My children can never be donors, what do I tell them?

[Beaaware]

My children are 19, 22, 24, they were all born during the BSE crisis, the other day one of them asked me 'Mum I want to donate my blood when I travel overseas' , I know that this is not possible because all three of my children are banned from doing this in most other countries around the world.
AIBU not tell them exactly why this is, or should I let them find out for themselves, how do you tell your kids that they have potentially been exposed to deadly rogue prions?

Really?? I had no idea that they wouldn't be able to donate blood, and if that is the case then why not just tell them? They are old enough to understand, it's not like yu are going to scare the living daylights out of some 6 year old and far better coming you where they can verify the facts than from some know it all in a foreign country ho will probably blow the whole thing up out of proportion.

They're adults. Just tell them. I't not that big a deal.

Um, just tell them, they're grown ups.

Justtell them they can only donate in this country. Will they be overseas for long?

I would have thought at those ages they will find out for themselves anyway. They weren't at any more risk than anyone else born at that time were they?

Sorry, i don't know what else to say, I'm a bit baffled by this.

Is this true?

If so, I don't see the problem with telling them the truth. Presumably at their age they've been exposed to unpleasant but unlikely information?

Also, why donate overseas? They could donate here?

Is this true for all dc born around that time? Uk?

Have they all recieved blood donations?
I though that it was only if you had received one since the BSE crisis that this may be an issue- but vCJD is quite rare, isn't it?

Even so, tell them- they have a right to know if they are wanting to donate to help others and are unable to.

Why would you not tell them? (Or rather, why have you not told them?)

Well I had no idea about this.

But I've just called my 20yr old DS over my shoulder and told him.

Job done

Mountain meet molehill.

I'm 25 and have never been told I can't donate?

I understood that it was if you received blood products before....1997 I think, which I have but my children havent.

They are all old enough to be told. I don't see the problem?

It's precaution. They may have done things in their personal lives that make them expempt from being blood donors anyway - you just don't know about it.
I can't give blood as for similar precautionary reasons, I'm disappointed I can't help when I'm willing but it's hardly a big deal.

Really struggling to see the issue here. Surely they can donate here?

they are adults, they are hardly likely to be heartbroken! If they cant handle that information, then they shouldnt be travelling overseas alone!

however i suspect that you want to draw attention to something else... Namely the effect that the environment has on all of us. if this is the case i suggest that you do it in a clearer way and post it somewhere sensible.

I know in Ireland people who lived in the UK during the 80s (not sure of exact dates) are not allowed to donate blood. They decided to tell my DH that after he'd given blood. It's not a big deal, I doubt they'd be very upset. Are you worried they'll think they're likely to get vCJD?

I am 26 and never knew this either.

One of my children is planning to travel to Australia and just came out with this question the other day for some reason. As far as I know you only just have to of lived in the UK between 1985-1996 and you are banned, this was when the bse crisis was at its worst. I could tell them what the reasons are but I dont want to put the fear of god into them, which is what it did to me all those years ago.

I'm not allowed to give blood anywhere - I had a blood transfusion smack in the middle of the BSE crisis so I can't even give blood here. Do I care? Not a jot. I just bully make sure my friends and family who can donate, do.

YABU

Not just born, even having lived in the UK during the BSE crisis is enough to bar you from donating blood in some countries. In Australia, having lived in the UK for six months or more between 1980 and 1996 excludes you from the donor pool.

OP, just tell them. It's a minuscule risk against which some countries take stringent precautions. We're all exposed to all kinds of risk, it's part of living.

Why do they want to go overseas to donate? Are they currently blood donors in the UK?

Whatever the rules are now they may not stay that way forever, as testing improves they may in future be allowed to donate.

Really? Is that the way it happened?

Bright eyed bushy tailed BeAware junior comes and says "Mum, I want to donate blood overseas! I've bought my ticket already and I'm going to go from country to country spreading my extra special blood to people"

And you looked sadly at little BeAware junior and said "No child. I'm so sorry. You're a nasty disease carrier so can't donate your precious life force to the deserving masses overseas. You will never be a haemoglobin missionary."

Or do you think the fact that you're a constant campaigner about CJD on the politics/inthenews threads might have previously given them a clue that you have strong feelings about the BSE crisis? I mean, you talk about it ALL THE TIME on the internet, I can't believe you've never mentioned it at home.

Donating in the UK is not a problem, it's overseas that is.

Wikepedia on VCJD

Blood donation is banned in some countries if people have spent more than a certain amount of time in the UK between 1980 and 1996.

It is banned in the UK if people have received blood donations themselves in the UK.