Blood (without the gore!)

[Malc2098]

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 armfultoday.

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.

 

[Malc2098]

You are a long way ahead of me!

In the words of Tescos, 'every little helps'.

 

[AJB Temple]

You are a long way ahead of me!

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.

 

[RogerS]

This may be total nonsense as an observation, but in my experience most donors tend to be men for some reason.

That’s because we keep puncturing ourselves with sharp things and we believe in insurance

 

[Blackswanwood]

PThis may be total nonsense as an observation, but in my experience most donors tend to be men for some reason.

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.