Blood- they want it!

Oh indeed and good on you- it is essential. I needed litres and litres after my terrible car crash in 1970- and if my grandchildren ever needed some and there was none- I'd be more than cross. So keep up the good work.

Screening definitely got pickier (for safer blood) over the years while I was a regular blood and platelet donor. One would expect that, really, as knowledge increased. Eventually I was told that I was too small to be donating anyhow. This was after I felt whoozy during the fifth platelet spin on one occasion. After that they only did four for a few months but then they stopped asking me to come.

DD2 remembers coming along to the donation centre with me before she was old enough for school. She is now a blood donor herself.

I guess, like most things, the system is fallible. Still I will be on a mission now to encourage our younger generations to go and give.
I may need a bit of blood at some point and will be very cross if there isn't any!
Even if I can only persuade 2 that will be enough to replace us when we have to stop.

Yes, sorry, that's it. But it does illustrate how proper screening is essential.

Of course, Elegran, that'll be it. I remember it happening now.

Are you sure it wasn't that hemophiliacs (who get a lot of transfusions) were infected with HIV which had not been screened for? Hemophilia is passed on genetically, A person with hemophilia cannot produce a protein that is vital to making blood clots. It is not "caught"

That's terrible, I didn't even know that haemophylia could be passed on by blood transfusion.

Well the French gvt were sued for massive amounts because they didn't screen properly for heamophylia and infected 100s- so I imagine it's best to be very careful with blood products.

It's quite amusing that the Swiss and Australians won't take blood from Brits, and I have been turned away here after holidays to both countries because of a BSE outbreak in Switzerland a few years after ours, and the Ross River Virus in Australia. The thinking behind it must be that we can cope with our own medical problems, but not those of other countries

It's strange that they wouldn't let you donate Lona it does say new donors have to be under 66. Maybe they haven't updated their site. It also states that returning donors are welcome up to 70. Maybe you should give them a call.
Granjura they won't take my daughters blood in Australia because ofCJD.
They do seem to have made the screening process a little less tedious. At one time, because we lived in Nigeria before I was 5 they had to check for malaria, every single time, now they seem to have managed to circumvent that.
I also see new donors being turned away, the other month one mother had obviously spent time persuading her two children to save a life, not sure if they would go back.
They could have had my slot but the bag ect. would have been labelled by then.
My Younger DD shudders and says I don't do needles! Irritates the** out of me. Would she feel the same if she needed a transfusion!

I went once, queued up for ages and then got told, due to my heart conditions, that I couldn't give any blood. My ED does and has done for some time now and my DS is keen to give too. I'm Rh negative, no idea what the children are.

I donated for many years..got badges and everything ... but they only used my blood for 'blood products' as I had lived in Africa as a child . Now I have CLL they can't use it at all.

'Returned' to donating five years ago when I retired (DD2works in NHS and,says they are desperate for donors )
But as maggiesays they don't make it easy .Very few walk- ins and hard to get an appointment at short notice .Said DD has stopped donating as she works shifts and cannot predict too far ahead when she can attend

SIL used to donate regularly but had to stop when he developed serious heart problems and was put on Warfarin. Perhaps things like this are happening to more people.

Maggie I agree with your comments about the Blood service not helping itself. My OH and I find it difficult to commit to an appointment time and always preferred it when we could just turn up. Now, as you say, if you don't make an appointment they seem to think it okay to keep you waiting for an unacceptable time. I also find it has become much more 'conveyor belt' orientated.

However, we both still go and feel we should do as long as we can. Have tried to get our families involved, without success, sadly.

I gave blood for some years but during the 1980s when they were tightening up the criteria blood donors must meet. I was then told I could not give blood because I am allergic to penicillin. I felt quite upset when I got the formal letter saying thanks, but no thanks, even though I knew and fully understood why I could not.

DD has started donating recently so it is good to know we still have a donor in the family.

Could the fall in numbers of people donating blood these days be a consequence of the popularity of tattooing. You have to wait at least four months after getting a tattoo to be a donor.

Gagagran AB+ here too- we are quite rare- and unfortunately can only give to other AB+ers- so not particularly useful, but I always gave blood until we moved here. I am no longer allowed to give blood as anyone who lived in the UK during the CJD crisis is banned as high risk!

I went when I retired at 60 and they wouldn't let me donate because I hadn't been for a few years due to working odd hours.
I was quite cross because I'm B rhesus neg and I think it's fairly rare.

Obieone you have to weigh at least 7 stone 12 lbs...sorry don't do metric

I'm a blood donor and am always pleased to see a good range of ages donating when I go. I've been on the register since I was 18, but have only made 41 donations, as there are so many times you can't give. During pregnancy, as a new mum, after travelling to certain countries, having your ears pierced, having dental work, when you're unwell, even with a cold. I missed my last one because even though I was fit and well I'd broken a bone in my hand (which reminds me I still need to reschedule). I'm B neg, and still aiming to get to at least 50 donations.

I've had little success recruiting the next generation. One came with me a few times but fainted twice, one has a real fear of needles and wouldn't even want to be in the room, the other is incredibly busy but I'm still working on her!

In grump mode, however, The Blood Service is forever banging on about donor shortfalls, but doesn't really help itself. When I worked I couldn't guarantee what time I'd get there so had to turn up without an appointment, and was turned away a couple of times as they were fully booked. Then they stopped using our local church hall, already a mile away and always packed, as my previous point shows, as a cost-cutting exercise. My nearest centre is now a village hall over 3 miles away, and there's only one bus an hour to it. I'm sure they'll have lost donors by doing this - we're not all drivers.

Weight.
The doctor there at the time said they dont, or didnt allow anyone under 8 stone to give blood. It wasnt on there dos and donts of the board at the donation centre at the time, but a doctor came over while I was near the front of the queue.
It might not be the same now? No idea.

What do you mean by 'small', obieone? Height-wise or weight-wise?

Used to donate regularly but on reaching 70 was told that was the cut off age.

Some years ago I contacted them several times, phone (answer machine), email and letter asking about donating - I never received a reply so I have never donated. Since then I have had cancer so don't suppose I would be allowed to now.