Giving blood

[GoldenBear]

I signed up to give blood, and was wondering exactly what the whole experience is like.

And how will this affect my athletic performances? I play volleyball, and didn't want it to be a big burden on it.

I'm 5'9" 142 lb., so I'm not really that big of a guy..

 

[SpongeBob]

It's not too bad, I hate needles and I could handle it, although I did almost pass out one time, but you get free cookies and juice, hey maybe this should be in Hot Deals!

 

[Lily27]

well i give blood regularly and when i was in high school i used to play volleyball too. didn't really affect anything. only bad experience i had was feeling a little faint once, but that was easily fixed by gatorade

as for how it feels, i guess u just feel the needle go in, and then u can just sit there and read a book, u really don't feel anything till they take the needle out again. make sure ur well hydrated before you give blood, i guess thats all.

 

[sharkeeper]

I've found that sticking your finger in the path of one of those Delta 60 mm 37 CFM (7000 RPM) screamers gives plenty of blood!

Cheers!

 

[vi edit]

Make sure you aren't sick, on any drugs, or have any alcohol in your system, they'll turn you down for your blood donation.

You may be a little dizzy or lightheaded afterwards. Also, don't bend your arm too much if you can avoid it. It may be a little tender.

 

[Windogg]

<<< And how will this affect my athletic performances? >>>

Play hockey and kill two birds with one stone

 

[ToBeMe]

It's easy and a very good thing to do......you never know when you may be on the receiving end........:Q

 

[Lily27]

by the way, for you poor college kids, u can get some money donating plasma. it pays pretty good too. u just go in there and they take ur blood, seperate the plasma and return the blood back to you. that way you can make donations more often and stuff. i rarely do it but when i need money, why not

 

[luv2chill]

Do it!!! It's such a small inconvenience but you'll be helping to save a life! I try to donate fairly regularly for the Red Cross. They love me because I'm O-Neg (universal donor).

The descriptions others provided are pretty accurate. Basically they just find a vein (easier in some people than others) and you just sit there for about ten minutes or so. Unless you're especially sensitive to needles it doesn't hurt.

Plus they usually give you snacks afterwards.

l2c

 

[atom]

I have a big phobia of needles, but I still give blood. The first time I did it they had to practically strap me down.

As long as you eat, you should be fine. One time I gave blood and I hadn't had breakfast or dinner the night before. It was like I was on some weird drug. You'd be amazed how amusing ceiling spackle and a Paul Oakenfold CD is when you're woozy.

 

[Dameon]

Do they really need my blood if I'm AB+??? Something like 90% of the population can't take my blood.

 

[Impact55]

I second Windogg's statement, I just came from a brutal game ( had a jv game before and varsity game ) where I both played continually, I got a slapshot to arm with no padding *ouch*, slash across face, dizziness from a huge hit, and a sore back from when I hit a guy and got slashed back...

 

[vi edit]

Dameon, the more rare your blood type, the more in demand it is at blood banks.

 

Is your skin fair or dark complexion?
And are your veins close to the surface of the skin?
I dont like to give blood because I have had numerous problems with getting the needle in the vein.
And it resulted in LOTS of holes and pain in my arm.
Good luck, the nation needs more god blood.

 

[shiner]

If God had intended us to give blood he would have put faucets where our nipples are.

 

[Renob]

I donate platletts once a week it takes one and a hAlf hours to do it. They give the platletts to people with cancer. What they do is stick you with one iv in the right arm and start drawing your blOod out it goes into a machine behind you that filters out the platletts then they stick you in the other arm and return the blood back to you. They have to cover you up to keep you warm because you blood comes back a little colder then when it left.. I think the nurse said in the hour and a half the machine drains all the blood out of you like six times...Its cool they put you in these cool chairs and let you watch a video with head phones on.. The down side is you cant move so if you have an itch you have to call the nurse to scratch it for you. and when you done you get cookies and juice.. Its done a the blood center by my house I can walk there in about 5 minutes..

 

[Prodigy^]

they definitely want your blood if you got a rare type.

 

[Dameon]

Prodigy / Vi,

My understanding was that they really needed O negative people, as 0 negatives can ONLY receive negative, and ANYONE can take O negative blood (universal donor). People who are AB+ like me can take anything (universal receiver), so what good is it for me to give? If they have ANY other non-tainted blood, it will work in whoever is receiving mine.

Yes, I'm rare, but I'm like a late 70's toyota... ya can pour just about anything in my tank and I'll work.

 

[fake]

The only time I had a bad experience with blood stuff was when I was sitting up and watched the blood flow out of me. Fainted and had to be given that nasty smelling stuff to wake me up.

Laying down and thinking about other things helps a lot.

 

[ZeroCool420]

<<< on any drugs >>>

darn. I guess I'm not giving any blood anytime soon =(.

 

[Nick Stone]

GoldenBear

<<<<< And how will this affect my athletic performances? I play volleyball, and didn't want -- -- >>>>>>

I used to give blood regularly a few years back. It will affect athletic performance. My time for a 4 mile run would rise by about 25 seconds and return to normal in about 10 days.

I don't think it would matter much for vollyball though since you rest between plays.

 

[kranky]

Dameon, I'm AB+ also. The plasma from your donation is usable for any blood type, and the whole blood is of course good for any other AB+ recipient. So your donation will not be wasted.

 

[bobtist]

I'm so scared of needles... Some people think it's funny that a grown man starts to shake in his boots when that sharp thing gets near my arm, but I can't help it.

I do not donate blood.

 

[IamDavid]

I know this is a dumb question but, does being diabetic exclude me from donating blood? When I was in college I donated a few times when they had the blood drives.. Then I found out I was diabetic..I know nobody could have caught diabetes from me but I just thought it was strange nobody said anything to me..

 

[kranky]

The pamphlet we were given at work says &quot;Diabetics: may donate if oral medication; insulin-dependent diabetics may donate if well-managed and no secondary complications&quot;

Regardless, you should call ahead to where you would donate to make sure.