slo’s FRIDAY 7/26 poll - Donating Blood 🩸

[slo]

Blood….we all have it, we all require it to live - it’s one thing we ALL have in common - every single one of us. Sharing our blood with each other is one way we can help each other continue to have life - that’s a very powerful thing. You don’t need to be a doctor, you don’t need to be a hero - all you need is a short amount of time and you can save a life. I find that amazing! So, let’s talk blood donation today……

Have you donated blood?
If yes, how many times have you donated?
(multiple choice)


For Me……I donated for the first time yesterday, and I’m wanting to shout from the rooftops about how easy it was. I told the nurse yesterday that I’m ashamed and embarrassed that it took me this long. She explained to me about the health benefits of donating blood, which I found incredibly interesting. The biggest thing though, is I left there knowing that my blood will help someone live and that is incredible. It took about a half hour of my time - it took me longer to wait my turn, than it did to donate - the actual blood collection took about 5 - 7 minutes. I never felt dizzy or anything afterwards - I was totally fine. I look forward to donating again this year, and I will be a regular donater in the years to come. If you haven’t donated, I encourage you to do this too.

 

[Southernmiss]

Dh donated yesterday, too. He's up to 6 gallons.

I've donated a handful of times. Not sure if I will again.

I've got small veins and my blood flows slow so donating takes a lot of time.

I've also become a difficult stick for routine blood draws.

Each of our kids has given. One of our sons volunteered for Red Cross blood drives several times.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have never donated blood (can't due to low platelets) but I have volunteered my time working the intake table at a blood drive.

I am very grateful to those who can and do donate, as I received blood products when I had surgery many years ago.

 

[Kitty 34]

Back in college I donated a lot of blood. I still have my Red Cross card from those days. That's how I found out I was O-Neg.

Now I greatly appreciate those that do plasma as I am infused weekly with 7 different plasmas.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was a blood donor, but can no longer donate. I made it to being a four gallon donor!

 

[kanerf]

For quite some time I was not allowed to donate blood because I was working in Europe during the Mad Cow outbreak. I have not checked lately to see if that ban has been lifted.

 

[jo-jo]

I donated once, my blood ran so slow, it took more than twice the time of others .

I almost donated a second time. About 50 years ago, there was a plea on the radio (kyw 1060, for those in the phila area) for my type of blood. For over an hour, it kept popping up. Never heard that happen again. Wonder who it was for?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I donated blood once when I was in college. I never did it again.

My husband has O negative blood, which is a highly desired donor type. He was regularly called to donate blood, which he did for years until his medical situation made it impossible.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I have donated in the past and have done more than 6 donations in my lifetime. I have to wait now since I finished chemo in April. My dad is a huge blood donor and has given more than 25 gallons in his life. It may actually be more than 30 at this point since he usually does apheresis (platelets and plasma) over whole blood donation.

 

[Moliphino]

I've donated a bunch of times, pretty much any time there was a blood drive at school in high school or college. I don't have great veins and tend towards anemia, so I'm not the best donor. I've also received blood transfusions.

Donating blood saved my dad's life. He was walking through the hospital on his way to give blood when he had a sudden cardiac arrest. He got medical care immediately and is still with us today. He's been donating platelets regularly for decades.

 

[Meriweather]

I have never donated. Bad veins.
DH has a lot and gets calls all the time, but he can't donate anymore

 

[BrianL]

I have never done it as I have had issues when they have drawn blood for tests and such. I have lost conciousness! It's weird though because blood doesn't bother me and it usually happens a few minutes after they are done. My doctor has told me that I don't need to be donating blood, but I would.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I have chronic anemia so can no longer donate, but I've donated a few times.

 

[ronandannette]

Thank you to everyone who makes this life-saving effort. I donated a dozen times or so; once I started I was almost embarrassed not to have done it sooner - it was so easy! Then out of the blue, I had a very bad outcome after one donation and my doctor recommended against it. It’s been years now though and I’d really like to try again, maybe plasma in the near future.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I used to donate regularly. Unfortunately I no longer qualify because I had cancer. It was not a blood cancer and I’m over 15 years clean but they told me I can’t donate. I do check about every 5 years in case the rules change.

My dog was also a blood donor and saved 73 dogs lives. If you have a large dog who doesn’t mind the vet it’s something to consider.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I've donated maybe a dozen times in the past but no longer can with the medications I'm on. Same with husband.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just want to say I am grateful for those who donate blood.
Because of s surgeons mistake I had to have 8 blood transfusions just to keep me alive.
Another time 3 when my bone marrow was not cooperating.
My son organized a blood drive once. Very time consuming but so worthwhile.
My whole family have been blood donors at one time or another.
I was even featured in Dh work publication when they were trying to have a blood drive too.
If you can donate remember you are helping to save a life.

 

[mumto3girls]

Before I had kids I used to donate several times a year. There was a blood bank across the street from my office so easy to do and I am O- so popular. I should look into it again now that my kids are older and I wouldn’t be dragging them along.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I did a few times many many years ago. My blood flowed out super quickly and I almost passed out both times. They took me off the “call list” to donate anymore.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never donated blood. I have an extreme fear of needles. People think I am exaggerating, but I swear my arm was sore for 2 years following covid vaccinations.