• Hi all and welcome to TheWoodHaven2 brought into the 21st Century, kicking and screaming! We all have Alasdair to thank for the vast bulk of the heavy lifting to get us here, no more so than me because he's taken away a huge burden of responsibility from my shoulders and brought us to this new shiny home, with all your previous content (hopefully) still intact! Please peruse and feed back. There is still plenty to do, like changing the colour scheme, adding the banner graphic, tweaking the odd setting here and there so I have added a new thread in the 'Technical Issues, Bugs and Feature Requests' forum for you to add any issues you find, any missing settings or just anything you'd like to see added/removed from the feature set that Xenforo offers. We will get to everything over the coming weeks so please be patient, but add anything at all to the thread I mention above and we promise to get to them over the next few days/weeks/months. In the meantime, please enjoy!

Blood (without the gore!)

Malc2098 said:
Had to cancel the September appointment for doing family stuff, but today I reached a milestone. Not a big milestone by other donors' standards, but big for me.

I donated my 40th armful🩸today.
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I started donating 55 years ago at the Police Training Centre that I attended. We were 'encouraged' to donate. However, in my defence of comparatively low numbers, I had a big gap in the middle.
 
Blackswanwood said:
You are a long way ahead of me!
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Ha! My dad was a blood donor and he was an example to me so I have always done it, sometimes with a break of a few years due to life etc. I'm not exactly sure of the number but it is over 200 now. I donated when I lived in Switzerland too. They are super organised there (at least in Zurich) and it is very easy once you've gone through the straightforward health check.

I don't really understand the age restrictions as blood is constantly being renewed and blood from older people is obviously more experienced :-) though may flow a tad slower.

This may be total nonsense as an observation, but in my experience most donors tend to be men for some reason.
 
AJB Temple said:
PThis may be total nonsense as an observation, but in my experience most donors tend to be men for some reason.
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I haven’t noticed Adrian but have been told biological and physiological differences mean women are more prone to be deferred due to low iron/hemoglobin so wonder if this may be something to do with it. Apparently for some transfusions male blood is preferred as generally we have higher iron levels.
 
Just giving this old thread a bump ...

I donated again yesterday and the nurse was telling me about the lost donations due to the recent hot weather. Annually only 2% of people who could do so actually make the small effort to give blood.

On some days during the recent heat waves some donation centres were unable to open as it was too hot. Add to this it's the holiday season and it remains a challenge to find 4300 donations needed daily to keep up with the demand from accidents, operations and other essential treatments.

Here's the link if anyone can help out.

www.blood.co.uk

Home

Register to be a blood donor, give blood and save lives. Find out more about blood donation.
www.blood.co.uk www.blood.co.uk
 
A timely bump for a needy cause Robert. (y)

I can't unfortunately and no chance now that I have to take blood thinners. I did waste far more than the usual bag full when I had a 3 hour nosebleed a few weeks ago :oops: what a waste of the red stuff, I should have saved some in a jar as I discovered it makes a durable wood stain. :unsure:
 
TrimTheKing said:
What age do you have to stop? Is it age, health, or both related that dictates when you must stop?

I'm not asking about you personally, just generally.
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Don't know, but I'm O Neg and I'm 76. They call us O Negs 'First RespOnders'.
 
TrimTheKing said:
What age do you have to stop? Is it age, health, or both related that dictates when you must stop?

I'm not asking about you personally, just generally.
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I followed your link and it gave 72 as a cut off if not a regular donor, under the eligibility tab:

"Who can donate blood
To donate blood, you need to:

be generally fit and well
be aged 17 to 65 if it’s your first donation, or up to 72 if you’ve donated before (or older if you donate regularly)
weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)
have suitable veins (we’ll check this on the day)

Being 75½, nearly, that rules me out
 
Accipiter said:
I followed your link and it gave 72 as a cut off if not a regular donor, under the eligibility tab:

"Who can donate blood
To donate blood, you need to:

be generally fit and well
be aged 17 to 65 if it’s your first donation, or up to 72 if you’ve donated before (or older if you donate regularly)
weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)
have suitable veins (we’ll check this on the day)

Being 75½, nearly, that rules me out
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I guess that there’s quite a strong correlation between age and taking medication that makes the blood unsuitable for transfusion and/or having a condition that makes it unsafe for the donor.

There are more than enough people though who could donate but don’t that could alleviate the constant shortage.

I know I’m at risk of sounding “preachy” but I’m ashamed to say until recently I always thought I was too busy. Then I saw a few friends/family members needing medical care that would have drawn on the blood stocks. I cannot imagine what it would feel like if a loved one needed a transfusion and supplies weren’t available.
 
I think I may have just joined the exclusion club - not due to age but medication today. Shame.

What is needed, picking up on Robert's very good point, is to find a way of encouraging young people to donate. I started rather young, because my Dad donated, and I copied him basically.

Not sure that the NHS markets it at all intelligently. Maybe they should hit the target market with a focus on Tic Toc, Instagram, YT shorts. And also target gyms, fitness classes, run runs, sixth forms and universities actively. Should also have a "sign up for blood donation" in all A&Es, and doctors surgeries. Maybe at festivals too - where lots of young adults gather. Why not at football matches - have a collection van, well advertised, outside. They need to find a way to counteract needle fear as well.

Threads on here tend to focus on the barriers to willing participants, whereas what is needed is really positive approach - it can save the lives of us or our children one day. All types of blood are valuable and the class distinction stuff is unhelpful as it serves only to put off the "common" type perhaps. It needs to be seen as a social contributor with positive kudos. Losing the little booklet and enamel badge was probably a retrgade step.
 
Cabinetman said:
Well said @AJB Temple, I stopped a few years ago after moving house and now I’m told I’m not allowed because of the mad cow thing in the uk, even though I shall still be draining blood due to a high Iron level they can’t use it.
Ian
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The CJD thing is madness IMO. Something that happened 20 years ago, that you weren’t exposed to, blocking you donating in another country when it’s fine in the UK, that has far more stringent rules on these things than most if not all other countries. Madness!

No pun intended.
 
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TrimTheKing said:
Another pint donated, booking in for 3 months time now...
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I was a bit of a naughty boy after this, for not the first time...

As you'll know they go through the whole "double up on your fluids for the rest of the day, and NO strenuous activity or heavy lifting, okay Mark?!"

Yes boss, absolutely, I'm not an idiot!

Hmmmmm, 3pm donation time, 8:15pm on the ice for an hour's ice hockey scrimmage...

I got through it, but bloody hell could I tell I'd lost a pint by way of my energy output! Blowing out of my backside after just two shifts, legs heavy all game, and my watch showed my between shift heart rate recovery score being a good 15% worse than when I played on Monday night.

Probably not my smartest ever move, but I always did say that I've never suffered any dizziness or ill effects from donating, so I guess this 'proves' it to a degree, though I could 100% feel the impact in my output power and stamina!

I'm NOT an idiot (well, not a complete idiot), despite evidence to the contrary, but I think I'll try and ensure my next donation doesn't coincide with a match and will follow the guidelines properly, maybe... 🤣
 
Just had the email to tell me that my last donation went to Christie's in Manchester. That makes me very happy because my late Mother was treated there twice, initially for breast cancer, then latterly for the tiny bit that wasn't cut out or killed by the chemo, that nested in every part of her body, grew, and finally took her away 15 years later!

F*ck cancer! May my blood help prolong someone else's life for as long as possible!

Apologies for the language. Even now, at 50 years old, it makes me emotional thinking about it her, and cancer in general! 😢 🤬
 
Cabinetman said:
Well said @AJB Temple, I stopped a few years ago after moving house and now I’m told I’m not allowed because of the mad cow thing in the uk, even though I shall still be draining blood due to a high Iron level they can’t use it.
Ian
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Same here Ian and what is even more frustrating is I cannot just drop in and donate on my not infrequent visits to the Uk. Everything is by appointment only these days and whenever I have checked there is never a appointment to be had anywhere near where I am staying.
 
Although I am now too old to give blood, in my younger days I was keen to do so as I am A-. However, it didn’t work out well. I was working in the City and signed up to donate blood at Moorfields. There was no rest area so, having given blood, you waited on the bed where you laid whilst donating before being allowed to leave. On the first two occasions, having donated, I felt quite queasy but eventually got up and went back to work. The third and final time, on standing up, I nearly fainted and ended up back on the bed, legs in the air, collar undone and a nurse opening a window to get me fresh air. What those coming into the ward to donate for the first time must have felt I can’t imagine. I decided after that that it wasn’t worth the trauma of continuing to donate. However, my wife, also A-, did donate for many years.
 
TrimTheKing said:
Just had the email to tell me that my last donation went to Christie's in Manchester. That makes me very happy because my late Mother was treated there twice, initially for breast cancer, then latterly for the tiny bit that wasn't cut out or killed by the chemo, that nested in every part of her body, grew, and finally took her away 15 years later!

F*ck cancer! May my blood help prolong someone else's life for as long as possible!

Apologies for the language. Even now, at 50 years old, it makes me emotional thinking about it her, and cancer in general! 😢 🤬
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I can understand why that feels good Mark.

My last donation went to Guys Hospital - it’s a nice touch that they let donors know where it ended up.
 
AJB Temple said:
I think I may have just joined the exclusion club - not due to age but medication today. Shame.

What is needed, picking up on Robert's very good point, is to find a way of encouraging young people to donate. I started rather young, because my Dad donated, and I copied him basically.

Not sure that the NHS markets it at all intelligently. Maybe they should hit the target market with a focus on Tic Toc, Instagram, YT shorts. And also target gyms, fitness classes, run runs, sixth forms and universities actively. Should also have a "sign up for blood donation" in all A&Es, and doctors surgeries. Maybe at festivals too - where lots of young adults gather. Why not at football matches - have a collection van, well advertised, outside. They need to find a way to counteract needle fear as well.

Threads on here tend to focus on the barriers to willing participants, whereas what is needed is really positive approach - it can save the lives of us or our children one day. All types of blood are valuable and the class distinction stuff is unhelpful as it serves only to put off the "common" type perhaps. It needs to be seen as a social contributor with positive kudos. Losing the little booklet and enamel badge was probably a retrgade step.
Click to expand...

Eldest son, 48, started donating last year, the boy who nearly passed out when getting injections :ROFLMAO:

We don't need to make appointments, there are donating 'shops' in a lot of shopping centres.
They also have mobile units that visit shopping malls and car parks.

Wife also donated about 40 years ago but had to stop.
We get free blood at any transfusion if required.
I miss the freebies that were handed out :)
 
i used always go for an Orange Club with my drink afterwards. But Orange Clubs don't contain chocolate anymore!!!!!!
 
fuse said:
Are you slightly incapacitated afterwards- how soon can you drive?
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Nope, not unless you have a negative reaction.

I finish donating, sit at 'recovery' desk for 5-10 mins to have a sweet drink and snack or two, to prove to yourself and the staff that you're not woozy, then I head outside and drive wherever I need to.

I'm sure some people have a negative reaction and should be more careful but I've never witnessed it personally.
 
TrimTheKing said:
Nope, not unless you have a negative reaction.

I finish donating, sit at 'recovery' desk for 5-10 mins to have a sweet drink and snack or two, to prove to yourself and the staff that you're not woozy, then I head outside and drive wherever I need to.

I'm sure some people have a negative reaction and should be more careful but I've never witnessed it personally.
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Me, too.
 
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