Question about giving blood

[jjpiper]

I gave blood recently. They usually don't need/want my blood because I'm AB+. Rare but we are universal receivers. They want my wifes blood more because she is more common. I just went with her and we both donated. In Canada its against the law to be paid to donate blood. Is it different where you live?

 

[bigkford]

I am the rare blood type of o- But can not donate because I do not weigh enough. The 115 weight limit sucks, If a person is clear of all things but does not meet the weight requirement it should be their choice. It is all monitored. So why is the weight limit?

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I can't donate blood I was told by my doctor because I had a blood transfusion when I was younger.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
They do not reuse needles for blood collection. Each collection needle is removed from its pre-packaging right before they insert the needle in your arm. There is no way possible for you to get any contamination from any kind of virus during this process.

They scrub your arm with iodine swabs for 60 seconds prior to the stick, they insert a sterilized and NEW needle into the skin and vessel. The needle is removed after the bag is full and a bandaid is applied. The phlebotomist uses a clean pair of gloves with each new donor.

There is a very strict protocol involved with this process, for all parties concerned...even the phlebotomist. The only thing her/his incompetence would do is give you a painful experience....by missing your vein with the needle.

The answer to the original question is: there are a few drugs that exclude people from donating but most of the more common prescription drugs do not.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Because smaller people have less blood to spare and they are much more likely to pass out or go into a seizure from the donation process. The body can go into a flight or fight response when blood is removed from the body....sort of a shock response.

I've personally witnessed quite a few teenage girls, who lied about their weight, find out the consequences of their actions. Some of them have such a bad reaction that they not only pass out, but they pee their pants when they do. They have seizures which cause their arms to flex strongly, trapping the needle in the antecubital space and traumatizing the tissues there.

If one teen in the room passes out, we know that there will be others. Even if they have not donated yet, the sight of someone passing out seems to trigger something and they start dropping like flies!

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
We have private blood banks all over the US that pay for blood and plasma. They usually set up in towns near colleges, where the blood is good and kids need money.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I love to donate blood! You are made to lay back with your feet up for a while (this never happens otherwise in real life), you are given free cookies & juice, you can (try to) get your family to do your heavy lifting for the rest of the day, and best of all -- you can save up to 3 lives with your donation!

I like to think about & pray for the folks who will receive my blood while I'm donating. I have the perfect blood type for a teacher or student, it's A+. My local feed store hosts the traveling Bloodmobile every 3 months and offers a free bag of animal feed (up to $15 value) for every donor. So I try to coordinate my donations with that. I hope the chickens appreciate what I do to feed them.

You cannot get a disease from donating blood, and instead could become healthier. They do tests on your blood, and also check your blood pressure & heart rate, and will tell you if there are indications that your health is at risk. This early detection could save your own life while you're saving other lives.

It's always worth the attempt, even if you think there's something that might prevent you from donating. Read your questionaire carefully, answer honestly, and the folks doing the collecting will let you know if you qualify or not.

Blood donors are life savers!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Exactly what I was going to say. I don't think it's that they don't want the blood 'tainted' with the meds you're on, it's more that a lot of meds have to be 'just right' for you, in order for them to work properly.

ETA: I take one med daily, for my thyroid. Because of this one med I'm on, I can't donate blood. So it really depends on what meds you are on.

 

[gritsar]

Okay, I'll let y'all know if I get to donate on Wednesday.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I used to donate blood, and would continue to, but they think I have mad cow. This is a family joke, but the truth is I lived on a farm in Europe during the wrong years and the blood people don't want to risk prion diseases.

My dh routinely gives blood. He is on medication for high blood pressure, gout (I think) and allergy meds.

Good luck.