Giving Blood

[MaximusXIII]

Quite recently I've been trying to take some of my friends to give blood (for the first time) and I'm getting increasingly frustrated at the constant excuses and avoiding the subject and I've just about given up.

Seriously I don't get peoples' problem with it. Of course there are certain situations when you shouldn't give blood (if you're anaemic for example) and if you have a genuine phobia of blood and/or needles then theres no way you could do it even if you wanted to. I mean you're in there for anywhere between 5-15 mins, you feel a scratch on your arm, you get a free cup of tea and a biscuit after and you could have LITERALLY SAVED SOMEONE'S LIFE. I mean come on, how selfish do you have to be to put your petty anxieties in the way of having the chance to stop someone dying?

This thread is partly a rant but I want to have a mature discussion about people's doubts/views on giving blood in general in an attempt to make more people give it a go. Honestly if I can encourage anyone here to give blood I'll be immensely satisfied and hopefully so will you

[Elomin Sha]

When I finally sign off for my provisional I'm opting for my organs to be donated. Main reason is due to my little brother having a very bad heart.

[AlexanderDitto]

FDA won't let me donate blood, so honestly? They're clearly not that desperate.

[OMGItsSarah]

I've given blood once, and I probably won't do it again. First, they missed the vein twice, claiming that I had "small veins", which I doubt because I've had blood drawn for tests on a couple of different occasions and never had a problem. Because of all the jabbing in my arm, I bruised badly, and the band-aids that they used on my arm broke out my skin (apparently I had become allergic to adhesive in band-aids), so I had a bruise surrounded by a band-aid shaped rash. Now the organization that I donated through won't stop calling me every time there's a drive.

[Ottoman]

I give blood a couple of times a year, whenever my school hosts a drive. To be honest, there is one reason I dread it. . . but it's nothing to do with the actual procedure; it's the finger prick they use to test your haemoglobin levels beforehand. That thing hurts like a bitch.

Anyone who refuses to give blood when they could easily do so just needs to be repeatedly kicked in the dick / booted in the coot until you convince them. Fuck your fear of needles, you don't even have to look at it.

EDIT: It looks like the procedure is run much better in the US. . .

[Metcarfre]

I've done it before and I need to again.

[aeric90]

I also am forbiden from giving blood although I am A+ so I doubt they're hurting for it. I would if I was permited to though.

[semysane]

I have O blood, so I'm sure they could use it, but it is... somewhat infeasible. I actually DO have small veins, and it generally takes six or more tries before they can actually get anything out of me. Even for blood tests I have to go to an actual hospital so the nurses there can do it right (normally in one try). If there was a blood drive at a hospital with nurses doing the drawing, I would go in a heartbeat (no pun intended), otherwise I just can't do it.

[Cureless_Poison]

I brewed it, it's mine. I don't have to share if I don't want to.

Kudos to those willing to share however.

[Ottoman]

See, the only reason I might ever not donate blood is the thought that it might go to a scumbag like you.

[TheRocket]

I'm not allowed to give blood at this time either. I've wanted to for years.

[Elomin Sha]

I also am forbiden from giving blood although I am A+ so I doubt they're hurting for it. I would if I was permited to though.

I'm not allowed to give blood at this time either. I've wanted to for years.

Why not?

[TheRocket]

Aeric is not allowed to because he's gay.

I am not allowed (right now) to because of travels to malaria zones and tattoos.

[Metcarfre]

I think Ditto ate beef in the UK once...

[TheRocket]

BOWCHICABOWOW.

[Lisra]

I have, but I guess I won't be allowed for a while since I've recently got a piercing.

I'd though, certainly. It's very important and costs you nothing. The body just replenishes.

Also: Gay people can give blood where I come from. Oo It's all screened by law anyway.

[AlexanderDitto]

I think Ditto ate beef in the UK once...

BOWCHICABOWOW.

Lol

Yeah. Since 1983, any man who has had sex with another man has been banned by the FDA from giving blood, despite the fact that the Red Cross and other organizations say that the ban doesn't make any sense any more, since they have to test all the blood for HIV anyway.

I would do it at least once, if I could. I don't know what my blood type is, and I kind of want to know.

[Psycat Aurora]

I once tried to donate blood many years back when a blood drive came to my high school. But I was denied because I am anemic. They never explained why, but they told me I could never donate blood.

[Metcarfre]

Anemia is the reason.

[AlexanderDitto]

Anemia is the reason.

But anemia's not necessarily chronic, is it? It can be caused by vitamin deficiencies and things, right? Why would they say Psycat could "never" donate blood? I'm honestly curious.

[Drinnik]

I can't either. See Aeric and Alex for reasons why.

[Garfman]

Yeah, I always thought you could try again, and they'd prick your finger again, and if you're ok, you're ok.

[Theremin]

Hey, something even more important and almost as easy?

Donating bone marrow.

[Metcarfre]

Donating bone marrow is extremely painful, is it not?

Also, donating blood is pretty damned important.

[Theremin]

But marrow is more important because less people do it.

And no, it's not a painful procedure.

Depending on the type, the most you might get is mild discomfort for a couple of days. But that's a small price to pay for saving a life.