Give Blood

[Andres]

Yesterday, I went to our local clinic to donate blood to the Red Cross.

The reason I did this, is because a friend of mine asked me to. His wife got hit by a truck a month ago and she was badly injured. She's still recovering and still has a long way to go.

A week ago or so, my friend wrote a long e-mail to all his friends. Alot of people asked him if they could do something to help them and he said that we cannot do much more than showing that we care about them.

But he has spent many hours in their local hospital and he saw alot of misery. In his mail he told us that we actually can do something, not for his family in specific, but for everybody who is the victim of an accident or, in general, has to undergo surgery: give blood. He asked us to give blood so that the accident of his wife could be meaningfull. He also asked us to try to convince as many people as possible to donate blood.

When you become the victim of a traffic accident, everybody considers it normal that you go to the hospital and there is blood available.

The thing is, most of the healthy people who are perfectly capable of donating blood, don't do it and there's always the need for more blood.

If you're healthy, it's really a small gesture. All it takes is about 30 minutes of your precious time. And for once, you might actually save a life by sacrifing those 30 minutes. And if you don't mind the needle, you can go back if you want to. I believe a normal healthy person can give blood about 4 times a year.

So, I'd like to ask my fellow Orgah's who are healthy (and old enough to be allowed by the law of your country) to donate blood. You will be doing a good thing.

Thank you for your time

[CountArach]

Excellent post Andres I regularly donate blood, because I'm not really gonna use it, and someone else out there might.

[naut]

I wish a speedy recovery for your friend's wife.

Being English, I legally can't in Australia. I might have Mad Cow or something silly like that.

[PBI]

Well said Andres.

Most of the things a person can do to make the world a better place are hard work, but this one is really, really simple. It's ten minutes of mild discomfort in order to save a person's life.

[Fragony]

Too afraid of needles, but when I die they can strip me clean. But it's a good thing to do

[SwordsMaster]

Not allowed. I spend too much time in dodgy places, apparently... I do encourage the rest of you though.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Well said Andres. Giving blood to the Red Cross is an excellent way to perform a civic duty. Some work places will even give one a 1/2 day off with pay for those that donate blood, mine does. Then, of course, one has to replace those precious body fluids.

[Gregoshi]

Well said Andres.

Donating blood is something you should at least try it once. You won't know if you're the right type (no pun intended - really) for blood donation until you give it a shot. If you are nervous about needles and such, round up a few first-time-donor friends and go together so you have a support group. I know that helped me with my first donation. From that first time, a few of us continued donating, while another couldn't. At the very least, you'll all have a new experience to talk about afterwards. At best, you'll have helped save a life. If your place of work sponsors blood drives, you have another incentive - get out of work for about an hour (beginning to end)!

BTW, if time is an issue for you, go to a donor center where you schedule an appointment. Going to a walk-in blood drive (first come, first served) could have you waiting quite a while.

Interesting coincidence - the Red Cross just called me while I was writing this to set up my next donation.

Edit: Hosa bet me to the punch on most of my points. You get half a day Hosa?! Nice!

[drone]

I wish a speedy recovery for your friend's wife.

Being English, I legally can't in Australia. I might have Mad Cow or something silly like that.

I'm in the same situation. Spent 2 years in the UK in the nineties, so my blood is "tainted" and they won't take it. Which is a shame, I've got the very useful type O+ and I used to give regularly.

[Riedquat]

In my country we have the entire day by law.

I'm not a regular giver but every time a relative of a friend or a friend of a friend needs blood donations I will be there; is the less one can do to help others.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Giving blood really is a great thing. Especially if you give double red, they take twice as much red blood and pump the plasma back into you. Theoretically it is a lot easier on your body because it doesn't dehydrate you as much, but it takes you a bit longer to recover from, and for the more squeamish among us the sensation of having cold plasma pumped into you may be too much to handle. Oh yeah and I give blood regularly, though I have missed a couple of possible blood donations because of vacation and now I'll be missing one because I'm heading for college, but I'll make up for it.

[Sigurd]

Those that are able to donate should.

I go every 4 weeks and drain 600 ml of blood and in bad periods I go every week. Too bad my blood is so thick and medicated that they can't use it. A shame really. The needle thing is a piece of cake, you feel a slight prick and then nothing.

Oh and if you wonder I have Polycythemia Vera.

[PBI]

I'm in the same situation. Spent 2 years in the UK in the nineties, so my blood is "tainted" and they won't take it. Which is a shame, I've got the very useful type O+ and I used to give regularly.

That's interesting, I had the opposite situation, they wouldn't let me give blood for 3 months after a trip to New England. Apparently there's a risk of Lyme's disease or something.

Oh, and O+ FTW!

[Caius]

It's a good idea Andres to do such a thing using the Internet power. Of course, I'm still under-age, and I don't want to tell my parents that I do want to give blood. Of course, some person could be needing it, and this goes far than the simple fact of giving blood. We always see in the news people who need blood, and we ignore it. It would be a good idea if we could spread the word to the world, starting for the .org. To change the world start with you.

[discovery1]

Gave blood Monday as a matter of fact. Got two free movie tickets and some ice cream.

[pevergreen]

Too afraid of needles, but when I die they can strip me clean. But it's a good thing to do

QFT I am terrified of them.

[Warmaster Horus]

I'm still under age, but that's one thing I'm definitely going to do on a regular enough basis once I'm an adult. It's one thing the average human being can do to improve the world.

[CountArach]

Of course, I'm still under-age, and I don't want to tell my parents that I do want to give blood.

Why would they be against saving lives? Explain that it could be them that need it some time in the future, and then they will understand, for sure.

[Craterus]

Some religions don't allow blood transfusions.

I'd like to arrange giving blood sometime soon though.

[Martok]

Good post, Andres.

It's frustrating for me, as I cannot donate blood because of a medical condition, but am reasonably healthy otherwise. 'Tis quite irritating.

[naut]

Interesting coincidence - the Red Cross just called me while I was writing this to set up my next donation.

Haha, talk about coincidence, I also had something similar today. The Red Cross info people stopped me and asked me if I donate blood while I was on my way to Uni today.

[seireikhaan]

I haven't donated, but I've only been 18 for about 5 months or so. Ironically, my high school had a tradition of holding a mass donation thingy for seniors late in the year, but this last year, they stopped it because they allegedly didn't want people to miss the one day's worth of classes. That got a lot of derisive remarks from the student body, 98% of whom were Catholic, and a lot of whom were puzzled as to why they weren't trying to encourage us to donate something as valuable as blood.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Too afraid of needles, but when I die they can strip me clean. But it's a good thing to do

I felt the same way, after a less than uplifting experience in childhood.

Gather thy courage, and ask for a nurse to set the needle. With all due respect to BKS, doctors are butchers when it comes to blood extraction, but nurses do it all the time with practised ease. I would never donate blood if I have to do it via doctor, but have never had any problem when a nurse does the job.

And there is usually more to distract one's attention from the needle, too.

Good thread Andres.

[Moros]

Had way to many needles in my arms when I was a kid. I'm going to live the next few years without them. But perhaps over a few years when I get nostalgic, or something, I'll go donate some.

[ShadesPanther]

I donate blood quite regularly really. not every 6 months months but usually about once a year when i remember to make time for it

A+


Although my dad is AB - so they hunt after him like mad.

[Gregoshi]

The needle thing is a mixed bag. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes I barely feel it, but most times it is somewhere inbetween. It helps me if I don't watch them put the needle in.

I'm AB positive - 4% of the population.

I used to give about four or so times a year when the blood drive came to my place of work. About three years ago the Red Cross asked me to try pheresis (platelet donation) and I've been doing that ever since. It is a 2+ hour process using both arms, but I get to watch a movie while donating, so I've caught up on quite a few movies I've not had the chance to see. Also, with pheresis, you can donate within two weeks of you last visit, so I've been giving every 2-4 weeks. Not having to work allows me to do this. The Red Cross has been throwing incentives my way to keep me coming back for pheresis. In the last year or two I've received a couple of t-shirts, a hat, a $25 gas card, a $25 movie gift certificate, a $75 store (of my choice) gift certificate, a nice wheeled travel/duffle bag, a folding camp chair and a food gift basket. I almost feel guilty receiving these because that is not why I'm donating. Oh well.

[discovery1]

I'm AB positive - 4% of the population.

ME TOO! I always give plasma though, not the stuff that clots. Seems anyone can have our plasma.

[ajaxfetish]

They won't take mine. I was born in Germany in the 80's, and apparently there's a small possibility as a result that my blood is contaminated by mad cow disease or some such thing, and it's not worth the cost to test it. Oh well, I'm not a big fan of needles anyhow.

Ajax

[Craterus]

ME TOO! I always give plasma though, not the stuff that clots. Seems anyone can have our plasma.

ME THREE! We are so cool, we should have a club or something.

But I thought being AB was pretty useless as we can only donate to other AB recipients?

[Gregoshi]

But I thought being AB was pretty useless as we can only donate to other AB recipients?

Well, that makes our club that much more exclusive, don't it?