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StanAE86 · 07-28-2004, 03:02 PM

I understand this is an international board, so I'll refrain from ranting and raving in detail, but this pisses me off:

http://www.chronwatch.com/content/co...115&catcode=33

1. Not all donated blood is for service men and women

2. If someone opposes the war, that's fine, it's a political/moral/etc. decision. But don't sacrifice the lives of those serving our country.

I've been donating blood since I was 17 years old. It's one of the easiest things to do and can save a life and make a difference. When my Dad had cardiac bypass surgery, the stand-by blood was from donors. When I was in school, a girl stopped me when she saw my blood donor t-shirt and just thanked me for no reason because when she was just born, she had some condition and needed a blood transfusion, that came from donors.

This is one of those situations where it's like those crazy environmentalists who go vandalize and burn a bunch of Hummer SUVs in a storage lot because they're bad for the environment. Yeah, like setting fire to all that plastic and paint and gas and causing toxic fumes was all that environmatally sound and health conscious.

Now...back to our regular program:

RC45 · 07-28-2004, 03:07 PM

Agreed.

crazidude · 07-28-2004, 03:38 PM

I've never donated blood before. I will eventually. I was wondering, when they jab the needle in you does it hurt?

Ian_yamaue · 07-28-2004, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by crazidude

I've never donated blood before. I will eventually. I was wondering, when they jab the needle in you does it hurt?

Just a little.

StanAE86 · 07-28-2004, 03:46 PM

Yeah, that's the VERY VERY worst of the donating experience. The second worse is the "finger prick" test for iron defficiency. The sting from the needle is mostly from the anticoagulant that is used to keep your blood from clotting while you're donating. It's just a sting. Looks worse than it is.

Like I said, it's one of the easiest things to do and does make a difference and saves lives.

If it's any encouragement, after you donate, you are required by law (in the US, anyway) to remain on site for at least 10 minutes to recover. During that time, they feed you with junk food to help keep your energy up - donuts, juice, cookies, etc.

crazidude · 07-28-2004, 03:49 PM

Whats this "finger prick" test? I thought the junk food thing was just a myth lol. I gotta find the cloest blood bank from my house.

Ian_yamaue · 07-28-2004, 04:15 PM

Is sad that so much people is afraid to donate blood. It's not that bad, is just a little sting, I get surprised with how quick the nurse did it, I could even beblieve that was my blood going out that tubes. The good you're doing worths some little stings.

StanAE86 · 07-28-2004, 04:18 PM

I'm not sure in Belgium if they run extra tests beforehand, but here in the US, the fingerprick test is just to test for iron. Basically, they do a quick poke on one of your fingers and take a few drops of blood. Then they drop it into a solution and see how fast the drop of blood sinks. If it floats or sinks slow, you have low iron in your blood and they send you to eat some food and tell you to come back and try again.

Depending on where you donate, you sometimes get free movie passes, etc. Right now, the local donation center is giving away ice cream from Baskin Robbins. "A pint for a pint".

I hope people aren't misunderstanding me, I'm not here to harp on people that don't donate or anything like that, I'm just suggesting that if people are wondering what they can do to help others, donating blood is a wonderful cause. It doesn't take long and can make an incredible difference in the lives of those that need help, in a way that hopefully, you will never be in the same position to fully understand as it usually comes from medical emergencies.

gigdy · 07-28-2004, 04:18 PM

ive "donated" plasma before. they call it donating but the give you $25. i dont think the needle are bad. it hurts for like 4 seconds.

SFDMALEX · 07-28-2004, 04:20 PM

I have had bad experiance with blood. Once when I was very sick the doctor took a reasonable amount of blood out of my fingers and when I went out of the hosptical I felt weak and almost fainted. And 2 years after I had to give blood again and a similar thing happend. And this wasnt much blood they took. I think Ill die if I actually donate blood. Ofcourse Im exajurating but Im not planning on donating blood anytime soon. In a few years for sure.

StanAE86 · 07-28-2004, 04:25 PM

Yeah, everyone is different in how their body reacts, both physically and psychologically. When I was in high school...this big 200+ lbs. football player donated and when he got up, he passed out. I was 180 lbs. back then and I donated and played tennis after school (which you're not supposed to do - no strenuous exercise, but I was in high school and was stupid).

Some people get lightheaded at the thought of the needle or the sight of blood. So, it's not for everyone. But if you can....

Fleischmann · 07-28-2004, 04:27 PM

Agreed.

Here in Poland, for donating 30 litres of blood earns ya a "medal". This medal allows ya to use public transport for free. This is very comfortable, but what's more important, that blood can help save lives. I have a pretty rare blood type, any body can accept it. Plus, blood doesn't scare the daylights outta mean, I've seen a lot of it flowing outta my body during my 17 year life

And yeah, that GT2 kicks ass

Ian_yamaue · 07-28-2004, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by StanAE86

I hope people aren't misunderstanding me, I'm not here to harp on people that don't donate or anything like that, I'm just suggesting that if people are wondering what they can do to help others, donating blood is a wonderful cause. It doesn't take long and can make an incredible difference in the lives of those that need help, in a way that hopefully, you will never be in the same position to fully understand as it usually comes from medical emergencies.

Well, if you were, I think everybody should support you, it should b good.

StanAE86 · 07-28-2004, 04:32 PM

Fleischmann must have O blood. That's considered the "universal" blood because all the different blood types can take it. Your body can only accept blood from the same blood type...or Type "O". So, if you have O, you're that much more special and in demand.

Thanks for the support Ian.

itsthepham · 07-28-2004, 04:37 PM

I have Type O blood as well. and I also have been donating blood since i was 17. I must admit... the finger prick hurts the most. the needle just feels like a pinch.