Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

Belair

Nincompoop wrote: »

And blood donors blood stocks are always low over christmas cos people are so busy/on holiday.
www.blood.co.uk

Blood stocks are always low over Christmas because the shelf life is just 5 days. No one donates on 25th and 26th, so that's why stocks get low.

Anyone who has had a transfusion since 1980 can not donate, the reason being that at present there is no test for vCJD and not allowing donations reduces the theoretical risk of transmitting vCJD via blood transfusion.

torbrex

Blood stocks are always low over Christmas because the shelf life is just 5 days. No one donates on 25th and 26th, so that's why stocks get low.

I dont know about other areas but where I go they are putting on a session on the 2 saturday's to try and make up the shortfall.
Most regular donors will not miss their donation without a very good reason, it is the occasional donors that need a gentle reminder to make that special effort.

Only one extra donor is required and that one is you.

Bob63

Belair wrote: »

Blood stocks are always low over Christmas because the shelf life is just 5 days. No one donates on 25th and 26th, so that's why stocks get low.

That's for platelets, not for other components. Plasma has a shelf life of one year, red blood cells 42 days, whole blood 21 days.

Ice_2

I have been giving blood since I was 18, I am now 47, although I haven't been able to due to ill health for the past 7 years, I have just started to get back into a routine of going again, I was there in November and I go back in February 09, it is a most satisfying thing do be able to do a thing like this, I only wish more people did it.
:T to everyone like me who donates.:T
:A

Ice_2

I don't know if this has been mentioned but I think its great that there changing the donor age limit, as from 1st January 2009, the upper age limit for regular donors is being removed.
hooray...:T
Q
Why is the upper age limit for regular donors being removed from January 1st 2009?
A
We had a look at our donors and found that as they get older, they actually have fewer problems with donation. Also, we know that a lot of our older donors don't like being retired when they reach the age of 70. Many lead fit and active lives and feel very loyal to the cause of blood donation.
:j :j :j

Ice_2

Dinah93 wrote: »

Can you give blood if you are on medication for high blood pressure? I am taking Amlodipine and Bendroflumethiazide and I think this affects the ability to clot? Have never given blood due to not knowing the answer to this.

Q
Are there any other changes we should know about?
A
Yes. We have removed some of the restrictions concerning donors with high blood pressure and diabetes.
These days far more people are being treated for these conditions.
The trend is now for earlier treatment to prevent problems arising in the future.
Our donors did not like being prevented from giving blood when they felt fit and well.
In the past we only let patients give blood whose blood pressure was managed by a limited group of mediations.
Now we have removed these restrictions for donors, as long as their blood pressure is stably managed, their mediation has remained unchanged for the previous four weeks and they have not experienced any other problems.
Previously we did not take blood donations ever from diabetics.
Now we will do so, as long as their condition is stably managed, they are not receiving insulin and not experiencing any other problems.


so get in touch with them, at there website,
and let them invite you to go along to a session and take it from there.
you never know.

noonesperfect

Ice wrote: »

I have been giving blood since I was 18, I am now 47, although I haven't been able to due to ill health for the past 7 years, I have just started to get back into a routine of going again, I was there in November and I go back in February 09, it is a most satisfying thing do be able to do a thing like this, I only wish more people did it.
:T to everyone like me who donates.:T
:A

I'm a regular donor too. I last went in October. Although I could technically donate again on 12th January 09, the appointment I was offered is not until March! I've been to blood donor online but there isn't anything available sooner within 10 miles of where I live....shame I would gladly give if I could make an appointment sooner but they've already been taken.

merzal

How long after having cold / flu do you have to wait before giving blood? It says on the site to wait till you're better but i'm sure when I went before they said I had to wait two weeks or something? I've tried ringing but couldn't get thru. I used to donate but since moving I haven't and I would really like to get into a routine of giving blood! Don't want to go and be told i cant give blood! Thanks in advance x

astonsmummy

I'm thinking about doing this after I've had my baby, I'd aso ike to see if I can on the bone marrow register, I'm mixed raced (carribbean) and mum keeps going on at me and my sis about doing it as she watched something on the telly about there being a real shortage for 'ethnic' donors.

torbrex

merzal wrote: »

How long after having cold / flu do you have to wait before giving blood? It says on the site to wait till you're better but i'm sure when I went before they said I had to wait two weeks or something? I've tried ringing but couldn't get thru. I used to donate but since moving I haven't and I would really like to get into a routine of giving blood! Don't want to go and be told i cant give blood! Thanks in advance x

The 2 weeks is just to be sure that any virus has cleared you system and also to be sure that you will be fit enough to donate, after all it does take a while to recover after the donation and if you are not fully fit you might end up worse off than you expect.