The Life Blood...
On Wednesday I had my thrice yearly blood donation session.
Only 6% of people who are able to donate in this country actually do so. This astonishes me, and frankly, saddens me.
The fact of the matter is that without the few blood donors we have in this country, many many people would die every day. Many operations would be either exceptionally dangerous or impossible, many serious accidents would be fatal, and there would be so many more tears shed.
Firstly, it really doesn't hurt at all, it's not dangerous, doesn't take long (most companies will let you have the time off), saves lives, and all you have to do is lie back and rest.
This week I additionally got extra samples taken to put me on the Bone Marrow Donation Registry, if you've ever had a friend with leukaemia or another disorder of the immune system or blood you'll know how critical this is. Well worth the effort to extend what is more often than not, a very young life about to be snubbed out.
In short, don't be selfish, give life, it's the best gift available....
Sign-up for the Organ Donor Register
End of Sermon
Only 6% of people who are able to donate in this country actually do so. This astonishes me, and frankly, saddens me.
The fact of the matter is that without the few blood donors we have in this country, many many people would die every day. Many operations would be either exceptionally dangerous or impossible, many serious accidents would be fatal, and there would be so many more tears shed.
Firstly, it really doesn't hurt at all, it's not dangerous, doesn't take long (most companies will let you have the time off), saves lives, and all you have to do is lie back and rest.
This week I additionally got extra samples taken to put me on the Bone Marrow Donation Registry, if you've ever had a friend with leukaemia or another disorder of the immune system or blood you'll know how critical this is. Well worth the effort to extend what is more often than not, a very young life about to be snubbed out.
In short, don't be selfish, give life, it's the best gift available....
Sign-up for the Organ Donor Register
End of Sermon
posted by Orbling at
03:44
11 Comments:
No, providing you are in good health and not at all anaemic then it should do you no harm at all. You have to take it easy on the day you actually give blood, and you'll be slightly below maximum sporting efficiency for a day or so afterwards - but most don't notice at all.
You would be fine, providing you get enough iron, as I know you question your diet from time to time.
Anyone fit and healthy should do it in my opinion. Do unto others, you never know when you might be in need of receiving blood. :)
By
Orbling, at Sunday, October 31, 2004 2:17:00 pm
donate blood?
i wish they didn't have to stick needles into me
perhaps, I will consider donating
the docs have trouble even injecting me..
let alone taking blood out.
haha
u r noble.=P
wow
By
Desolation, at Sunday, October 31, 2004 2:37:00 pm
It's not really a noble thing to do, just something worthwhile. When you're as useless as me, there is little you can do for your fellow man - but at least I have something left to give, even if it is just my blood.
Needles never worried me, except ones lying around in stairwells. If they have trouble taking blood from you usually then donating could be a little tricky. Worth trying though.
As I understand it, in the US blood isn't donated as such, as you get paid for it, no?
By
Orbling, at Sunday, October 31, 2004 2:46:00 pm
Well in the general case, deficiency of iron in the blood.
As long as your diet is reasonable and you've not been bleeding alot or are currently menstruating you should be fine.
By
Orbling, at Sunday, October 31, 2004 5:23:00 pm
u get paid?
haha
no surprise
afterall us is the capital of capitalism.
in singapore, u dun get paid.
it's all charity
if not.. it's like selling blood dun u think?
and poor people might be tempted to sell more than they can
like china.. that's how aids spread
poor parents selling blood to help their children get food.
sad sad
oh my... u wuote from princess darists
that means u actually watch it?
haha
i like the quote
thank you
By
Desolation, at Monday, November 01, 2004 11:39:00 am
Yeah the US is a bit odd for things like that, don't think people need to be paid for it myself. I wouldn't like to have market forces effecting the price, LOL.
Princess Diaries was quite reasonable. ;)
By
Orbling, at Tuesday, November 02, 2004 1:44:00 pm
Well done. I wish more people would sign up for bone marrow donation. I had a friend who needed bone marrow and whose family members were not compatible. Unfortunately I am not eligible to go on the list but would like a shot if I could.
If you do give blood and then go have a drink to congratulate yourself watch out for the mother of all hangovers!
By
Spitting, at Wednesday, November 03, 2004 2:21:00 am
Apparently only 1/12 of blood donors are signed up for bone marrow donation.... Only 6% of people are blood donors, so that's what 1/2% bone marrow donors....
Great.
I spoke with a load of my mates about it and none of them would, except one (the lone female in the group, guess girls are more compassionate).
By
Orbling, at Wednesday, November 03, 2004 2:32:00 am
In the U.S. we don't get paid to donate blood. But you can be paid at some clinics for donating plasma, eggs, semen, and bone marrow.
I donate blood a couple of times a year, usually when the big RV comes to my school for a blood drive. I also donate plasma to the Red Cross (and no, I don't get paid). It takes about an hour because they actually pump the blood out of your body, filter out the plasma, then pump the other blood parts back in your body. You can donate plasma a lot more frequently than blood. But, since blood is being put back in your body, make sure all the parts that your blood touches are disposable plastic and NEW! never been used. I always make them open everything in front of me because I'm so paranoid about getting infected with something.
I've tried to donate my eggs but eveidently I'm not smart enough. You have to have an ACT score of 25 or above and mine from high school was 24. Oh well. I tried.
And of course I'm an organ and tissue donor in the event of my death. I say take it all, whatever's left cremate and then toss it back to the earth. I don't understand why we bury our dead in coffins, taking up sooo much space on Earth. Why die and take your precious organs with you (unless it's part of your religion, I guess)? You're not going to be using them. But I'm preaching to the choir, aren't I.
Yet, despite all that, you've got me beat. The marrow donation is just too much for me. I'm sure I would do it if someone I knew needed it, but I'm too much of a baby to just go and do it on my own. I'm proud of you for taking the step to do such a selfless act.
By
Texas Gurl, at Monday, January 17, 2005 12:15:00 am
Orbling, You really need to upgrade to haloscan.com commenting and trackback system so I can link your posts to mine. Goodness. Well, I'll place my link here
http://texas_gurl.blogspot.com/2004/09/lot-of-blood.html
By
Texas Gurl, at Monday, January 17, 2005 12:21:00 am
Thanks TG, donating plasma is a great idea if you can do it. I should really get setup to do that, we don't get paid for any donation over here, apart from sperm, IIRC. For eggs, the law is expenses only, which has a cap.
The plasma donation over here is done via aphresis like you said, where they filter the blood. They like people to donate every 4 weeks if they donate platelets like that. Bone marrow donation can be done like this too these days, if you've got good veins, which you must have if you do all this donation.
So many people use HaloScan, I've thought about it, but am not sure, quite like the regular system. ;)
By
Orbling, at Monday, January 17, 2005 12:33:00 am
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