Donating Blood Kilted

[Retro Red]

Good for you, Ron, & all the other blood donors! With the ever increasing number of restrictions on who can give blood, it's important for those of us who still can give to give as often as possible.

I'm up to 95 pints & looking forward to reaching my long-term goal of joining the Century Club, soon, not that I'll stop donating after I reach that goal.

The last couple of donations I've been giving a double dose, where they siphon off twice the amount of hemoglobin of a regular donation & return the plasma. It's kind of a weird sensation at first because the plasma is pumped back into you slightly chilled, so it's literally a "cool" thing to do! A great way to chill during the summer...

I've been giving the last 4 years kilted, so the donation folks all know me (plus the fact that I always sign-in in mirror-image).

For those of you on the forum who have never given blood, please give it serious consideration. Not only is it a life-saving service to your community, but as others have pointed out it has a lot of healthy benefits for the donor, too, & it really doesn't hurt. The only side-effect I notice is that I'm more easily winded for a day or two (because there's temporarily less red-blood cells to carry oxygen). Just do it!

And when it comes to my blood type, well that's just another way of proving that I'm A+ kind of guy!

[Archangel]

BTW, in case anybody in political authority is listening... After the Canadian Red Cross totally screwed up the Canadian blood donation system (by buying Texas penitentiary blood and distributing it unchecked to Canadians), the Canadian government took away their blood distribution privileges. The Red Cross was replaced by Canadian Blood Services who introduced a whole new level of bureaucracy, and for me, made it very difficult to continue donating blood. Drop in donations are not allowed, it's by appointment only. When it comes to blood, I don't live that way. I can't predict how well I'll feel at a given time but I drive by the centre frequently. If I go in, it's a long wait because they don't do first come, first served anymore. You have to wait for a cancelled appointment.
They also don't do work sites anymore, or at least as often.
I'm pretty close to 30 donations, and I wanted to keep that going. They've made it very frustrating.

Anyway, my brief rant. America does better than Canada on this one. Congrats on your gifts.

[Hamish]

Here in the United Kingdom we are not permitted to donate more than three times a year - it used to be only twice a year - and I have never heard of double dosing. I am not aware that they do it here. My blood group is B Reh D Negative, which is comparatively rare, and I was once called to a London Hospital to give an emergency donation for a recipient who was actually on the operating table in the theatre next door!

[MysticMead]

as much as I would love to donate... I sadly cannot... all due to my time in teh military and being stationed in Europe. I spent a large portion of my time (1990-1994) in Germany as well as Turkey.. and according to the guidelines for donating, those time lines restrict donations.. more power to those that can donate, you are doing a great service...

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

This thread inspired me. I immediately made an appointment and donated blood (last Thursday). It was a mixed experience. I did not go in a kilt or a kilted skirt, and I did not take any pictures, but thought I would post my experiences.

I haven't given blood in about 10 years, so I noted that things have changed a lot in this time. The laminated info sheets you have to read prior to giving have multiplied. The countries you cannot spend much time in have expanded. And the questions are administered on a lap top, so as not to embarrass a live person I suppose.

I made the mistake of admitting that I have come in contact with human blood in the past year (my daughter likes to injure herself). This worked itself out and they decided my blood was probably not tainted by contact with a 4 year old's severely skinned knee. Good thing they don't (yet!) ask about contact with animal blood!

The technician who drew my blood was chatty, personable and good at her job. In fact, by the time we were done with the collection, she had told me all about her deformed dogs, found out I was a vet and asked for my card. Think I've got a new client!

Here's what made it a mixed experience-after arriving home I received a call from the Red Cross. They advised me they had forgotten to ask a very important question and could not use my blood without the answer. "Go ahead" I said. "No, you need to answer it in person at the donation center, today", she responded. Of course it was now 6:30 and the donation center closed at 7:00 and was at least 40 minutes away at that time of day. Therefore, they did not end up using my blood !

They did call again, and asked the question, which involved Jamba Juice exposure (there has been an outbreak of Hepatitis, involving Jamba Juice, in the Bay Area recently). I have not had a Jamba Juice in 2 years. But they still had to throw out most of my blood, just using a portion for a study.

So, I will give again, but I will definitely ask if there are any further questions and relate this tale next time!

Be well,

[Dirk Skene]

Now that is what heros are made of

[McClef]

I got up to 14 donations before diabetes ended my career but after the cancer I still get regular blood tests but you don't get any credit for those!

I never donated kilted but am usually kilted for the blood tests!

[Colin]

I used to donate blood fairly regularly, but unfortunately the rules here now state that the donor must not have had any tattoo work done within 12 months. I have somehow managed to not make that 12 month deadline in about 4 years now. Maybe next June.

I am a big believer that if you donate, you should. It's true that you never know you who have saved.

[Riverkilt]

Which reminds me how ticked I was after 9/11 when everyone was saying we should get a commemerative tattoo. No, FIRST we need to donate blood, THEN get the commemerative tattoo.

I've had some one year layoffs on donating too, after adding a tat. Kind of a silly rule with all the precautions a good tattoo artist takes these days.

Ron

[Frank McGrath]

I have decided that 1 needle stick every 52 days is worth not being tattooed. But that was my choice, not an editorial. I thank all that have donated. I thank all those who have tried and could not. I thank all those who volunteer to help those that give. I thank the Red Cross for all those goofy t shirts. But above all, I thank Famous Amos for the chocolate chip cookies at the canteen.