To ask all those who can to donate blood.

[HadABadDay2014]

www.blood.co.uk/index.aspx

Only 4% of adults give blood, which is a shocking number.

I understand not every one can for their own reasons.

Please give of you can.

I have given blood once so far. More than happy to donate more but a bit annoyed at their appointment making tbh. Tried to make appointment on website, never ever got back to me. Received a letter last week, rang up straight away to book, and was told fully booked. Apparently they are cutting down on sessions. And there was me thinking they needed blood.

Since they've had appointments I've usually only had to wait a few minutes at each stage and the whole thing over in about an hour. That includes a good 10 mins rest for me afterwards, plus 10 mins having drinks as I have sometimes felt faint despite drinking masses of water beforehand. In the old days it could easily be two hours.

I do get frustrated with the appointments though, the amount of times I've had to cancel because I've got a cold or similar and then can't get another appointment at a time that suits for months on end (like has happened today) means that my average is down to less than 2 a year since the DCs were born. No weekend sessions (and very limited weekday ones) near here, I'm out in the sticks.

My experience is very similar to ThePinkOcelot 's, it's very frustrating! I do feel strongly that if you are able to give blood you should so I've persevered until I managed to get an appointment but they could do more to make it easier. I suspect they must lose a lot of donors with their booking system tbh.

Thank you to everyone who gives blood.

Without you, two beautiful little girls would be growing up without their mother.

Started giving blood after DC1 was born prematurely and very unwell. He received two transfusions and picked up rapidly as a result.
Ashamed that it took that for me to start donating, but really wanted to pay it back. I go whenever the bus is in town, and they do Tunnock's teacakes afterwards. Bonus.

We must be really lucky up here (Ayrshire) as we can just turn up at a session and donate. Usually a wee wait but not long.

I'm O+ and DH is AB- (really rare apparently) and we've both had the occasional phone call when stocks are low and they're desperate for donors. Apart from that we're only contacted when there's a session scheduled for our area (every three months)

I must say, it's very interesting to hear the other side of the story. A very good friend of mine once required a transfusion and I'm really glad to be able to do this one thing that could help/has helped her and others like her.

That and I get to laugh at DH who faints frequently whilst donating

I am needle phobic (to the point of crying and shaking when had to have blood tests during pregnancy) however due to my DH benefitting from many many units of blood during illness keeping him alive long enough to meet his child I am determined to begin donating blood in his honour.

To all those experienced donators, what is it really like? How different is it from just having blood taken for tests? It's the thought of the needle in me for so long that I think scares me the most. Can you feel it?

Giving Blood is the most amazing thing! It saves lives AND it gives me some time away from the kids and the husband with a good book and tea and biscuits!

I am someone who faints when I have blood tests and have rubbish veins (I'm not scared of needles/blood tests, apparently it's something to do with my blood pressure which is quite low). I've never wanted to try giving blood because I'm scared I make a scene! How do they deal with fainty fainters like me?

My son has received 13 transfusions as a newborn, they literally saved his life. Thank you to everyone who donates! I agree with those say about centres not opening enough convenient times. I work closely with the Red Cross now and they are opening Sundays and Thursday evenings in some areas so voice your concerns to your local centre if the hours are inconvenient. Might not make any difference but if enough people are of the same mindframe you never know...

Blimey, something seems to have flown into my eye

I donate blood - next time is in two weeks.

I have had to have periods of not (when I was anaemic) but now everything is back to normal I am back to donating. I LOVE to hear how donated blood has helped so many mnetters When my friend had cancer she had a couple of blood transfusions, we used to joke about how if she ended up with my blood she'd suddenly start craving fruit scones and tea (she hated dried fruit). Stupid really but it made us smile.

So I'll say thanks too, to everyone else who gives blood and to those who are thinking about it...just click here and you'll have taken the first step

Curiousuze - I have rubbish veins, they always manage to get some out of me!

If you warn them you can be a fainter they will make sure you are lying down for longer etc although in honesty if you always faint they may not want you. A friend of mine has tried a couple of times and fainted each time and they said they didn't want her back again! I think they don't really have the time to be brutally honest. Having said that my dh gets light headed when having injections (he has no idea why!) but he regularly gives blood and hasn't ever fainted.

I'd say give it a go and see what happens and they can decide from there.

I have blood for the first time this year, after being turned away in the past due to anaemia. I almost didn't bother to go, because I thought I'd be turned away.

The only thing I was disappointed with was that the urn was broken and I had to have a cold drink.

I will definitely do it again. DD (age 14) says she will do it when she can. DH has done it since his days in the army (lots of soldiers do it I think).

I gave for the 37th time just before Christmas.

I used to give blood, till I asked once, how do private cosmetic surgery clinics etc get blood.

It is sold to them!

So not for me now.

Thats wrong

I don't know if IABU but glasgowsteven that wouldn't actually bother me

a) how else are the private cosmetic surgery places going to get blood?
b) Hopefully the blood service is getting some money out of it.

Would you prefer they were given it for free?

stripesspots thanks for info - I have only fainted while lying down once so might have to give it a go! I really am excellent at fainting. Born in the wrong century, me.

Cheers OP - you have reminded me to sign up again so I will be donating in a couple of weeks.

Last time I tried I was turned away due to lingering out patient care after a stint in Hospital but I am Oneg so I am a donor in demand.

I'd be raging if they weren't paying for it, Glasgow, plastic surgery makes a fortune and it costs the NHS money to take blood donations.

I really don't agree with private medicine but it goes on and we'd need to have a seismic change in politics in this country to change that. Its sad that you've decided not to give blood when its much more likely to go to someone in real need and if it doesn't it helps raise money to keep the service going.

Also glasgow I just want to point out that not all plastic/private surgery is evil. I'm waiting to be seen by the NHS about badly-done scars from a childhood operation, that are causing me intense pain and really horrible life-affecting symptoms. It'll need surgery to fix.

However, if I can't prove that it's a pain thing, and not a cosmetic thing (it does look horrible but I've lived with it for 19 years, it's the pain I can't be doing with!), I'll have to somehow try and go private. I'd be very very glad that the NHS sell blood to the private clinics in that instance!!!

Sunday donatings here, so not just Mon-fri.
Think there are evening sessions in the next town along also.

I get there about once every 6 months, so not as often as I could.

I agree with the sentiment that its an hour without small people jumping on me, with chocolate biscuits at the end.

I try to give blood regularly after hearing so many other women tell me how much blood they had received after giving birth. It made me realise how important it is.

For those who think that their blood type is in demand this blood stock levels might be a surprise!

Please don't leave it to all the O- , even though we are pretty special

What is the criteria for giving blood? Some on here saying they are too light, what is the minimum weight? Can you donate if you smoke?

My DH gives blood but i never have, i hate HATE having my blood taken in the doctors, it makes me feel sick and shaky, in not scared of needles or anything it just knocks me sick, but id still like to donate.

oops I mean, not in demand