Poll: Giving blood

[bad rider]

Turned 17 two days ago, so I decided to give blood today.Anyways me and my friend walked down to the center I went in we both registered and i got called in first. Anyways upon being told it wouldn't take to long to get rid of a pint of blood for me, i challenged my friend to a race. Anyway I got a time of 4 min 17 seconds. He clocked a time of over 8 minutes. (He felt woozey half way through.)So does anyone else have a story or a time about giving blood?

I don't know how the system is in the USA most likely different as you get paid for it, you lucky bastards.

Edit: Just incase you where wondering here's the UK website it has the guide lines on it and etc http://www.blood.co.uk/

 

[Duck Sandwich]

Here in Canada, the age for donating blood is 16. Donating blood has made up a good chunk of the 40 Community Service hours I needed to graduate High School.

EDIT: Whoops. Age is 17, not 16. Don't know how I screwed that one up.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I've never given blood, but a couple of years ago when they came to our school to do it, they got about 50 pints of blood from the sixth formers. Gastrion Enginitus (I don't know how to spell it, it's a disease) started spreading round the school that day, so they had to throw the blood away. ;3

I'm deathly afraid of needles, they'd have to knock me out with a sledge hammer before I did anything like that.

 

[Brokkr]

I will probably never give blood. I HATE needles. If they gave me the option of using a knife and cutting my arm so the blood dripped out of it, I would be ok with it but keep those damn needles away from me.

 

[errorfied]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm Gay.

I would like to though, so it's very aggravating.

EDIT: I ticked the "can't" option, and I slightly regret it now. It's not that I can't, it's that I'm not allowed.

 

[Baby Tea]

I haven't yet, but I will once I can. I recently had surgery after a rare problem with my intestinal tract (Look up meckel's diverticulitis...it's nuts).

Before the surgery, I needed 4 units of blood (That's a lot) so I think I have to wait a while after the surgery.

But since people giving blood saved my life (Twice) and my dad's life, I'm totally giving blood when I can.

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm Gay.

Uhh, what country do you live in that prohibits giving blood because you're gay? Sounds messed up to me. I've never heard of that...ever.

 

[Logie--bear]

I have regularly since I was able to, It's one of those things I feel proud about, it's just part of my giving back *shrug*

Does anyone do the program where they only take your platelets?

 

[Death Magnetic]

I should do when I'm old enough. I also may donate £2400 to charity (that sounds like sarcasm but it's not) but I haven't decided on it yet.

-Ricky

 

[bad rider]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm Gay.

I would like to though, so it's very aggravating.

EDIT: I ticked the "can't" option, and I slightly regret it now. It's not that I can't, it's that I'm not allowed.

I'm going to change can't to not allowed.

 

[MURPHYCHACHO]

I give blood whenever I can. It only hurts for a little bit, and the knowledge that I could be saving someone's life is very satisfying. I also have a pretty uncommon blood type, so I know they have need of it. I've been turned away a few times because my blood has had a low iron count, but most of the time it's good.

 

[orifice]

Not allowed because of a current problem, but when things get sorted out, yes I would.

 

[Calobi]

No donating for me. I have the second rarest, and the one time I volunteered to I was denied. Apparently I'm supposed to wait until the need arises to donate mine.

 

[errorfied]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm Gay.

I would like to though, so it's very aggravating.

EDIT: I ticked the "can't" option, and I slightly regret it now. It's not that I can't, it's that I'm not allowed.

I'm going to change can't to not allowed.

Oh Thank you! It was more of a grumble at old institutions than at the actual poll though.

The whole situation is ridiculous, as I am O negative, a rare and useful blood type and they won't take mine because I am apparently part of a risk group.

 

[bad rider]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I'm Gay.

I would like to though, so it's very aggravating.

EDIT: I ticked the "can't" option, and I slightly regret it now. It's not that I can't, it's that I'm not allowed.

I'm going to change can't to not allowed.

Oh Thank you! It was more of a grumble at old institutions than at the actual poll though.

The whole situation is ridiculous, as I am O negative, a rare and useful blood type and they won't take mine because I am apparently part of a risk group.

Unlucky man hope they change it, but I guess they don't want to run the risk which is probably fair enough.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

I always found it amusing when they ask questions in the little booth.

"Have you had sex with a man?"
"Have you had sex with a man who has had sex with a man who has AIDS?"
"Have you taken money or drugs for sex?"

They'd save a lot of time if they just asked "Have you had sex at all?" and then just checkmarked about 10 or so "No" boxes upon hearing "No." /facetiousness

EDIT: My blood type is O rh Positive, which is compatible with a lot of other blood types. Boo yah!

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

I dont think i eveer will i hate it

 

[Evilbunny]

I'm not allowed to give blood because I had cancer and underwent nine months of intense chemotherapy. I gave before I was diagnosed, though.

 

[errorfied]

They currently don't allow gay people in the United Kingdon to donate blood as we're technically part of an HIV risk group.

They get around our very good anti-discriminatory laws, by stating that it's not gay men who are excluded, but "men who have sex with men".

As far as I was aware, that's what gay men are....that said, if anybody can tell me where all these straight men fucking other men are, I'd be interested.

 

[Trace2010]

I gave blood until the point where they said I might have mad cow disease because I lived in x country during y time. It became a pain in the butt....I no longer go back.

 

[Horizontalvertigo]

I would if I could, but I having a rare genetic blood disease kinda hampers the whole "giving blood" idea. When I was younger i used to have meds that were blood products based, but now its all synthetic, but if i could i would still like to donate, give back a little.
if anyone wants to know, the disease is called Haemophilia, (Hemophilia if you're american) it's a pretty nasty life threatening disease, and i have the good fortune of having it severely hahahaha