Would you like to be a blood donor?

Question

What are some of your concerns?

Answer 1

I am already a regular blood donor, thank you. I don't have any concerns. I'm also considering registering for bone marrow donation.

Answer 2

There are no concerns. The center in my home town is very clean, as I'm sure with most blood donor centers. I had been giving blood for at least 15 plus years. Then they stopped accepting my blood due to the scare a few years ago regarding "mad cow disease" and the years that I was stationed in Europe. Other than that, never any problems.

I had a group of friends and we went faithfully. Enjoyed meeting other people and the snacks that they would give were great.

Answer 3

I used to be a blood donor for the San Bernardino County Blood drive, but they won't take my blood anymore because they added a question that excluded me. I was living in Germany during the whole Mad Cow disease scare, so they don't want my blood anymore.

I used to do it every time it came to town though. I loved it. Only passed out once. Long as you drink plenty of fluids, you should be fine.

Answer 4

i have donated about 4 gallons of blood over my lifetime, and i have no concerns. if you drink, eat, and rest for the recommended amount of time afterwards, you will be fine. another person mentioned that the red cross sells your blood, but this isn't quite accurate. they charge the hospital the cost associated with processing the unit. a lot of tests and processing are needed to make a unit of blood ready to be administered. your donated unit of blood passes through many hands before reaching the hospital, and these people need to earn a living too. the needles and set-up are sterile and used only once, and the collection technique is also sterile. you lie back in a comfortable chair, and let the nurse do his or her job. each unit of blood can save several lives. not just the red blood cells portion is used, but also platelets, plasma, and clotting factors may be harvested. if your unit is split for pediatric use, you can save up to 4 kids. go for it, and save some lives!

Answer 5

I would LOVE to be a blood donor but unfortunatly I've lived in the UK and they won't let you donate blood if you're from there. They are fearing that I may carry mad cow disease but I lived there like 11 years ago and I think if i was carrying it I would have already died.

Answer 6

I would like to, but am ineligible because of a long stay in England.
To date, I have donated almost 3 gallons, and about 10 pheresis draws.
I have been so gung ho on donating because my mother needed many units of blood during a cancer surgery when I was a kid. And, in 2001, I needed two units because of a bleeding ulcer.
It's the right thing to do.

Answer 7

needles are my greatest concern....I hate them with a vengence!!! I have only ever had 2 blood tests in my life and I cried at both...not something I would want to do in public!

The other thing is thats its quite rigid in being a donor ie being in hosptial a certain time ago...I lived in the UK for 18months and that stops me I think coz of CJD

Answer 8

none..at least when you give blood you know it goes to help someone! i was a 20 year donor and my son and daughter have taken over!

Answer 9

I used to donate every six months before I went to the UK for further studies during the 1995/1996 period. It was the "mad-cow" disease period, where loony cows started to pop-out from everywhere.

Now, I am BANNED from donating because I was there during that period... my blood is worthless!

And I didn't eat no cow... cause I can only afford fish there!

Answer 10

I am permanently deferred from blood donation because I lived in the UK during 1980-1981. The Red Cross thinks I might give you mad cow disease. :(