[Ammi]

..or are you already a blood donor..?...

[lostalex]

Do you have to be sober to donate blood?

I don't even know my blood type.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by lostalex

Do you have to be sober to donate blood?

I don't even know my blood type.

..yeah, I reckon you do have to be sober, Alex..apart from anything else, giving a pint of blood makes you feel quite weak so doing it when you had been drinking wouldn't be a good idea...but the blood would be diluted with alcohol...

[Cherie]

Nope I can't the thought of it makes me feel faint, hats off to anyone who does though.

[AnnieK]

I tried too once but they collapsed my vein (my veins are awful) and I never went back. A woman I work with has given 60 pints now and been invited to a big blood donor party....she's very excited.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by anniek76

I tried too once but they collapsed my vein (my veins are awful) and I never went back. A woman I work with has given 60 pints now and been invited to a big blood donor party....she's very excited.

...very well done to her, Annie......

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...very well done to her, Annie......

I know, she goes the maximum time you can in a year, I think it's 3..and never misses. Bless her...Her husband is terminally ill with a degenerative disease and the NHS have been brilliant with him and she said this is her way of giving something back...

[joeysteele]

I already do, it is generally the most relaxing time I have in a year too.

[Kazanne]

I give blood on a regular basis,have done for a few years now,my blood is quite rare apparently,as is me

[GiRTh]

I have done a few times. I always feel a bit sick after ward.

[swinearefine]

I would, but don't think I can, I take it up the ass you see.

[DrunkerThanMoses]

Be a donor for a while but kinda scared because once I fainted after giving it and fell to the floor and my face was covered in bruises for about 2 weeks and it looked like I was beating up

[lostalex]

It's so annoying when people brag about their blood type. "ohhh i'm O negative, they really need it!"

yea, you're soooooo special.

[Marc]

I already do.

I was looking into Bone Marrow donations too but apparently you're off your feet for a few days because its painful. I'd love to do it though

[lostalex]

if i ever need a kidney i'm going to marc. he's donation happy.

[Marc]

You can have my semen if you like, I'll just leave it in a pot on the bench in town

[SharkAttack]

Donated blood, yes.

[InOne]

I'm almost never sober so I can't donate blood. If I was a decent functioning member of society I would though

[LemonJam]

I'd like to do so at least once before I get a tattoo.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by LemonJam

I'd like to do so at least once before I get a tattoo.

you can't donate after you've had a tattoo?

[Marc]

Originally Posted by lostalex

you can't donate after you've had a tattoo?

Nope or a piercing

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Marc

Nope or a piercing

I wonder why that is? Loads of people are tattooed/pierced now,seems a waste of much wanted blood.

[Marc]

You should not give blood if;

You're a male donor with less than 12 weeks' interval between donations.

You're a female donor who had given blood in the last 12 weeks (normally, you must wait 16 weeks).

You have a chesty cough, sore throat or active cold sore.

You're currently taking antibiotics or you have just finished a course within the last seven days or have had any infection in that last two weeks.

You've had hepatitis or jaundice in the last 12 months.

You've had a tattoo, semi-permanent make up or any cosmetic treatments that involves skin piercing in the last 4 months.

You have had acupuncture in the last 4 months, unless this was done within the NHS or by a qualified Healthcare Professional registered with a statutory body.

A member of your family (parent, brother, sister or child) has suffered with CJD (Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease).

You've ever received human pituitary extract (which was used in some growth hormone or fertility treatments before 1985).

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Marc

You should not give blood if;

You're a male donor with less than 12 weeks' interval between donations.

You're a female donor who had given blood in the last 12 weeks (normally, you must wait 16 weeks).

You have a chesty cough, sore throat or active cold sore.

You're currently taking antibiotics or you have just finished a course within the last seven days or have had any infection in that last two weeks.

You've had hepatitis or jaundice in the last 12 months.

You've had a tattoo, semi-permanent make up or any cosmetic treatments that involves skin piercing in the last 4 months.

You have had acupuncture in the last 4 months, unless this was done within the NHS or by a qualified Healthcare Professional registered with a statutory body.

A member of your family (parent, brother, sister or child) has suffered with CJD (Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease).

You've ever received human pituitary extract (which was used in some growth hormone or fertility treatments before 1985).

So after 4 months you can donate?

[Livia]

I'm a regular blood donor. My husband received a lot of blood in surgery and I feel more of a duty now... although I did give blood before, just not so regularly.