Should it be made Law for healthy people to donate blood?

have to agree i think

I will go asap, very good thread

Not really something you can enforce by law. Ridiculous

Donors are great, but impossible.

Nothing should be made compulsory, but I urge anyone who is fit and well enough to do so to donate blood.
It's one of the easiest things you can do in life to benefit someone else.

Here's the web-site. Just put in your postcode and you can see where your nearest blood donor session is:

http://www.blood.co.uk/SessionSearcher/Search.aspx

its against the law to leave the scene of a car accident... and not try and help.... whats the difference ?

people should do it ,saying that I never have ,being a complete wimp to wards anything medical I would probably need a weeks rest
after it .

could do it like a national lottery, everone watching noel edmonds pull your numbers out on a saturday nightl, **uld get alot of viewers. itv would probally be interested, maybe channel 5.

casemoney.. you would change your tune if a member of your family needed blood

silver, that is a bit harsh imo.

Its an invasive procedure.The difference is evident. It's not viable.

so it was... sorry

its against the law to leave the scene of a car accident... and not try and help.... whats the difference ?

And that has to be the worst comparison ive ever heard
tbh

what about paying people for their blood, would that work

That works but not here.Its unethical.

is really that unethical to pay for it here

I would silver ,but im a tos ser, honest ,I would be ill or feeling ill for a week after ,saying that Im never well anyway ,my blood is fooked with nicotine and alchohol ,people should donate including myself .

So how would this law be enforced? Who would be excluded? Would you include plasma or just blood? At what age would enforcement begin and end? Would our GPs determine our 'health'? (overworked already?)

What would be next, I wonder? Bone Marrow? 1 kidney each?

Jehovahs Witnesses? Forcibly removed?

what about consessions on council tax etc for blood instead of cash

LAW is a crazy idea i know... im only trying highlight the importance of donating blood.

* to highlight *

heed the baw 03 Dec 00:13


what about consessions on council tax etc for blood instead of cash

the place would be mobbed :-)

And fair play to you silver. A very good cause.

A new thread every month might get a few, especially if you highlight a few examples.

1 new thread every month. If you get 1 a year, all the better. :-)

I think it's a very good tag line on the home page of the National Blood site:

"Do something amazing...
96% of us rely on the other 4% to give blood. Please don't leave it to someone else."

http://www.blood.co.uk/

Casemoney.. the first time i donated 10 years ago, i thought i would leave feeling as weak as a kitten but i felt no different.. its the easiest thing in the world to do.. i also smoke. Now i hate to miss a session to donate. Its only 3/4 time a year... i would go every week if they would take me..Its nice to think that maybe you have saved a child's life.... it has feel good factor

For anyone who might be nervous/unsure about the procedure, don't be.
It really is very simple and painless to donate - and very, very few people experience any ill-effects from it.

is there places to donate in every town

most towns i believe. Check out one of those sites Tommy toes posted.

Usually, Heed the Haw.
Just type in your postcode on the site above.

As the least likely candidate for giving anything back I am almost convinced. Talk me through the procedure Tommy.

http://www.scotblood.co.uk/ use this one if your from scotland, yep some place to go to near me.

if youve got any drugs in your system i take it you would have to wait a wee while before donating

Just give them a ring on the free 'phone number on the site, Dobbo.
They will ask you a few basic questions and tell you where and when your nearest place to donate is.

They will then issue you with a donor number and send you an information booklet in the post, so you can check you are eligible to donate (there are a few restrictions regarding health etc).
If you think you are fine to give blood, just go along to the session ( a pre-booked time will save any waiting).

There, they take a small blood sample from your finger to check you aren't anaemic. If all is well, they just put a needle in your arm and draw the blood off (a unit - just under a pint). It takes approx ten mins.
Then, you go and have a coffee/soft drink and biscuits, which they provide for free - and you toddle off home.

PS - you lie on a bed as you are donating.

Isn't that nearly an arm full?

lol

It is indeed, Dobbo!

how long would one need to wait

HTH, if you mean before you book: no time at all, it's just a matter of where and when your nearest session is and when you are available.

HTH is washing his hair that day

no i mean i take the odd smoke once in a while

For instance, the nearest place to me only holds a session once every 3-4 months, but there is a place a few miles away which has weekly sessions.

smoking is ok... i smoke... no waiting

dope ok

lol not sure.. ask tommey

HTH, I don't think there are any restrictions on people smoking cannabis/marijuana. Certainly not tobacco. It's just intraveinous drug takers who are excluded.

i inject weed into my system tho

only joking maybe not a suitable joke on a thread like this

Thanks for your input Tommy. great job

Nobody should ever be forced by the government to give blood but they should force themselves to do it. If you would accept blood for yourself or a loved one then you are morally bound to offer some of your own.

It's quick, it doesn't hurt and you get a biscuit. What more could you want?

Of course, chit chatters' blood is unfit for purpose and goes off to the black pudding factory but that does entitle you to a discount in Tesco.

Some of the above is untrue but not the bit about the biscuit.

but yeah i think il try do it soon, just never really went coz i sometimes take a smoke

Yes more people should give blood but to try and force people or guilt trip them is out of order.

There is a surpirising lack of awareness about giving blood. There may be the odd advert on TV but it would surely be better to approach companies, for example, tc and try and get some staff to sign up to donate regularly.

No problem, Silverwasp.
It's something I'm pretty passionate about too.
My mum spent the last 10 years, before she died a few months ago, having fortnightly blood transfusions of at least 4 units.
Sometimes, I had to rush her in via 999 for another 6 pints when she had a massive bleed (rare condition).

I just thank everyone who selflessly donated their blood.
Without those people, she wouldn't have survived.

Red, it's true - a lot of people just aren't aware of it.
I think far more people would donate if it was talked about more.

They should target a areas with offices and turn up with the mobile units and get a full days worth of donations from office workers etc

Red, I know they used to do that in the past with pottery factories and pits around here.
My dad always donated at the pit.
Sadly, there aren't any pits and very few factories here now.

Tommy.. i don't know you but im still sorry to hear of your bereavement

Thanks Silverwasp.
She was as tough and brave as they come, but even she had to go eventually.

When she was in hospital for the last time, it was the haematology/cancer ward.

One day, I overheard a young bloke talking to a nurse on duty at the desk.
He was telling her how grateful he was, as his friend had been rushed in at the weekend and they'd saved his life. He asked was there anything he could do in return.
"Just give blood" was the nurses reply "That's the best thing anyone can do."

I think its sad that people die just because people couldn't be bothered to give maybe 40 minutes out of their lives a few times in the year. People just seem scared when there is nothing to be scared of.

Anyone who donates blood is a top top person, in my twenties i had a blood transfusion and can't thank the people who donated enough. You are suppossed to have 8 pints of blood in your body, and i needed a 3 pint transfusion. Thankyou very much to thoughs good people , they saved my life :)

I don't think people are scared, in particular, Silverwasp, I just think they don't really think about it.

It's something like: "I'll do that one day" but seldom get around to.
There are many, many good people out there who would give blood if they just took a minute or so to book an appointment - then, theyd get reminders through the post for their next session and so would be prompted to be a 'regular', without having to think about it.

You were worth saving im sure.

I've considered this for some time without actualy getting round to it.

Sorry if I repeat any above comments, but do you just turn up on the day or do you need to ring/book in advance?

FFT, you don't need to book, you can just turn up - but if you do book, it saves on the waiting time if it's a busy session.

thank you TT

I take it it doesn't matter if you don't know your blood type, no idea what mine is!

It doesn't matter at all, FFT!
I'm O negative, which means my blood can be used for anyone in a dire emergency, until the proper group is available.
If you look on the blood site I put up earlier, you can see how low the blood stocks are for each type (Graph on home page).
It's worth remembering; blood has a very limited shelf life so regular donations are very, very important.

Thanks again TT

i'm currently on an alternating shift pattern at work (6am-2pm on week, 2pm-10pm the next)


I guess it isn't advisable to do it before work then when i'm on lates?
It's something I really want to do though

FFT, if you have a manual job, it's best to donate after work, but if not, before would be fine.
You really don't feel any side effects from it (unless you are extremely unlucky), but they advise no heavy lifting for about 6 hours after a donation.

ok thanks once more!

I must retreat to my resting place now, james toney ;)

No problem, FFT.
"James Toney"!

Should the same rules apply to organ donation?

Which rules?
This thread is primarily about blood donation. Silverwasp admitted he didn't really mean to say it should be compulsory. He was just trying to highlight donating.

i have donated blood three times and fainted all three...

no way, imo

No.

UK doesn't pay for people to give blood as it might encourage people to do it just for the money when they are not fit or healthy enough. I remember once a homeless guy came in to one of the walk-in sessions to give blood just for the tea and biscuits. As he hadn't eaten for 2 days they wouldn't let him.

Also you mustn't give blood if you have done one of the "at risk" activities, but don't want to let your friends / family / work colleagues know that you have done the "at risk" activity. (Although I think the blood people can still take the donation and then dispose of it)

It's all about convenience to do it. I have just done a search and my closest one anytime soon is 5 miles away and it's 2 days before Christmas ffs !

The next one is 3 miles and in 4 months.

If they want blood they need to use a van and visit a view streets for a 1 hour in each area and they would get people donating.

Too much hassle and inconvenice the way they have it set up at the moment.

Thought about this for a while and finally got around to booking an appointment next week.Thanks for the helpful comments on here.

Wouldn't mind but they want almost a whole armful ;)

I think topless nurses would encourage more people to go and donate blood

I've given blood once. I fainted afterwards.

i've been about 40 times now. never fainted or felt faint. nothing really to worry about, just take it easy the rest of the day and don't do anything strenuous or plan being out late as you might be a little more tired than usual.

great thing to do, every1 who is fit and healthy should do it and any1 who says "i'm scared of needles" needs to be lined up and shot

I have given blood. But my blood does not belong to the Government. There is no way in hell they should make it compulsary.

They need to make it convenient, simple as that, take a lead out of say Dominos pizza's book. They are fast, relibale, sure it's expensive and not the greatest ever, but at least you know you get it in 30 mins straight to your door. They need to come to your home to take your blood.

im all for the compulsory blood giving, course theres always gonna b sum ponces moaning about their rights, boo hoo

What a stupid fckin idea .

I needed a fair amount of blood a few years back, so a big thank you to those of you who bother to donate. A few of my family members now donate.

That is the way it should be. The hospitals should ask anyone needing blood if they could ask family/friends to donate some.

If they get 20 people donate out of every 100 asked, then it is worth the effort!

whats stupid bout it?

It'd be like the final straw of human rights been taken away imo

OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT

WHATEVER NEXT ... AFTER THAT ?

Just because 1 person needs blood nobody should be forced to give it .. though many still would

Why don't they just charge the earth for it like everything else they do ?

Maybe we could have a fee/fine system, if your healthy you HAVE to give 4 pints a year (1 for each 3 month quaterly period) , for each pint not given you have to pay a £25 fine as such, be a nice little earner if someone misses all 4 appointments and has to pay £100 into the treasury for it..Im on the phone to Gordon now !

beltin idea

We can benefit ourselves from donating blood..

American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org), that found that giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes in test participants ages 43 to 61.
According to www.bloodcenters.org, excessive iron is thought to contribute to heart disease, especially at its early stages. Donating blood on a regular basis reduces the iron stores in the body and this study supports the theory that reducing iron appears to preserve heart and vascular health.What a win/win situation, huh? Give blood to someone who needs it and do your own body good at the same time. What's more, regular blood donations may help keep the body's circulatory system healthy by reducing stores of iron, but the effect may not work for older people

TT, sorry to hear of your loss.

I've got a leaflet right here that has been sitting by the sofa for about 10 days...will go to blood.co.uk and book an appointment.

Apart from anything else, it's supposed to be quite good for your health to give blood.

redrich 03 Dec 00:44

There is a surpirising lack of awareness about giving blood. There may be the odd advert on TV but it would surely be better to approach companies, for example, tc and try and get some staff to sign up to donate regularly.

They do - there was a bunch in our foyer a couple of weeks ago, that's how I got sent a leaflet.

It certainly shouldn't be a legal requirement to give blood. It would seem too weird to me to be forced to give up part of your body to the government. That said i have donated blood on about a dozen occasions although i am always annoyed at how long it takes - never less than 90 minutes to do the whole thing. Surely if i can give up my blood and my time the NHS can at least pay for enough nurses for it to be a quicker process rather than all the waiting.

I do think something should be done about the organ donor system, where it is crazy that people die with healthy organs whilst others die because they need healthy organs. Most people want organs if they need a transplant yet so many don't want/bother to go on the register. I would have a simple system of at 18 people choose to go on the reigster or not. If they are on, ie. willing to give their organs on death, then they will be on the list of those who are not. Then people cannot complain as more volunteers on the register would equal more available organs; those not willing to give theirs shouldn't and wouldn't receive anyone else's - unless all those willing to be on the register have been satisfied.