Donated blood today..

[Klaudia14]

Been donating for years and this is my first in the pandemic and I must say I was very impressed with the staff, cleanliness, mask wearing and just the general mood in the hall. Made me feel safe and so lovely to see so many people donating blood.

Not sure if anyone is interested but thought I'd mention it in case someone was considering going for first time or as a returning donor.

I gave blood in May (37th time) and am going again next week. I have very rare blood, it sometimes leaves the building before me!

@nowaitaminute, you’re the reason we do it.

@WhamRap they discover your type after your first donation, but won’t allow women who are AB+ to donate again (unless they get in contact with you) - their app now permanently shows no available appointments for me!

@Klaudia14 Haha no, it’s been 3 years! Your blood type is super rare but plenty of other types can accept your donations; so it’s useful for a wide range of patients

AB+ is a weird one, we accept donations from every other blood type so the demand for AB+ specifically is low as only we can use it.

Mine isn't rare being O+ but at least it is useful for a lot (not all) of people.
I would like Tunnocks teacakes or caramel wafers after donating!

@nowaitaminute @BikeRunSki exactly the reason I donate. Last year my mum nearly died from Acute myeloid leukemia and she went through a lot of blood and platelet transfusions. They saved her life!
I have since signed up to become a stem cell donor and will gladly donate if I'm ever matched to someone. Many people don't know this but donating stem cells is similar to giving blood but it just takes longer ( in very tiny cases you donate from your hip via general anaesthesia) the more people on the worldwide register the better. My mum's came from America!

@Klaudia14 can you donate stem cells as well as blood (not at once!). I enquired about donating plasma once, but they told me I could also give blood, and they’d rather have my blood.

@BikeRunSki I believe you can as your blood is returned to your body minus the cells. Goes out from one vein in your arm, into a machine and back in through opposite arm. I assume you might have to wait a bit before donating blood again but not too sure. Once you're on the register your chances are very small of ever being matched hence why they needs millions of people around the world to be on the register.

@TryAnotherNickname thanks for sharing that article! So interesting!! There is actually a Grey's Anatomy episode with a patient that's aneamic and dying and in need of Golden blood... brilliant episode!