Giving blood...

[holdawayt]

I'm giving blood tomorrow for the first time. Any tips for a blood donor noob?

oh and i'm terrified of needles and the sight of blood makes me pass out. i'm doing this to get over my fear and help some people out while i do it!

tom

[Proffitt]

Fair play mate :y:

Ive always wanted to do it but never actually got around to doing it!

[ShaneyG7]

Just dont think about it too much, its nothing to worry about..

Theyre professionals and they know what theyre doing and all you should think about its being proud that you could be saving someones life in the future :y:

Good on ya mate! Gonna be doing this myself. im not afraid of needles to they can drain me dry lol :)

Respect :y:

[holdawayt]

lol that drain me dry thought just made me heave!!

it's weird, i've been a skateboarder and motorcross rider for years so there are occasions when i bleed a lot. but it never bothers me. Its just the thought of it being pumped out of my body that gets me i think.

but yep i'll think of the positive side and someone's life could be saved especially as i'm an extremely rare blood type.

tom

[bullit]

now i know ive not got aids, i might think about it

[ShaneyG7]

Its not being pumped out of you lol your not a machine, them thoughts wont help you :P

just think good thoughts and im sure you will feel very good afterwards..

doing you part :y: good man!!

Shane

[jw1325]

make sure you have had something decent to eat before you go, otherwise waste of time and you wont be allowed to give.

they will prick your finger to test the haemoglobin, and if that along with all the info you have provided in the form is satisfactory after you have had your consulatation, they will take you through to the ward thing and put you on a bed and allow you to give blood.

a nurse will clean your arm and preform a vena puncture (puttin the needle in) and you will just sit there and maybe be asked to pump your fist as the bag is filled up. the bag turns roung and mixes the blood as this is happning so if your squeemish dont look!

if you find that alright, it may also be worth donating platlets next time, this is done by taking the blood from you as if you were donating blood, but the platlets are separated and your blood is given back to you.

because you are given your blood back you can donate platlets more often that you can blood. platlets also cant be stored as long as blood, so there is a more constant demand for them. used for premature babies alot.

there may be a shortage of blood donors but there is an even bigger shortage of platlet donors, so it would be something to consider.


when you have donated your bloody they will probably make you sit down, ahve a sugary drink and a biscuit. TAKE IT! its really important to get your sugar levels up or you will faint. my mum has given blood since she was 17, works within the scottish national blood tranfusion service, and the last time she gave blood was on her lunch hour. she didnt take the drink after cause she was going straight for lunch, walked out the door, fresh hair hit her, and she hit the deck, out cold.

i dont give blood because (a) i dont like watching it come out of me and (b) i have low blood sugar at the best of times. but im in there alot with my mum, and good on you fella coz your really helping someone!

[Reid]

No tips mate but good on you for making the time to give blood

[Furio-92]

Im petrified of needles, not to bothered about blood tho, just stay calm mate. I give blood every 2-3 months and i was shi**ing myself the first time, like i said stay calm, big breaths and ya'll be fine :)

[holdawayt]

Thanks for all the support guys!
i'll update this tomorrow.................. if i'm alive mwahahahaha!


but seriously i'll let you all know how i get on.

Tom

[adam_baker]

im fine with needles, it dont hurt, blood doesnt bother me. but after every blood test i faint, 5 mins after the test i start to feel hot and begin to sweat, next thing i wake up. very weird, i just think my body doesnt like the fact of losing blood.

[Caino]

ive been supposed to go for a while now but i havent been able to make it ! im definitely going to do it though good on you mate

[wadoryu]

i had a pint of orange juice(sugar). easy mate. just dont trying running afterwards, i felt sick lol

[Carlvtr88]

It doesnt hurt. Theres a nice tip for you :) You just feel all wobbly afterwards .

[Peter_D]

I gave blood on Monday morning last week which was needed that day for a routine operation on another boy. Was feeling rough as fuck on my way to the place after a hard weekend..

The boy almost died of a drug overdose later that night

:zainy: :panic:

[tom_1106]

just relax and let tehm get on with it

it doesnt hurt but you can get a local anaesthetic(sp) if you want to

dont try running or drinking or that after youll just feel ill haha same with any sudden movements

speaking from experience there :P

[Bodvts]

they go to my mrs work every so often she wanted to do it i even thought of going in with her but we cant not been allowed for last 2 years because of the holidays we've been on said we still have risk of malaria up to 12 months after been

[exfiestagirl]

Easy- shut your eyes or read a book. It is my way of giving to charity!

[Boyes]

Good luck mate, more people should give blood I went Sunday. I dislike needles as I would've thought most people do, so I usually look away when they insert it, try taking an ipod/mp3 player with you and just explain you don't like the sight of blood, they'll look after you. All nurses are spot on and help, and at the end get a cuppa and biscuit to boost your blood sugar!

[holdawayt]

Went fine guys :)

i was really nervous and therefore had a high heart rate, managed to fill the bag in 3 minutes!
i'd recommend it to anybody.

Tom

[foxon]

I have wanted to do this but because im always gettin new tattoos, and you cant give blood if you had a tattoo less than 4 months ago

[bald24]

I've done it 4 times now :)

Feels great knowing you're doing something to help others - looks great on the CV as well ;)