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Just donated my first 0.5L of A+

I give blood to the Red Cross blood bank. I'm trying to get to at least 2-3 donations a year instead of the previous rate of once in n years.
 
no point in me even visiting the bloodbank, I have Bloodtype AB+.

for those of you unfamiliar with bloodtypes: I'm a universal receiver but I can only give blood to people with my own bloodtype.
 
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O+

...a couple gallons over the years (the hospital keeps records, and calls when you can donate again)
 
Broheim said:
no point in me even visiting the bloodbank, I have Bloodtype AB+.

for those of you unfamiliar with bloodtypes: I'm a universal receiver but I can only give blood to people with my own bloodtype.
Click to expand...

same here I think, I might be AB- though, and my brother would then be AB+
 
mmntech said:
No. They won't take donations if it's not your own blood.
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Yeah, that's very annoying. You show up with a jug of freshly drawn blood ready to be donated to a good cause and they show you the door. At any rate you can still enjoy it yourself and not let it go to waste.
 
Broheim said:
no point in me even visiting the bloodbank, I have Bloodtype AB+.

for those of you unfamiliar with bloodtypes: I'm a universal receiver but I can only give blood to people with my own bloodtype.
Click to expand...

Isn't there normally a demand for AB+ because it's not too common and they prefer giving matched blood rather than anything that works...?
 
PlasmaBomb said:
Isn't there normally a demand for AB+ because it's not too common and they prefer giving matched blood rather than anything that works...?
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They do prefer - but whole blood doesn't last long. If you're AB+ AB- and want to donate, then your best option would be to contact the nearest hospital see if they have a 'Call' list. This way if there's a need, they can call you and have you come in.


As for demand... It depends on need and the types of procedures going on in the area:

http://www.givelife2.org/aboutblood/faq.asp

What are the components of blood and their use?

The primary components of whole blood are red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate. Blood product Main uses

Whole blood ==>> Open heart surgery, newborns

Red blood cells ==>> Trauma, anemia, surgery

Platelets ==>> Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

Fresh frozen plasma ==>> Massive transfusions

Plasma ==>> Burns

Cryoprecipitate ==>> Hemophilia



Can you accumulate and store blood?
Blood has a limited shelf life. The different components of blood can last from 5 days to a year or more.

- Platelets must be used within 5 days of donation.

- Red blood cells may be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of 42 days.

- Frozen red blood cells can last up to 10 years, but because of the high cost involved, only a small portion of the blood supply can be frozen.

- Plasma is generally frozen and must be used within one year.

Because blood is perishable, new donations are needed every day.
Click to expand...



The hospital where I donate is a Cancer Center, so I occasionally donate Platelets rather than whole blood when the staff have a specific need. This is somewhat unpleasant, though, - (they drain from one arm and into a centerfuge where the platelets are separated out. Then your blood is pumped back into your other arm... cold...).
 
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Been giving blood since high school. These days I probably average 4 times a year (you can give roughly every 2 months) since I fail the iron test way too often. I've taken to popping some iron pills the week before I'm set to donate.

What bothers me (this is Red Cross btw) is that they got rid of all the good snacks. They used to have Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, but for some reason they've swapped them out for Grandma's Cookies, which I find gawdawful. They do have Famous Amos oatmeal raisin, but I much prefer chocolate chip. They also don't have sodas any more, it's all fruit juice.

Dammit, when I give blood I use it as an excuse to treat my self / pig out. I don't want health food or crappy cookies, I want soda and icecream or cookies.
 
AB- Up till this year I was donating every 2 months. They would call me when I could come back and I would make it sometime that week. This year I haven't been going though... not sure why.
 
i need to donate more. i used to donate 3 times a year in college...

i'd go with my friend and one of the nurses would think that my friend was my gf. one time after christmas break she was like "wow you really fattened him up since last time." I was like -_____-
 
I donate once or twice a year.

I'd like to donate more but its hard because my body doesn't react well. I usually faint while they're drawing the blood (only once have I made it all the way through), and am down for ~4 hours after.
 
Broheim said:
no point in me even visiting the bloodbank, I have Bloodtype AB+.

for those of you unfamiliar with bloodtypes: I'm a universal receiver but I can only give blood to people with my own bloodtype.
Click to expand...

What about platelets?
 
Terzo said:
Been giving blood since high school. These days I probably average 4 times a year (you can give roughly every 2 months) since I fail the iron test way too often. I've taken to popping some iron pills the week before I'm set to donate.

What bothers me (this is Red Cross btw) is that they got rid of all the good snacks. They used to have Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, but for some reason they've swapped them out for Grandma's Cookies, which I find gawdawful. They do have Famous Amos oatmeal raisin, but I much prefer chocolate chip. They also don't have sodas any more, it's all fruit juice.

Dammit, when I give blood I use it as an excuse to treat my self / pig out. I don't want health food or crappy cookies, I want soda and icecream or cookies.
Click to expand...

Try your local Blood Bank instead of the Red Cross. They may have decent munchies
 
Terzo said:
Been giving blood since high school. These days I probably average 4 times a year (you can give roughly every 2 months) since I fail the iron test way too often. I've taken to popping some iron pills the week before I'm set to donate.

What bothers me (this is Red Cross btw) is that they got rid of all the good snacks. They used to have Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, but for some reason they've swapped them out for Grandma's Cookies, which I find gawdawful. They do have Famous Amos oatmeal raisin, but I much prefer chocolate chip. They also don't have sodas any more, it's all fruit juice.

Dammit, when I give blood I use it as an excuse to treat my self / pig out. I don't want health food or crappy cookies, I want soda and icecream or cookies.
Click to expand...

They still have Loran Doones (about the only place I ever see them) and in Connecticut if you donate in July you get a coupon for a free half gallon of Friendly's ice cream.

<-- next donation July 7th
 
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