Do you donate blood?
Poll: Do you donate blood?
Total Members Polled: 107
Discussion
Inspired by my donation I made earlier today, I was wondering how many other people do it on a regular basis?
Asking around our office at work (we have a blood van come round 3 times a year) the amount of people who don't donate, purely because they can't be bothered to take 30 seconds to book an appointment, is ridiculous!
I started donating when I was in part time work, but my nearest donor session was on a Sunday morning, and I was often too hungover to drag myself down there before it ended.
So who else does it? And how many pathetic excuses can people come up with why they don't do it?
Asking around our office at work (we have a blood van come round 3 times a year) the amount of people who don't donate, purely because they can't be bothered to take 30 seconds to book an appointment, is ridiculous!
I started donating when I was in part time work, but my nearest donor session was on a Sunday morning, and I was often too hungover to drag myself down there before it ended.
So who else does it? And how many pathetic excuses can people come up with why they don't do it?
Have done ever since I was able to and try to do it as often as they allow - would do it more often if I could. However, it doesn't suprise me that more people don't, they really aren't set up well at all. I always have an appointment and don't get seen until 30 minutes after my appointment (this is for initial checks, not the donation) and it always takes an absolute age despite the 5 minutes actually lying down donating, they could and should make the questions you have to fill in before hand online so you can do them before you get there, along with the reading (which never changes). They are under-staffed and the queue is always massive, I once got turned down because I hadn't booked and they had a queue before lunch (I was the first to be turned away), I asked if there was a better time to come back and was told no! This is from someone with no history of complications, a long donation history and blood that can be used to donate to anybody!
AyBee said:
Have done ever since I was able to and try to do it as often as they allow - would do it more often if I could. However, it doesn't suprise me that more people don't, they really aren't set up well at all. I always have an appointment and don't get seen until 30 minutes after my appointment (this is for initial checks, not the donation) and it always takes an absolute age despite the 5 minutes actually lying down donating, they could and should make the questions you have to fill in before hand online so you can do them before you get there, along with the reading (which never changes). They are under-staffed and the queue is always massive, I once got turned down because I hadn't booked and they had a queue before lunch (I was the first to be turned away), I asked if there was a better time to come back and was told no! This is from someone with no history of complications, a long donation history and blood that can be used to donate to anybody!
Your issues must be local to where you are. Where I donate, I can turn up a few minutes early and are seen straight away. I get a form in the post that I fill in before I go in, and I take about 4 minutes to donate, and am out the door straight away so it's a pretty quick process for me.Scottydon said:
I'd like to, but just can't bring myself to do it!
I get very squeamish at the sight of blood and not too keen on needles either.
In fact, last time I went to the dentist I passed out in the chair after getting the injection for a filling.
MTFU? You don't 'see' the blood - Do you think it squirts out of your arm into a bucket? Likewise, you don't have to look at the needle, you can barely feel it going in.. (nurse dependant)I get very squeamish at the sight of blood and not too keen on needles either.
In fact, last time I went to the dentist I passed out in the chair after getting the injection for a filling.
I find the most painful bit is the tape being ripped off my hairy arm at the end
Scottydon said:
I'd like to, but just can't bring myself to do it!
I get very squeamish at the sight of blood and not too keen on needles either.
In fact, last time I went to the dentist I passed out in the chair after getting the injection for a filling.
Still if you are unlikely enough to be in a serious accident, I am guessing you won't be so squeamish when they are pumping someone else's blood into you to keep you alive...... I get very squeamish at the sight of blood and not too keen on needles either.
In fact, last time I went to the dentist I passed out in the chair after getting the injection for a filling.
as said MTFU
Riknos said:
AyBee said:
Have done ever since I was able to and try to do it as often as they allow - would do it more often if I could. However, it doesn't suprise me that more people don't, they really aren't set up well at all. I always have an appointment and don't get seen until 30 minutes after my appointment (this is for initial checks, not the donation) and it always takes an absolute age despite the 5 minutes actually lying down donating, they could and should make the questions you have to fill in before hand online so you can do them before you get there, along with the reading (which never changes). They are under-staffed and the queue is always massive, I once got turned down because I hadn't booked and they had a queue before lunch (I was the first to be turned away), I asked if there was a better time to come back and was told no! This is from someone with no history of complications, a long donation history and blood that can be used to donate to anybody!
Your issues must be local to where you are. Where I donate, I can turn up a few minutes early and are seen straight away. I get a form in the post that I fill in before I go in, and I take about 4 minutes to donate, and am out the door straight away so it's a pretty quick process for me.I got into it as you could donate at work (was always massively oversubscribed too). However work gave our conference suite a makeover and decided that blood donation could no longer go on there. They then offered some crappy little room as an alternative and seemingly can't understand why the offer wasn't taken up. Still annoys me now.
There is a local(ish) place I could go after work, however this is unsurprisingly when everyone else wants to go. So I haven't been so far as I can't get in. I could lose 40 mins out of my time at work before, but now it would be 2hrs. I had some letter from the NHS about having a rare(ish) blood type too
There is a local(ish) place I could go after work, however this is unsurprisingly when everyone else wants to go. So I haven't been so far as I can't get in. I could lose 40 mins out of my time at work before, but now it would be 2hrs. I had some letter from the NHS about having a rare(ish) blood type too
I used to donate 3 times a year, which was quite easy really as they come to my work place to harvest the workers. However a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and due to the drugs I take for this condition I am unable to donate blood anymore. I'm currently 28 and it really bothers me to be honest not being able to donate any longer.
Yes, when I can; local timings can be a little chaotic with the donation sessions, but it's not really that bad.
SWH Jnr is only alive thanks to several donations.... there's a thread on that, not really breakfast material however, so I'll spare you the direct link for now.
Phone them up, book in and just go, you even get biscuits afterwards
SWH Jnr is only alive thanks to several donations.... there's a thread on that, not really breakfast material however, so I'll spare you the direct link for now.
Phone them up, book in and just go, you even get biscuits afterwards
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