If you can, please make donating blood a news year resolution...

[Thorilicious]

I've only been able to donate once this year, but was booked in for 3 appointments. These had to be cancelled due to Covid in the house, but that's 2 pints that could have saved someone's life.
I appreciate some people can't or don't feel comfortable donating blood, but if it's something that you've always thought about doing, make 2022 the year you sign up.
Plus, you get biscuits at the end of your session!

www.blood.co.uk/

I used to do it but I haven't for ages, I think I'll try and give it a go again.
Where I worked a long time ago they used to bring the 'blood bus' and we'd all bunk off work for half an hour and go and give blood in the car park. It was very convenient.

What are the rules around donating and transfusions?
I always thought I couldn’t after several transfusions in the past but I’ve just done the eligibility checker and it didn’t even ask?!

I’m alive because of people who donate. I can’t thank the people directly so I like to thank all of you who donate when I can.

A huge thank you ❤️ The people who donated to me have given me my future, my kids future weddings, my future grandchildren, even just this Christmas. It’s a huge impact, that one act of kindness.

I'm going tonight

Rather unfortunate that it's the only date in the region for months, as it's also my birthday, so a different kind of birthday pint for me!

And it's scotblood.co.uk for us

It is such an important and easy thing to do, and I think that if you are prepared to accept a blood donation for yourself or a family member then you should make the effort to donate.

I have been a life long (adult) donor and the Jacobs Club biscuits are one of the best bits. Plus you can let your inner child out and plaster yourself in stickers and take stickers for your grown up kids that say 'my mum donated blood today' get a sticker afterwards.

Sadly, I have a less common blood group that they don't need to collect very much so was told to wait to be called up and not book regular appointments, and I haven't heard anything from them for probably 3 years.

@DietCokeChipsAndMayo

What are the rules around donating and transfusions? I always thought I couldn’t after several transfusions in the past but I’ve just done the eligibility checker and it didn’t even ask?!

It asks if you've received transfusions since 1980 and if so, you can't donate. I think it was the 3rd / 4th question when I tried to register just now.

Unfortunately, I cannot donate for this reason.

Thank you to everyone who can and does. My blood is awful and they don’t want it but knowing I might need some one day I’m very grateful

I would, but I'm not in the UK and the country I live in doesn't want my BSE-infected blood!

@DietCokeChipsAndMayo

What are the rules around donating and transfusions? I always thought I couldn’t after several transfusions in the past but I’ve just done the eligibility checker and it didn’t even ask?!

You unfortunately can't give blood if you have had a blood transfusion.

I would like to echo the need and call to give blood if you can, my local health authority currently only has a couple of days store of each blood type so the need is really drastic at the moment.

My husband was diagnosed with a rare type of leukaemia in 2019 and without many lifesaving blood transfusions he wouldn't still be here. Your donation will save lives, please book if you can and set a reminder for every 4 months. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

5 times my appointment has been cancelled now
Every single time I've been booked in. So I've never been able to donate.

And I still get emails saying please donate, we need more donors.

My hg levels were too low last time I went, so can't go again until July 2022. But I will be back as soon as I'm able.

I've only donate a couple of times, pretty new to it. But will keep going back.

I donated last week, I have some kind of special (weird, unusual?!) blood which usually goes to children which makes me feel a bit warm & fuzzy inside.

As PP said, the free biscuits/Club bars (or mince pies at Christmas) are the best bit 😁

We were just talking about this yesterday!!

@DietCokeChipsAndMayo

What are the rules around donating and transfusions? I always thought I couldn’t after several transfusions in the past but I’ve just done the eligibility checker and it didn’t even ask?!

@DietCokeChipsAndMayo

I clicked on OP's link and it's question no 3. I'm in the same situation as you, I used to give regularly, but since I have received a transfusion myself, am no longer eligible. It's a shame, as I would love to be able to continue!

thanks for the timely reminder

i donated end October and so I am sure I needed to wait so many weeks but they have been contacting me already

checking in now it tells me i am ok from February - so all good

I'll donate in March - if they stop cancelling my appointments! - because you have to wait 6 months after you give birth.

I haven't been able to donate for about 4 years as they constantly cancel my appointments. Very frustrating.
Especially when the last few were booked at a permanent donation centre! One time they refused to take my blood because I was 'late'. I was actually early but they were being really slow booking people in. It's absurd.

Oh, I didn’t use OPs link I just googled it and where it took me was just asking things like have you had a piercing in the last 4 months, have you had a cold in the last 28 days - sorry I should’ve used the original link!

Again want to echo the thankyou to all of you that regularly donate - neither me nor my 10 year old daughter would be here without you all

@Thorilicious

I've only been able to donate once this year, but was booked in for 3 appointments. These had to be cancelled due to Covid in the house, but that's 2 pints that could have saved someone's life. I appreciate some people can't or don't feel comfortable donating blood, but if it's something that you've always thought about doing, make 2022 the year you sign up. Plus, you get biscuits at the end of your session!

Agree with this 100% as my mum has needed 7 units this year.

Unfortunately she couldn't have any of the 3 i've donated this year as we're different blood groups.

Biscuits though...

To echo pps, I have tried repeatedly to donate for 5 years. Multiple cancelled appointments, or none available at times when I wasn't at work. My most local option seems to only want volunteers between 10and3/4 on a couple of weekdays. It's so infuriating!

I have O- blood so I know my blood is really useful as a universal donor but for some reason they cant get it out of me!

I've tried to donate 6 times and only managed it twice, and one time it took almost half hour to fill the bag!

I make sure I drink LOADS in the run up to it, but my veins just wont give it up. I knew i was awkward as when pregnant I had to have specialist phelobomists draw my blood for routine tests as the midwife and nurses could never get it and when in hospital for a week in 2010 I became the test case for doctors learning to draw blood

Anyone have any tips to improve this? I cant drink any more liquid, my bladder would explode!!