Have you ever donated blood?
By OOHCUTE2340
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
United States
January 10, 2007 2:12pm CST
I used to donate faithfully at least once a year, but now I am on medications that won't allow me to donate. I remember when I was in my early 20's, I had an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured and by the time I got to the hospital I had lost most of my blood and had to be transfused.
So,I started donating regularly because someone else had and blood was available for me in my time of need. Do you donate your blood? Have you ever donated platelets? Do you know your blood type? I heard on the radio a few minutes ago of a Blood Shortage in the New York area and it got me thinking, how marvelous it is that we are given an opportunity to help someone in need - its a way of paying it forward don't you think?
15 people like this
147 responses
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I started donating blood regulary at age 18 when I was still in Scotland. I contiuned to donate when I moved to canada but was stopped from doing so about 10 years ago. The reason is that if you lived in the UK before 1985 you are no longer allowed to donate due to the whole mad cow thing. I moved to the US 3 years ago and noticed the blood drive truck was at our local Wal-Mart. I went in to donate and was told that the ban is still in effect...wanna give, but not much I can do at the moment.
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Interesting, you would have that the "quarantine" time of 3 years would have been long enough, and that they would have some type of screening process to weed out that possibility from people who have lived in areas of USA that have been effected by Mad Cow. Did they say how long the ban would be?
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
11 Jan 07
No, they had no idea. THe guys I spoke to here thought it had gone on way too long and were very apologetic...there is always talk about blood bank shortages, but they seem to have so many restrictions, it's really not that surprising
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I use to donate blood as well. But I have lived overseas to long to be able to do it now.
1 person likes this
@juanjoenriquez (72)
• Ecuador
11 Jan 07
Yes the blood donation is very well, because you can save any person
@peaceful (3294)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Yes, I've donated blood and it caused them to keep coming after me every couple of months or so because my blood type is so rare that shortages are of it are practically guaranteed...
I think that I'll start banking my blood for future needs, should they arrive...
There are very few people in my family with my blood type, so it must be an ancestral feature that survived a few thousand years and wound up in me! :)
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I've thought about banking my blood and getting my husband to it too -- I thinks it's a good idea :)
@ugobest (266)
• Nigeria
11 Jan 07
i havent donated blood b4 cos i dont even know my blood group but i think donating blood will be an interesting thing to do any way i will have to know my blood status first if i can actualy give out blood b4 i could do so cos i know its not evry one that is eligible to donate blood thanks
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Actually if you go to the Red Cross they will type your blood for you (no charge) and give you a card to carry with your blood type on it -- I am not sure if hospitals will do that or not you could maybe ask?
@joan_hazle (127)
• India
11 Jan 07
I have never donated blood. But i would like to know the following:-
does it hurt a lot? a little pain is bearable but is the pain unbearable?
what is the minimum age to donate? (i am under 18, can i still donate?)
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I'm not sure about the age limit, you proably can with parental permission, the bigger concern is weight, you can't be under 50 lbs. I doesn't hurt any more then it does to get your blood drawn for testing. And they make you comfortable, when I donated you could chose a video to watch or music to listen too, and they gave juice and cookies when you were done while you waited for 30 mins. or so to make sure all is well --- You are laying down semi-reclined while they are getting the pint and then when YOU think you are ready to sit up they wait to make sure you are to dizzy etc. You can call your local red cross for hours and places that you can donate at -- it's a good feeling knowing you have :)
@avs189 (1030)
• India
11 Jan 07
I had donatd blood when a blood-donation campaign was conducted in our college, but i would like to give u piece of advice that one should always be concerned regarding the place of donating blood ...should be donated only to recognized institutions and those entrusted with responsibility to ensure the purpose of donating the blood is served!!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Good advice, my donating was always done with the Red Cross and their blood mobile drives -- I understand though now a days there are clinics that offer money for donating but they don't seem to care too much about the donor, I think they let them donate too much too often -- Thank you for bring this point up its important information.
@Buterfly_india (219)
• India
11 Jan 07
Ofcourse I have need donated blood.Because blood transfusion is very helpful part of
poor people.I think blood donation is an opportunity in life.
1 person likes this
@ravinamita (132)
• India
13 Jan 07
Yes, I fully agree with you. Blood dodnation is one of the noblest things anyone can do. Human beings are social creatures and therefore they have a moral obligation towards the society. We may not help someone financially; we may not help someone physically or morally due to various constraints. But we can always help someone by donating blood. Blood donation is the worthiest donation because it helps save a life. There are some misgivings with regard to blood donation. It is commonely felt that blood donation makes us physically weak. Yes, it is true for a specific time, but it is recouped very soon. With the end that it meets, this temporary weakness is negligible. We should alwayss remember that if we donate blood for somebody, somebody may also donate it for us. Anything can happen to anyone, anytime. We are no exception to this rule.
I have donated my blood many times over. I never hesitate to do so, when the occasion demands. We organise blood donation camps on many sacred occasions and motivate youngesters to participate in them. Whenever I read in the news papers about any accident, my resolution of blood donation is further strengthened.
I appeal to all young and healthy people to come forward and donate blood liberally to save a precious human life.
1 person likes this
@annieroos (1845)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Omg.. I had an ectopic pregnancy when i was in my early 20's as well but i got if taken care of just before it ruptured.. but it was close though they said if i wouldve waited any more.. with in hours it wouldve been bad... Isn't it the worst thing to have.. But back to the topic.. I have never donated i should be ashamed of myself i have said i am going to but never got around to it....I will though.. also i don't know what my blood type is.. I should though..
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I was extremely fortunate with that ectopic rupture - I had been to the Dr. the day before and she took bld. tests and ultra-sound but could see anything -- the next morning at home it ruptured and believe it or not on weekend morning in Hartford Conn, my b/f called and the Dr. was actually there at the hospital getting ready to call me in -- it was snowing really hard at the time and a it took awhile to get there -- It was a day that gave me much pause and reflection on my life and the choices I had made in the past and the ones I have made since then. I'm sorry you had such an experience -- I trust all is well now --- Best wishes :)
@greengal (4286)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Yes I have donated blood twice. My blood group is O +ve so I'm a universal donor. My father used to donate blood regularly till he reached an age where he wasn't allowed to. He is my inspiration and I would be ready to donate blood to anyone when the need arises.
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I'm O+ too, its great that you are willing to donate and how nice to know that your Dad inspired you in this way of giving.
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I know that rare blood types are aways in demand -- keep donating :) Best wishes :)
@jackslaiter (371)
• India
11 Jan 07
My Blood Group is AB+ and i also have no hesitation in giving blood donation if anyone really needs it. But i don't actually donate regularly...i had just one chance till now and that too when my friend asked me to do do. Blood donation should not be done very frequently...such every week or so..we need to give time to our body to regenerate that blood. However if given after 2 months there is no problem. Blood donation is a healthy cause and i support it and suggest everyone to do it.
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Good advice thank you for mentioning it, you do need to allow your body time to regenerate.
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Love your avatar! Mad mag was one of my favorites a long time ago! Well thanks for responding, just so you know it dosen't hurt and usually they treat you really well, with juice and cookies afterwards. If nothing else I encourage you to find out your blood type -- you never know when you or your family may need that information. Keep posting, and above all else, have fun! :)
@MrMoney21 (47)
• United States
11 Jan 07
yeah i think its a way of paying it forward, i donated some blood when i was in high school. a lot of us kids did that back in high school. i think its a great thing to donate blood and even ur organs. i am an organ donor also.
1 person likes this
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Me too, an organ donor -- keep paying forward, happy posting!:)
@Tweety2035 (662)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I am in the healthcare field and I donate every year and my blood type is the rarest of all AB+.
1 person likes this
@greenmango (1019)
• Philippines
12 Jan 07
i would like to so yeah if there's someone who's in need of type ab blood holla at me ;p
@anjuscor (1266)
• India
11 Jan 07
I used to donate blood, when i was in college, i dontated a blood 3 times even though i am thin and very weak. i loved to do that. Now a days i realy dont have time to go and check who needs blood.
Woul dlove to donate blood, so will do it atleast this year.
1 person likes this
@nihalnihal (660)
• India
11 Jan 07
I have never donated blood to someone in my life. I have O+ blood type which is a universal donor. I would to donate blood but I am quite thin and some of my friends say that I am too thin to donate blood and it seems they if I have enough blood for myself, lol :-). I have no deficiency of any kind. My blood pressure is also normal. I mean, I am a normal healthy guy but thin. Do you think I can still donate blood?
1 person likes this
@slg_goyal (326)
• India
12 Jan 07
Yes i have donatated once in life on requirement...m not satisfied to donate the blood in blood blank as it wont go to safe hands...i m O+ called as Universal donar but doctors generally dont prefer to accept as an alternative to other group and is very common group...m always available for the needy persons...
1 person likes this
