AIBU to think that 95% of people...

[PurplePidjin]

...do not have a significant phobia of needles?

So why do only 4 or 5 in 100 of us who are medically capable actually bother to give blood? Where are the rest of them?

It took 30 minutes of my afternoon, and they deliberately stay open late so people can pop in on the way home from work and have an excellent excuse to slob on the sofa for a bit

Oh, and apparently the registers are now cross-referenced do my Anthony Nolan sample is relevant to both

www.blood.co.uk

I have aimed this thread at the people who could but don't

Many folk have valid reasons why they can't

But equally, many people think "Oh yeah, must get round to that one day"

I signed up as a student yet made my first donation aged 26. I've missed through laziness, piercings, shifts, anaemia blah blah boring.

More people are needed to spend an hour and a half a year sitting in a chair eating biscuits!

Some of us in other countries are prohibited from donating now as we previously lived in the UK. That came as a surprise...

How long does it take to give blood? I have two and a half hours a week where I would be able to as my children are in preschool/nursery. Could I realistically give blood at 10am (if I made an appt obviously) and get back to my son's preschool 20 miles away for 11.15am pickup?

I am more than willing to do it but I have to work it around my children.

Oh x post purple - if it takes an hour and a half then I just can't do it.

Emsy and Posie both win the prize for "best comprehension of an OP"

Apologies to those to whom I have given the stick's incorrect end

I am not allowed to give blood as I had a blood tranfusion when my son was born 17 yrs ago. I gave blood after that until 1998 but was told after that the rules had changed. So I am not frightened of needles but am not allowed.

My son has severe needle phobia and although he is obviously too young to donate it shows massive ignorance to say no one likes needles or just suck it up and get over it. Stupid way to highlight a great topic IMO.

However, as it does need highlighting, then yes people should donate if they can. I would have loved to donate, however while donating a kidney they tore a renal artery and I was given a large transfusion. Plus I've always been too light to donate. But having been on the receiving end of a transfusion I am immensely grateful.

It doesn't take an hour and a half in my experience. Three quarters of an hour tops.

My son has severe needle phobia and although he is obviously too young to donate but it shows massive ignorance to say no one likes needles or just suck it up and get over it. Stupid way to highlight a great topic IMO.

However, as it does need highlighting, then yes people should donate if they can. I would have loved to donate, however while donating a kidney they tore a renal artery and I was given a large transfusion. Plus I've always been too light to donate. But having been on the receiving end of a transfusion I am immensely grateful.

This is why I am too scared to. I nearly faint each time I get bloods taken.

Have just booked an appointment, thanks for giving me the push to get around to it!

I can't because I have had a transfusion. DH does though.

This thread has got me thinking none of my family do and I don't think DH's sisters do either. That's terrible isn't it? I remember going to the church hall with my parents and waiting while they gave blood.

Half an hour (including waiting) x3 per year, Mylife. Approximately

Because I lived in the UK in the 80s and therefore am a CJD risk.

When living in the UK was a high risk donor.

I have received a transfusion though, so thank you to those of you who do.

X-posted with OP, and double posted. I should just give up really.

Apologies to OP.

I'm O-neg and give blood every 3 months.

That needle ain't small

Unfortuantely, not everyone can actually give blood, i am on medication which prevents me from doing so and suffer from iron dificency anaemia, and have recetly had problems with b12 and folate anaemia, i am epileptic and have never been able to give blood since being diagnosed aged 18. Although there are a vast amount of people who do not give blood who could, these statistics need to take this into consideration.

greensnail and the others who've been reminded.

Sorry, that's 1.5hours per year not per visit

I gave blood for years until one time my arm blew up and turned into one huge bruise, doc told me not to do it again. My mum can't give blood as she has renal problems. DH can't as he does have a medical phobia of needles, as soon as a needle goes into his skin he convulses, it is not just being a bit scared, he can't even have any dental work done as it has happened when the dentist tried to give him a needle in his gum.
I am quite sad that I can't give blood any more as I know I have a very pure form of A+ which used to get refined to be given to hemaphiliacs!

Mylittle, they do take it in. I in no way intended to make anyone feel bad, sorry

Annoys me no end that I can't give blood as I lied in the UK and am apparently a CJD risk. I was brought us as a veggie, have never eaten cow, so silly.

Used to give blood in the UK until they changed the rules which put me down as a 'malaria risk'. Never had malaria, would have developed it by now if was going to have it. Seemed silly for someone quite clean living to be stopped from giving blood. It upset me because it seems to be a quietly altruistic thing you can do.

Sorry not read all the replies so sorry if I repeat myself here- I just DONT get the risk of HIV thing...I mean fine eliminate people who may have HIV risk factors for up to say six/nine months until it will show up in the blood but indefinatley is ridicuolous- its like saying sorry but you cant trust our blood to be screened!

Must be nice to have a 2yr old that sits happily in his pushchair eating raisins while you give blood, not everyone is that lucky nor do I have good veins, tried twice to give blood and not even a trickle, really can't bare to go through it again tbh

I just registered.

I expect to be rejected on grounds of living outside the UK though.