To tell you that I gave blood today?

I used to give blood regularly (got my silver badge!), but had a blood transfusion years ago so can’t anymore.

As a result of this my husband started to give blood, but he’s on blood thinners now so can’t either!

Last time I tried to give blood I couldn't book for about 6 months. Sorry that doesn't work for me.

I actually followed it up and they said that they didn't need blood as much as they previously had.

Such a worthy cause!! I gave blood frequently but now that I received a transfusion, i can no longer donate and im really upset by it!! I would if I could!

Though I do send DH along 🤣

Not everyone can - health reasons and geographical reasons can prevent folk donating.

Well done OP and thank you. I haven't been able to give blood for years due to medication but always feel guilty about it.

I try to encourage DH instead.

Yes that’s true. Once received can never donate.

I’m in next Sunday to donate my 13th bag of blood.

I float on air once I’ve donated because my one bag of blood (apparently) treats up to 4 premature babies as it is free of a particular virus that a large percentage of the adult population carry.

I never miss and take supplemental iron & multivitamins so I keep topped up between donations.
It’s a privilege to do. Plus the biscuits are good 😊

Is that true? I was never told that! I was told that my medical condition meant I wasn’t allowed? And does everyone know that they’ve ever been given blood?

I'm up to 43 now. Over the years it has got harder and harder to donate I've found - less sessions, less locations, more rules (e.g. no longer allowed to take children with you, not allowed to retry if they fail to get your blood the first time....)

I hope to get up to 50 at least.

Once you’ve received blood, you’re not eligible to donate. It’s a shame as I would love to give back after my transfusion.

Well done and thank you to all who have donated. It gave my family some extra time with a loved one recently for which we are truely grateful 🙏 I have since signed up and waiting to donate

I just want to thank you and all the others who donate. I needed 2 units of blood at the start of the summer and I felt so grateful immediately. I got to go on our summer holiday which I didn’t think I would be able to do and feel so much better since.

Thank you. I was diagnosed with cancer nearly two years ago and have had two blood transfusions. I’m very grateful for people like you.

I can’t donate so I’m hugely grateful to those of you who do, thank you!

Well done OP and all you other donors. 👏

I believe we’re still on amber alert for O -ve blood, we were constantly making plans for wether we could go ahead with elective surgery at one point.

Sorry to hear that there’s only 2% of people donating, I’d love to but am unable to, DS does it for the family as he’s the only one eligible.

Well done. We’d be buggered without blood donors. Anyone that can, should.

54 donations here 😊

I received blood as a child and I’d love to give blood. But I have a medical condition which means I’m not allowed. Personally, I’d give it a go! I don’t have anything that can be passed to anyone else, it could just be a bit unpleasant for me, but I’d risk it if they’d let me.

i have done 55 donations. If anyone has been anaemic try taking spatone regularly, will fix the aneamia. I’m O- so they chase me if i am even a day late to donate.

Well done to all the donors on here!

I’ve donated since I was 21, had a break for a few years when the kids were small, but think I’ve done 35.
I’ve recently switched to giving plasma, which you can do every 4 weeks rather than 16 for blood

Yes, it said on my letter from when I donated about 3 weeks ago it was 2%.

They don't seem to campaign to encourage more people to give, maybe they have found it isn't worth the financial outlay for the amount of new donors that sign up.

It's a shame more people don't think to do it.

I can’t donate blood, plasma, stem cells etc due to a chronic condition but I admire the people like you who can and do. Most people receiving blood are in the most unimaginable circumstances and this could truly happen to anyone which is why it’s so important to give if you can.

Well done you! I’m O- so always donate. Think I’ve done it about 25 times now. Of course, I only go for the orange club biscuits at the end

I was the same but a multi vitamin with iron from boots
or supermarket taken over the last decade meant I never had another low reading ever again!

I've donated 25 pints so far (last one about 2 weeks ago!).
My dog is also signed up to be a blood donor, so it's definitely in the family 🤣. He had his first session a few months ago. As it was his first one, we didn't get to the donation part (normal on a first try), but we're going again in a few weeks.