I give blood as often as possible. Usually it's when I see a blood drive around, as I'm too lazy to actually schedule it or anything.

I always ask the nurse if she wants me to fill up two bags. I'm certainly big enough to handle it. :)

I would think about giving blood if I could...But I don't think they want blood with THC in it.

I've donated 4-5 times I think throughout highschool andI've never had problems with the needles.. hell I bet I could fill a few bags without feeling faint (big guy=P ) but I dont think they'd let me. (Not to mention its also a way to get out of class for a while=P)

It always is a great feeling and I would do it more often if I had a car and could get around easyer, but I'm starting college soon so hopefully they will have drives often.

And I was wondering.. does anyone know if you can still give blood after having operations? in my case I had a titanium rod put in my left femer after a car accident, but I'm not sure if that would disqualify me or not, anyone know?

I just went and got some tests done today, among them was some blood work, so when I get my results back and figure out what type I am, I'm going to go and donate blood... I just don't want to walk in there and have no idea what I'm giving them and make them do all this extra work... Besides, I would also like to know that my blood is good first, and that I'm healthy enough to give it.

I don't remember what blood type I have. Also, I'm not sure if I qualify to give blood, but #tfp convinced me to go in to at least see if I qualify. If so, I'll give.
I think some places still pay for blood, but normally you just get a lot of snacks to help you recover faster. Considering how much it costs to process blood donations, you should be glad to even receive a cookie.

I went to give blood at a University blood drive... got the bag ALMOST full, and passed out. I started feeling really nauseous and sleepy, and then just went.

The nurse wasn't paying that close of attention, apparently, because it was a minute before she noticed. She unplugged me, and when I woke up, there were about 12 people standing around me, speaking a language that I knew but couldn't understand. THAT was interesting... I knew they were speaking English, but I just could not understand what they were saying.

They tell me that if you don't fill the bag all the way, they can't use it. So I went through all that and they had to throw the blood away. I got my Red Cross donor's card and the Blood Type on it is blank.

The worst part is that now I get flashbacks to that nausea whenever there is a blood drive. I can't even go into the same building as it at school without feeling like I'm going to vomit. It's sad. :(

When I was in college, for some strange coincidence, I would only notice blood drive on the campus when I had an exam that day or the day after. I always meant to do it but never got around to it.

they have blood drives a few times a year in the building where i work.......i've been getting closer to doing it every time. maybe your post will push me to do it next time!

In 1992, the local blood collectors (United Blood Services) decided that I tested positive for "non-A, non-B hepatitis". I'm on the national donor blacklist, even though three different doctors failed to find what UBS found.

Oh well, c'est la merde.

giving blood is good for all

here is a cookie O

I'm barely above the limit, so I'm kinda worried about that. Add to the fact that any blood seriously freaks me out (I blacked out during the scene in Blade where his wrists get cut by the artifact thingy, and feel queasy talking about it now.) so I don't do it.

i donate all the time i think its an awesome thing to do, if you have the blood to spare than why not? i mean geez you get free cookies and juice!

Last time I gave blood I passed out from low blood sugar.. I was told to see my docotr. seems I have a heart condition.. No longer can I give blood.. It was quite teh rush coming to though. sort of like digging yourself out of a tunnel only underwater.. I felt I was struggling to get out.. trying ot get out of the black hole into the light able.. very trippy.. Anyway that was several years ago and I still remember it as if it were yesterday.

That's totally fine. I smoke like a chimney and they accepted it all 3 times.

I've donated a bit. 'O' Positive. The first few times I had an opportunity, ie. they came to my college, I chickened out but after the first couple times walking by and just watching a little I figured it wasn't too bad. Since then don't know how much I've donated.

They say you have only 6 pints of blood in your body (if I'm remembering right) so 1 pint isn't so bad.

Actually I find that donating isn't as bad as just giving a couple vials since no one is holding the needle and moving it because it's taped to your arm.

I've found that it seems to go faster if I vigorously squeeze the little ball. I guess it must because I'm causing more circulation. Couldn't be because of blood pressure - Mine's unusually low constantly.

Anyway, It's definately worth the effort. Besides it felt good to know that I had contributed when I actually ended up needing an emergency transfusion once. (You only had to wait 6 mo then after a transfusion before you could donate again.)

<--- Medically disqualified.

I'm in the U.S., donate every 6-8 weeks weeks, and don't get paid for it.

I think there are places that will pay for plasma donations, but from what I understand, plasma donation takes about 2-3 hours.

I try to give blood often but I don't give as often as I should. My blood drips slow so it takes like 20 minutes and twice it hurt really bad but that was only because I had incompetent nurses. I plan on going back soon (and drinking a lot of water beforehand :) ).

There was a blood drive at my school today and like I said earlier on this thread, I would go in and try the next time I saw one. I found out I qualify to donate blood. So I gave. And it was good. I bruised my vein from carrying my backpack with one arm, oops.

I got a hat, too. I gave it to my friend who can't donate blood and told him to spread the word to would-be donators in lieu of donating blood himself.

I gave on Wednesday of this week. I was walking through the student center and the mobile blood bank unit was there. Second time I've donated. I better be careful or this might become a habit :)

Though, the free t-shirts they gave were something I wouldn't want to be seen in. It was a cross between an American Idol theme and a blood bank theme. Makes me truly wonder who approved it.

They love me there. Last time, as soon as I became eligible to give again (every 7 weeks) they started calling and sending me junk mail. I'm O-Negative so they love me. Damn vampires

:D

I would give blood, but they won't take it from me.... that's what living in England for more than 6 months will do. Stupid mad cow disease scare .... :|

I think the limit is 6 months. I had a transfusion at one time and simply waited a year afterwards. No problem after that. I've given several times since. I haven't given lately because I constantly have kids to care for and rarely get away. Can't very well drag 2 and 3 toddlers to a blood drive. Also I've been so anemic and even still borderline anemic after regularly taking suppliments that my Dr prescribed. They wouldn't take my blood right now.

Thanks for the reminder; I got a blood drive card in the mail, gotta go sign up!

ive never given blood =/

I give blood all the time. I'm a rare type (B-), so they even call me in sometimes when they're really low. Last time I donated I hit the one gallon mark for donations. They even gave me a kick-ass 'One Gallon Club' pin as recognition! I'm so cool, it hurts.

Donated the past two times they came to my high school. You have to be 17, according to them, and I turned 17 three days before my first time so I did, had to lie down because I am a small guy so a pint is a lot for me.
Two-times so far, no biggie.
Last time was rough though: Friday, only 4 hours sleep, gave blood, went to work for 3 hours (a shift is only 3 and is very exhausting [waiter]), came home at 7:30pm and fell asleep at 7:45pm until 11am the next day.

Gave blood yesterday, then went to work and biked.

Don't do that, they tell you to relax for a reason, even having some "time" with the g/f almost made me faint becuase the blood was needed elsewhere...

I always donate though, I'm just not ver nice to my body...

I'm AB, one of the rarer ones :P

I try to give blood as regularly as i can since i became eligible (turned 18). So far i've given 8 times, with no problems, in fact, i'm done pretty fast.

The last time i did it, however, was weird. They poked my left arm, which was my regular donating arm, and in the beginning, it was fine. But after a while i felt that it was taking much longer than usual, so i asked the nurse if it was full. She checked, and found that the blood had stopped flowing out, and since it was for a while, the blood in the tube had clotted. The bag was only about halfway full. So they poked my other arm, but eventhough it started fine also, it stopped after a while. I was a bit worried, since i've not had any problems whatsoever before.

But anyway, i blame the nurse. I found out later that she pretty much a newbie, and i was the first she worked on that day o.o

I've given twice before at my high schools blood drives. I see some that go on here on base occasionally, but I am allways busy and can never get over to the blood drive. Maybe I will see about finding a place to donate.

yep giving blood is a good thing to do, it does not hurt that bad and it helps people. a lovley lady freind of mine got me to go the first time, and ill be going back dec 4 to go again. donate as often as you can, you get cookies and orange juice.

The more you donate, the more you increase the chance of lives being saved.