Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

torbrex

Murtle wrote: »

I tried to give blood but couldn't do a whole bag can they still use what they took, or was it a wasted trip for me and them??

Thanks

As long as it tested ok they would have used your donation, after all when you think of it a small donation would be suitable for giving to a baby.


My last trip to the donor centre, I left behind a couple of t-shirts that had been given to me by the staff, thankfully they had been put aside for me and I brought them home this time.:T

kawasaki_dave

Hi all. I have to admit to not reading the entire thread so apologies if this has been said but......

Do you know how your blood is transported in an emergency?

During weekdays the NBTS (National Blood Transfusion Service) operate a fleet of vehicles and do a "milk round" to hospitals, and also ad hoc deliveries as required.

The NBTS also operate a delivery service at night and during the weekend, however, they charge the receiving hospital for doing this, and charges can be quite high for a blue light response journey (this information is hidden, but available on their website).

Please do not think I'm saying the NBTS can't cope or don't do a good job. They can, and they do.

The other option hospitals have, and more than often use, are taxi's and commercial couriers (such as DHL, TNT etc). They pay retail rates for this and also have to deal with the associated waiting times (have you ever tried to get a taxi at 11:30 on a Saturday night?).

Fortunately there are a few bands of volunteers around the country who offer to transport blood and other urgent medical items during the night and at weekends. These guys and girls undertake the journeys free of charge and none of the charities involved make any charge to their client hospitals. They are funded purely by donations and local sponsorship. The service offerred by these charities is very often a lot quicker than any other option and is most definitely cheaper for the hospital, meaning they can direct much needed funds elsewhere.

For a list of these charities and where they operate please look at www.bloodbikes.org.uk which is the website of the newly formed umbrella body the National Association of Blood Bikes which will oversee all the related charities.

Please do consider supporting these organisations in any way you can. it's not just motorbike riders and drivers they need, but event volunteers and admin personnel. There really is a role for everyone - even if it's just giving a donation to help with the running costs!

poppycracker

Gave my 22nd official pint last Tuesday :j OH had had to have three units the day before so I told the nurses I was going to give one back... made em laugh at least

eddie6985

giving blood scares me for 2 reasons - 1. the needle. 2.the fact that u dont know what u r doing to ure body.i heard that because u force ure red bone marrow to produce more blood, u may speed up the chances of getting diseases as the marrow ages prematurely. i have an organ donor card and would like to give blood but this thought has prevented me.

Alie_Bongos_Mum

Dear all

40+ 2 kids and 89 pints donated at Rawson Bradford where I must say that the staff are brilliant, kind, thoughtful and have been there as long as I have!

Am I entitled to say JUST DO IT even if only once regardless of your politics, ethnicity, religious background, sexual support (gay men I know accept that they cannot donate and do not need lesbians picketing on their behalf) fear factor, squeemishness or anything else.

I have had a C section, piercings, tatoos, heavy periods, dental work, antibiotics and loads of other things which have stopped me donating for periods of time but if you ring the helpdesk they will tell you when you can begin again and make you an appointment for that very day.

My Grandpa donated in both wars and continued for a lifetime as will I.

IT COULD BE YOU OR YOURS WHO NEED BLOOD - GET A GRIP AND DO IT!!

XX
:beer:

katiekittykat

Ok the last time i went to give blood (11th April) the nurse was down right rude to me, i didn't make an appointment as i wasn't sure that i would be able to go, anyway i could and when i got there the nurse asked me if i had an appointment and said no and explained the situation to her, she then rudely told me that the wait was 2 hours and i really should make an appointment in future! Then rolled her eye said some people and walked off!

I didn't wait 2 hours, after being spoken to so rudely i walked out.

upferret

Im going today fpr the 4th donation, on my donor record next to my donations it says donation(N) next to two of them, does anyone know what this means?
(The N?)

torbrex

I have been a blood donor for nearly 30 years and it has to be said that I have never really given it any thought and I have always looked on my participation as a duty rather than any kind of charity.

My donation count is now 265, most of which are made up of platelet donations and again I do not think of this as being anything special, I just go along they stick me with a needle and the blood comes out. I do not have a special blood type or any special antibodies, I take pride in being 'common as muck', which means that my donations can be used for more recipiants.

Today I received a call out of the blue asking me to go in immediately to give a donation. It turned out that a leukaemia patient undergoing chemotherapy had developed antibodies that were destroying transfused platelets as quickly as they were being transfused, it seems that they were targeting certain 'markers' on the platelets and killing them before they could do thier job. It transpired after a database search that I have the right combination of blood group and platelet type without the 'markers' suitable for the patient in question.

Of course I would have given the donation anyway but to be told that I was one of very small number of possible matches was a big jaw-dropper and the staff were all so full of thanks I could feel myself blushing, I was made to feel more special in the 2 hours that I was there than I have in a very long time, donation number 265 will be one that I will not forget in a hurry.

I would encourage all potential and lapsed donors to get along to your nearest session and overcome your fears and reluctances and let them do their stuff, some sessions are busier than others but if you make the effort and use the appointment system you could get a time to suit yourself and then the hour or so that you would give from your busy and hectic life could make all the difference to someone that is clinging to life.


All that being said, it is still all about the patient and I wish her well and hope that my small contribution helps her on her way to a full recovery.

stokechick16

Good on all of you who give blood. Next year i will start giving blood after my 18th birthday. Im scared of needles but it will be worth it xx

katiekittykat

You can donate at 17 now can't you?

xxxx