling knowing you are literally saving someones life. The staff are great, but as we donate every month we get to know them a bit better.

The prick test at the start is the most painful bit. When they take the blood it really is just a sharp scratch. Then you just wait for it to come out.

When we do platelets, they take your blood out, spin out the platelets then put it back into your veins on a cycle of about 15 seconds, so you look at the machine and see your blood whizzing round!

But normal blood donation is easy. Eat and drink plenty of water before you go though.
 
Do it - the people there are really nice and it really doesn't hurt. The first time I went I did faint, but I think that was down to nerves. Been ok ever since.
 
scall said:
Just like Kippaxian, I donate platelets. Its a great feeling knowing you are literally saving someones life. The staff are great, but as we donate every month we get to know them a bit better.

The prick test at the start is the most painful bit. When they take the blood it really is just a sharp scratch. Then you just wait for it to come out.

When we do platelets, they take your blood out, spin out the platelets then put it back into your veins on a cycle of about 15 seconds, so you look at the machine and see your blood whizzing round!

But normal blood donation is easy. Eat and drink plenty of water before you go though.
Click to expand...


You going to the right place?
 
I'm not allowed to because I had blood transfusion about ten years ago. Now that is an experience. It's better than a line as a pick me up.
 
scall said:
Just like Kippaxian, I donate platelets. Its a great feeling knowing you are literally saving someones life. The staff are great, but as we donate every month we get to know them a bit better.

The prick test at the start is the most painful bit. When they take the blood it really is just a sharp scratch. Then you just wait for it to come out.

When we do platelets, they take your blood out, spin out the platelets then put it back into your veins on a cycle of about 15 seconds, so you look at the machine and see your blood whizzing round!

But normal blood donation is easy. Eat and drink plenty of water before you go though.
Click to expand...




I first heard of platelet donation after reading a thread on here a couple of years ago, i donate every month and have often had a phone call to donate in the evening when they have been running low, i live in Cheshire and my nearest donation centre is Stoke, its a bit of a ball ache to get to, but the satisfaction of seeing that bag full of yellow goo (platelets) and knowing that literally within hours you are possibly saving someones life makes it thoroughly worthwhile.

So thanks Bluemoon, you are a life saver :-)
 
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