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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blood donation - wwyd?

66 replies

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/06/2020 23:27

This isn't strictly an AIBU I guess, but I need some straight advice.

I donate blood as often as I am allowed (in my area, every 16w). I am due to donate again next week.

I would really like to keep the appt. It's a good thing to do and also, I imagine quite a few donors might decide to cancel now - which makes it more important to do imo.

Only, we are just starting to see Dpils and my mum again, and from initial chats, I think they might say they don't want to see us for a bit if I keep the appt.

My children really really miss their grandparents and it would make them very sad if they had them yanked away again.

Wwyd?

Yanbu - give blood
Yabu - postpone the appt

OP posts:
Noworrieshere · 02/06/2020 23:30

I have an appointment in 2 weeks and I'm going to go. I'm not worried about catching covid there, I think their procedures will be well thought out and practised by now.

I'm just worried about missing out on the tea and biscuits at the end. Although I thought they had to give you something so you don't faint so maybe they have found a way round that. I'll maybe bring my own tea just in case

CalmdownJanet · 02/06/2020 23:32

You are a regular donor, you do your bit, look after yourself & your family this time.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 02/06/2020 23:32

I did in the middle of lockdown. Everyone at the donation centre was very good at following social distancing and wearing PPE. It was all very efficient, good hygiene practices and felt very safe

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 02/06/2020 23:34

@Noworrieshere they had isotonic drink before donation then cold squash and individually wrapped biscuits afterwards. They had nixed hot drinks as didn't want people hanging around the drinks machine so they were making up glasses of squash on demand, putting them down, stepping back and then you took the plastic cup to the seating area and chucked it in the recycling bin after.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/06/2020 23:36

Yeah, I should be clear that I am not worried about covid for myself. I have obeyed lockdown totally but I do have a sort of "what's for you won't go by you" kinda attitude about it, and I am sure they will have a good set up.

It is just that I think grandparents will want to stay away from us for 2-3 weeks if I go, and we haven't seen them since early March - due to do a test visit this weekend!!

OP posts:
2tired2bewitty · 02/06/2020 23:37

I gave blood a couple of weeks into lockdown, the procedures to keep everything clean and safe were impressive then and I’m sure they’ve got better as they’ve had more practice.

They are short of donors because they can’t take walk ups or new donors at the moment and have to limit their numbers to ensure social distancing.

DreamingofBrie · 02/06/2020 23:37

I gave blood over Easter - it was fine. Limited number of people in the building at one time, all waiting seats distanced etc. I was a bit nervous but it was much the same as usual.

I understand how you feel about seeing elderly relatives though. I'm in on rota at the school I work at and it has made me wonder whether to see my parents afterwards.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/06/2020 23:40

So those who did donate, if your family said they wanted you to stay away from them after, would you still have done it?

OP posts:
iknowimcoming · 02/06/2020 23:41

I was due to go early in lockdown but it was cancelled about a week before I went, I'm O+ so I guess not in such high demand as rarer blood and was told that since not so many routine surgeries etc going on in hospitals less blood is currently needed, so you might not need to go if you are not a rare blood group.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 02/06/2020 23:45

Difficult question but yes I think so, I would explain to them all the procedures and protections that were in place to stop transmission and hope they would accept it was safe.

Honestly I felt like there was more chance of catching CV at the supermarket than there was giving blood, it was that well controlled.

MinesAPintOfTea · 02/06/2020 23:46

How often are you seeing the grandparents? If you saw them just before, then waited 14 days, how many visits would you miss?

Clymene · 02/06/2020 23:46

Well do you go anywhere else? To the supermarket or work? Unless you've been isolating, I don't know what the issue is (have also given blood).

TheHighestSardine · 02/06/2020 23:48

Same as 2tired, I gave blood in lockdown. Our blood donation centre is dedicated to blood, not part of a Covid-ravaged hospital, and was reorganised to be 2m distanced and non touch apart from fresh gloves on the test and needling. Far more safe than eg shopping or walking down the street, frankly.

I'm all for being super careful, the loons in the anti-dementor threads would probably count me a dementor, but it was as safe as it could be.

ChipotleBlessing · 02/06/2020 23:52

I wouldn’t worry about there not being enough donors. I signed up and got a message saying they were overwhelmed with the amount of people wanting to donate and an appointment for three months time!

Fiddlersgreen · 03/06/2020 00:00

The stock levels change all the time however it’s not unusual for appointments to be booked up for 3 months solid! I always book my next appointment on the day I’m donating otherwise you can’t guarantee being able to get one closer to the time.

I’m donating in two weeks, it’ll be my 32nd donation. I think if you are seeing your family this weekend anyway then it won’t be so tough to not see them for 2-3 weeks after if that’s what they decide?

BikeRunSki · 03/06/2020 00:01

I went about 2 weeks ago. I was very impressed at how it was managed. Very distanced. There were too many people having tea/snack for me to join them, so someone bought me my drink to my chair.

I had had an appt in the city where I usually worked. I didn’t feel comfortable going into a city, walking through etc from my country bumpkin bubble, so I managed to change to an out of town hotel in a much near place, where I could just drive all the way.

BUT -
1- DM and my PIL all live 150 + miles away, so we cannot see them anyway.
2- I have unusual blood, that is always needed.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/06/2020 00:01

Hmmm!

So ordinarily, we see them 3 or so times a week. I have a long hours job and DH does much of the childcare, and Dpils and DM both help him with it. So the children are used to spending afternoons with them regularly and being put to bed by them once or twice a week.

Then of course that changed cold turkry. We have not seen them at all since mid March. The children ask for them still.

This weekend we are going to sit in their garden. I think with a view to seeing them regularly.

OP posts:
SudokuBook · 03/06/2020 00:04

Why do your family want you to stay away? What about you giving blood puts them at any risk, or certainly above say going to the supermarket

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/06/2020 00:04

I work but exclusively on fucking Zoom from home. I go to Sainsburys once a week to get shopping for all three households (ours pils,.dm) and that is it.

OP posts:
Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/06/2020 00:05

Sudoku I think bc it is a hospital and they see it as a sort of hotbed of covid?

OP posts:
SudokuBook · 03/06/2020 00:09

On the other side of it I’ve made an active choice to stop giving blood just now. I looked up blood stocks and there were plenty, probably because everything is cancelled. I’m not going to the time and effort giving blood when it is not needed and might be binned. I’ll wait until the NHS actually start providing services where it will be used

SudokuBook · 03/06/2020 00:11

I’d probably go but tell them you didn’t, if you’re in their garden at 2m the risk is minute anyway.

mummysherlock · 03/06/2020 00:14

I gave blood back in April. They encouraged people to arrive on time rather than early for their appointments to limit the number of people at the venue at one time and reduce time in the waiting area. Chairs in the waiting area were 2m apart and the staff were all wearing PPE. Refreshments were offered at the end but had to stay on the donation chair and only cold drinks and wrapped biscuits/chocolate bars Offered. Had to leave the venue via the fire exit at the end of the session rather than walk back past the waiting area and out the front entrance to keep everything one way.

So all in all very well thought out and as safe as possible, as pp said your weekly supermarket shop is probably higher risk.

Likethebattle · 03/06/2020 00:17

I did a donation this week. It was in Scotland. I had to wait outside then come in and fill in the form and straight onto a bed (I need a left arm as my right one doesn’t flow?). All staff had masks and I was given
Hand sanitiser on my way in. There was no tea area and I was given my drink at the bed. They told me to take a biscuit to go as I left. I took my own drink and mars bar though as I didn’t want to eat a biscuit that other people may have rummaged through.

Fiddlersgreen · 03/06/2020 00:18

@SudokuBook

On the other side of it I’ve made an active choice to stop giving blood just now. I looked up blood stocks and there were plenty, probably because everything is cancelled. I’m not going to the time and effort giving blood when it is not needed and might be binned. I’ll wait until the NHS actually start providing services where it will be used
How long is it kept before needing to be “binned”?