Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

and i dont mean monetary like it used to be

like if you give blood now they give you like a credit card thing with all your details. if this could be amended slightly to have the strip on there too every time you give blood that card is activated for three months thus by givign u say 10/20% discount at HMV *like NUS ones do* or various other discounts at shops.

i just think it would maybe attract more people to donate blood

and i do think companies would be up for this too as its publicity wise seen as a good cause to align themselves with.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

The problem is that incentives could lead people who shouldn't be donating into trying to. There is a health-screening form but people can lie and the blood tests don't always show everything. One problem could be donating too often, registering with more than one card, for instance. It would have to be a very tight process to make sure nothing went wrong.

I was a blood donor for many years, having a rare blood type, but as I am now on medication for high blood pressure they can't use me. My daughter gave blood from the age of 18 until her daughter was born 6 years later. They won't have her blood now as she had to have a transfusion after the birth (in 1999) and, as they've kindly informed her, she might be hatching CJD. Comforting thought, eh?

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I am not aware of anyone ever being paid for blood donations in the past...certainly not in this country anyway.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

not overkeen on the idea of reward for helping people,think time would be better used on education for this.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

The biggest incentive is already there.By giving your blood you can save somebody's life.What greater reward is there than to know that a simple act of yours has saved somebody else's life?:)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

exactly the point.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

but in a fickle world

to some people thats not much of an incentive.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I cant donate blood because of taking medication. I went in to see if i could donate when I was working in rawtenstall and they said that i couldnt but thanked me for going. There is an incentive you get badges and certificates when you've donated so many pints of blood - my sister had one but shes not allowed to donate now due to medical reasons.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I don't think there should be any incentive other than that YOU yourself may need a blood transfusion at some point in your life.....donating blood is to help someone in need. Like Lilly, i think this should be incentive enough.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

and to some people,people like that are worthless.;)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I agree. When I was a donor my incentive was to know I could be saving a life and I was so proud when I got my silver badge.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

badges?!

i dont think they do badges anymore :(

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

i was never able to donate blood until i reached my 40th year then lo & behold i strolled in one day past the blood tests & i gave my 1st pint of blood, wow was i thrilled & proud of myself that i at last could do something for someone out there who NEEDED what i could give them, i carried on for the next 15yrs & then was told sorry but you can't give anymore because of the medication i was on.........i was gutted to say the least...... but i have had my reward knowing that at least i did try & mabe saved someones life.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

There are already incentives, a cup of tea and a biscuit.:D


Other than the free refreshments I don't think anyone should need an incentives. Most people do it, if they can, because they know it's very much needed, and costs them nothing.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Mez, i'm sure you saved lives, as did anyone who donated blood......having spent 30 years in the nursing profession i know how vital your gift was....and also how grateful the recipients were, that someone cared enough to donate blood to save the life of a stranger.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

they do still do badges, my uncle gives blood on a regular basis and not long ago he was awarded a gold badge for giving so many pints, i think he's been doing it for about 30 years now

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I totally agree there is nothing better than knowing that you could be saving someone life. :D

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I donate ... the best incentive I had was to have serious surgery during which I needed several gallons of the stuff. But the best incentive is knowing that you may save a life ... I know that this only gets the people who actually give a damn, but there are probably more of these than one thinks. It just needs a good, no great ad campaign, god if one cans get folks to eat at the golden arches, or drink that panther p**s Corona beer, then surely you could get people to give a little back, or put a little into the account that you hope you don't have to draw on.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

once i was sittin there waiting to go in and some first timers came in askin if it was ok to give blood considering they were still a bit drunk from last night *L*

i think they were told to come back

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Been looking on a few web sites about giving blood. I want to give blood.

It says that if you had a blood transfusion from 1980 to 1996 you can't give blood. Why is this??

and another thing, I had to have one in 1997 due to it being dangerous for me to give birth due to my very low Iron levels!! Do you think I could still give it even though it was a year after 1996??

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Just call into The Globe Centre next time they are there and I'm sure they will answer any queries you have:)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I think if you went along they will advise you best. They have to do a few test and when you go for the first time it does take longer than those who have given blood before. Then they will tell you if you can give blood or not.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

The reason is something to do with CJD and the fact that you may be hatching it if you had a transfusion between these years:eek:!

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Oh well that's humbling to know!! :rolleyes:

Oh well I have been cold a mad cow many times before!! not to worry :)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I thought that it was because before that, donated blood wasn't screened for hepatitis -which Anita Roddick found out when she was diagnosed

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

The CJD thing is a factor, as I said in my first post in this thread. They told my daughter they can't guarantee her transfusion in 1999 was CJD risk free.

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

And on that thought if anyone knows when they are here next could you please put a post on here as a reminder for any would be donors.;)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

thats a good idea,as usually its not well advertized

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

When it was at the New Era people walking into town would see the vans parked at the bottom end of Cannon Street and they would just bob in to give theit blood. Now that it is at the Globe Centre the vans are more or less hidden away and nobody sees them unless they happen to walk on Scaitcliffe Street. So I think a little prompt on here could result in more people donating each time:)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Hmmm.....when I was at college, they used to give a keg of beer to the dormitory with the highest percentage of donors. You even got credit towards the total if you were rejected as a donor. I started giving blood then, and still do it today (but now supply my own beer!)

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

Used to give blood and got a silver badge for 25 pints.

for more info please look at the link
The National Blood Service - blood transfusion

Re: Should there be incentives for blood donation?
 

I give blood as well, I'm on a blue card at thE moment (it changes with number of donations )
They come into work every 3 months or so and we get the time off to do it by my Employer.