to think that you shouldn't wait until someone you love needs blood, GIVE BLOOD NOW!

[DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason]

Discounting all the people who cannot give blood for medical reasons and those with severe phobias (and you don't count if you have had blood tests etc and just didn't enjoy them), AIBU to think that if you would want to receive blood and you are in good health and mentally capable, you should give blood?
Let's be honest, how many of you just haven't got round to it but keep meaning to?
I have made it easy for you, sometimes all you need is a shove gentle nudge in the right direction like I did. I am so glad someone shoved nudged me so I am passing it on.
go on, do it!

So, I can't give blood anyway because I'm pg.

But if I'm honest with you, it's not something that pops into my mind as something to do, so never have. I did once go with my friend, sat down, filled in the forms, got behind the curtain and was told I wasn't allow as I had been taking anti-malaria tablets. That's about as close as I've got.

May consider it in the future, though.

I give blood just for the free biscuits.

donnie - O neh is the second rarest blood type (after AB-), but it can be given to anyone regardless of their own blood type. So, if they don't know your type and they haven't really got time to do a blood test before you bleed to death, they'll stick some O- in you. Think about ER when you'd see someone running with a stretcher shouting, "get me so 200 CC's of O neg!"

Disclaimer - I totally made up the 200 part because it sounded good in the sentence and I couldn't remember how much they shouted. I have no idea how much they would need to give someone.

We had a great debate around here about blood donation earlier - basically on whether one should go with the word of the rules or the spirit of them.

So, currently a man who has had sex with another man cannot donate. Ever. Because of HIV. Would a gay man in a long-term stable relationship who knows he is negative for HIV be right or wrong in donating and just not telling them? Would someone who has lived and donated in the UK donating in another country be ethical (as most don't allow anyone who has lived here for any length of time in the UK due to mad cow but the same people are fine donating here)? Some rules are obviously iron clad, but others - because of what they are based on like gay man and HIV - could be seen by some to have more wiggle room? I'm undecided and shaky on this, but quite a few of my friends were passionately arguing about this (and since the topic's come up, I'd figure I'd pass the fun onto you all!).

I used to give blood regularly three times a year. But since pregnancy (DS now nearly 8), breastfeeding, another pregnancy (DD 3), I just never got back into it.

I went along 4 weeks ago to restart as a donor, only to find that these days you have to prebook an appointment in advance, and can't just walk in. I couldn't wait so didn't donate. But I'll book for next time they're around locally.

I do feel quite strongly about it despite my own personal crappiness. DS was very prem and weighed 900g at birth. He required 2 teeny transfusions in the early days. And as a newly-qualified Dr (some time ago now!), I have been the one running to the lab at 3am for the 10 units of O-neg for the massively haemorrhaging patient in A&E...

TAB - no it isn't. In the UK population, about 45% are group O and about 15% of them are Rh Negative.
AB neg is indeed the rarest group in the UK, but after it is B Neg, then AB Pos, then O Neg.

I'm o neg and try to give blood as much as i can as i find it a real worthy thing to do. But right now i am pregnant, 9 months after being pregnant the last time so i haven't donated for a while.

There's a B? On it's own? I've never heard of that.

Well, that was the explanation given to me by the nurse, anyway. But it was 10 years ago, so I suppose she might have said something more like, "It's really rare, but not as rare as AB-, which is the rarest."

Anyway, point is it's still fairly rare, and they can give it to anyone.

Um yes, TAB - there are 4 basic blood groups, O, A, B and AB. Then each of them can be either Rh Neg or Rh Pos and then after that it gets a WHOLE lot more complicated and I wouldn't want to scare you.

I know that - I've just never heard of a B on it's own before. I always wondered about why you have AB but not B. So how come you don't get a AO?

You're forgetting T-Type. Which is the blood type that all Romulans have.

[crawls away after making oneself look like an idiot]

Forget I asked that. I've just read up on it and I understand now. Antigens. Yes.

I would love to give blood and I am O neg, but since I turned 17 I have had a tattoo every year so can't.

I think this is what happens with a lot of people who would quite happily give blood. I really think they need to put more research into screening people's blood so that more can give rather than trying to persuade people who are just not willing to do it.

Ha - ok, you asked for it. My specialty subject (except for the Romulans - we didn't get too many of them donating.)

There are sugar-based molecules (antigens) on the surfaces of red blood cells that give them their blood group. There are two types, A and B. You can have:
all A, which would make you group A;
all B, which would make you group B;
some A and some B, which makes you group AB;
or none of either, which makes you group O.
There are other things on the cell surface that give you your Rh status - the Rh Pos and Neg refers to Rh D - if you have it, you're Rh Pos, if you don't, you're Rh Neg. There are a lot of other things in the Rh system as well but they're mostly not relevant unless one has an antibody to them.

HTH! :)

Do they still do those nice cheesy tuc biscuits? And Jammy Dodgers? I haven't been for a while due to pg, but will be back eating biscuits donating as soon as I can.

Yanbu or in any way self righteous. For god sake whats the harm in someone posting this? There is every chance it will flag it up for someone, its easy to forget when we are all so busy. I am a pest to all my family and friends about this since both dd and I had our lives saved by blood donors.

[mental note: must check fine details before sharing information from memories 10 years old]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm in France and they won't take British blood

YADNBU. I always remember when I was little that my mum went off to give blood regularly and that I felt at the time she was being brave and doing the right thing.
Unfortunately I can't follow in her example as I have to take blood thinners which is a shame as I would like to set the same example to dd that she did to me.

I agree they should do more screening.

Unfortunately i have had transfusions (so thank you all for giving!)

so now i can't give blood - ever again. Because of CJD risks apparently...

I'm blood type B+, and was led to believe that's one of the rarer ones? Which makes it even more sadder that I can no longer donate

Whey don't other countries like our blood?

*why

NotJustKangaskhan you raise interesting questions! It does seem illogical that a gay man who has had sex with only one partner and has been tested for HIV cannot give blood, cutting out so many potential doners. Don't they test the blood they take anyway? Also, why is our blood good enough here but not abroad? If it could be contaminated with mad cow, wouldn't that be true whatever country we are in?

Am distracted by Atomic's ER references, am now mentally shouting like a paramedic!

bessie penguins and walkers crisps last time I went! Incentive enough?