Give Blood......
 

Just returned from my third blood donating session at the Globe Centre in Accy, and thought I'd try and convince some more people to "do something amazing". And it really is amazing to think that you may have helped to save someone's life - and you never know if you or your family may ever need to use the service themselves - without donors this wouldn't be possible.

They have sessions at the Globe centre very often and if you get in touch with the National Blood Service they will be able to advise you. (I will also try to remember to post the date, when I next get my invitation).

I would also like to take the time to thank the staff, who are absolutely fantastic - they do an excellent job and are friendly, considerate and entertaining at the same time!

Well I hope this is the beginning of the AccringtonWeb Blood Donating Society!!!!!

Re: Give Blood......
 

Is there an age limit? They don't seem to want my blood any more and I used to be in demand at one time.

Re: Give Blood......
 

Good for you Shortstuff, I wish you well at getting the message across, although I must admit to my embarrassment that it has been some time since I personally give blood. I think an important part of the donation process is the Bone Marrow Register. Something perhaps we should consider more often, I look forward to letties input on the subject. The point that willow makes in regard to age restrictions will now be impacting on donation levels across the country so I suppose the point that you’re making shortstuff is now even more valid. I’m not too sure of the actual age limit but I’ll take a leaf out of you book and make the effort. Thank you.

Re: Give Blood......
 

im sorry i could never give blood, i have a real bad phobia of needles, i only wish i could face it and help

Re: Give Blood......
 

Been a regular blood donor over the years I'm not aware of the age limit but if you have had a baby or an operation in the last 12 months you are not permitted to give blood. The sad thing is that we are desperate for donors. We have recently been told that we must only give transfusions when absolutely necessary, because of the shortage nationally of donated blood. For example, if a woman has a massive heamorrhage in childbirth causing her to go into shock, we can replace that blood, if however a lady haemorrhages and we can stabilise her without blood then we don't transfuse. The lady who doesn't get the transfusion may be quite anaemic, feel weakened, tired and breathless but may not be transfused unless her symptoms of anaemia are extreme. This lady will be given iron tablets and her body will make up the extra heamoglobin eventually, but this may take a few months, bear in mind she has a new baby to look after. After a transfusion most of our women feel back to normal within 2 days, so it does make a big difference.
Bone marrow is a different kettle of fish. The sad thing about people on the bone marrow list is that there are so many with the same type of blood group, lots more women than men, and the people with rarer blood groups, who tend to be the ones that the service are more desperate for just aren't there.
All I can say is that if you know you have a rare blood group or certain antibodies in your blood. If you are O Negative (universal donor, this blood can be given to anyone in an emergency) Then get over your fears and get donating. You have my assurance that it doesn't hurt. I do it, and I'm not known for doing pain. You never know, you just might save a life.:D

Re: Give Blood......
 

In that case I shall make further enquiries because I've been the recipient of donated blood myself and last October my daughter's life was saved in part by blood transfusions.

I'm one of the O Negatives and always used to be in demand so I couldn't understand when they said I was no longer required.

Re: Give Blood......
 

It does sound strange. Obviously there is a lower age limit, I think it's 18. I was told initially that I would never be able to donate. My GP told me as a child due to an illness that I contracted. When I checked with the Blood Transfusion Service they nearly snatched my hand off, because I have immunity from certain illnesses and would transfer that immunity to others who receive my donation. Sometimes you can develop blood antibodies from receiving a transfusion, but that shouldn't really be an issue as lots of people have antibodies and need transfusions with the same antibodies. It may be worthwhile investigating this Willow.:)

Re: Give Blood......
 

Hi lettie, I think there maybe some confusion on my part in relation to upper age limits of transfusions. I think I was thinking of the fact that there is now a general ban on those who have received blood during the course of any medical treatment or procedure in the UK since 1st January 1980.

This may give some help to those interested. http://www.blood.co.uk/index.html

Re: Give Blood......
 

I'll try to read the link later tonight Doug, as I have to get ready for work. I know that the Transfusion service do have lists of people/conditions to exclude from making donations. All blood is very carefully tested during the collection, separation and preparation processes. The BTS is a separate entity from your NHS Trusts (where I work) I would hazard a guess that the ban on people who have received blood transfusion since 1980 would in all likelyhood be referring to CJD.

Re: Give Blood......
 

Alas I believe that to be true lettie.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I'm not 100% on the CJD thing Doug, but I'll look it up when I get chance. I may have to arrange some blood from Lancaster today, as we are expecting some this weekend for a client with unusal antibodies. Anything containing antibodies is supplied by the Lancaster service for the North West Region. If I get to speak to them I will ask.... That's if I get time, we're having a very busy week...:)

Re: Give Blood......
 

Id love to give blood as my sister got lukemia at the age of 5 she needed a full blood transfusion and nearly died but unfortunately getting blood from me is like getting blood from a stone.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I always had that problem! Every time I donated blood it just didn't seem to want to leave my body. Other people would come and go and I'd still be lying there slowly dripping!

It may well be because I received a transfusion in 1991 that they no longer require my services. Seems such a shame if that is the case. Obviously the blood I received must have been OK because I'm still here.

I will have to look into it.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I have the same problem but always put it down to the reasoning that my blood must be good quality stuff..:) The staff feel sorry for you when you've been on the couch for over an hour, and I've even been given an extra biscuit before now...

Re: Give Blood......
 

I am ashamed to say that when I was young, the thought of giving blood never occurred to me and sometime back, I heard that there was an age limit (not from a proffesional person) so dismissed the idea. Willow, If you make enquiries and find that they will accept blood from 50 plus people, and providing you hold my hand, I will go with you and donate!! Thank you Shortstuff!

Re: Give Blood......
 

I think the upper limit is 60, so if you are between 17 and 59 you can donate

Re: Give Blood......
 

Get used to holding my hand Willow, We are going!!!!!

Re: Give Blood......
 

i used to donate blood, but sadly cant anymore, still it is a very worth while cause, lettie you mentioned the ladies who need blood after giving birth, my ex husband was brought out of work taken to preston to donate blood for that reason, he recieved a lovely thank you letter, telling him that mother & child were doing fine & thanks for his contribution, as is any donation of blood, so please please donate blood it is very rewarding.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I checked on the website, answered the questions and one of them referred to having had an operation or received a blood transfusion so I had to send in a query because I have had both. Still waiting for the reply.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I wasn't aware that there was any age limits - and it is probably the new rule that if you've had a blood transfusion after a certain time you are no longer allowed to donate in case of CJD - which is a shame but of course they have to be very careful.

I always have a bit of a rough time when giving blood although needles don't bother me - but I always feel faint afterwards. This last time the staff insisted I lie down on the "faint bed" for over 1/2 an hour before they would allow me to leave! But at the end of the day it's about 1 hour of my life - (which is no time at all) and it can mean the difference between life and death for someone else.

I would also be interested in donating bone marrow - but doesn't that keep you off work for a couple of weeks? If anyone has more info on this it would be very useful.

Re: Give Blood......
 

If you are on the bone marrow register, it doesn't necessarily mean that you will be called up to donate. The only donors I have come across have been the recipients family up to now. If none of the family match, then they use the register. They look for people with matching blood group. If you have a common blood group then I reckon it would be as rare as rocking horse manure that you would be called upon to donate (there would be more people on the register with a common group therefore more to choose from.) If you do donate bone marrow then you could probably get some time off sick though...:D

Re: Give Blood......
 

I have given blood between 5-9 times now i think if you can you should at the end of the day you never know if you will need it yourself or someone you know. Unfortunatly i had to stop due to a shift change at work but next year my shift will go back and i will then continue to give blood i think its important(well it is to me) and hey you really can call yourself amazing! and you get a little card that proves it!!! And for all those out there who are a little afraid the worst part of giving blood is the little thumb prick to test you iron levels. Gowan, Gowan, Gowan.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I did try to donate years ago, but was told I couldn't because I was anaemic at the time. Also I seem to remember that if you have had some diseases, like glandular fever, you can't donate. Lettie - where can I get a list of proscribed diseases? Only op I have had in the last 10 years is a cataract, so that shouldn't count, as no blood is involved. I do know my group - AB+ - one of the lucky ones, because as Lettie will know, I am the universal recipient, I can take anything! I only have a couple of years to go before age bars me, so I should get a move on.

Re: Give Blood......
 

Pendy, try the link that Doug posted on the first page of this thread. It has a who can donate section and will take you through a series of questions. It also has some info re. bone marrow donation but I haven't had chance to read that yet. I'm afraid there's nowt special about my blood group. Common O Positive.... well, that's if they actually manage to find any blood in the wine/strongbow/beer flowing through my veins...:D

Re: Give Blood......
 

I can't donate blood. But I do carry a donor card.
I have also registered with the donor Center.

Re: Give Blood......
 

I'm still waiting to hear back if they'll have me again. I used to have a little "passport" with tickets stuck in every time I donated, and then an enamelled badge after so many. Goodness knows what ever happened to them.

I hope the donor card system has improved since my father died. He had one but nothing was done. It was such a shame. I could tell you another tale but as it's a bit gruesome I think I'd better not.