Does giving blood really save lives? - Update!

[mmhmm]

I've had three bags of blood and two of colloids running on pressure bags as fast as they would go into a patient who was bleeding out. You're darned right giving blood saves lives! It's something most of us can do with no ill effects whatsoever. If you can give, please DO give.

[weltschmerz]

I used to donate regularly, and would sometimes get calls to please come in, they need my B+ blood. I was also on the list for bone marrow donors.

I gave regularly to the American Red Cross as well.

Unfortunately, now I'm very anemic and need B12 shots. They won't accept my blood anymore.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I've given 40 pints, but I guess got too used to how easy it was to give. I'd skip breakfast, drink coffee and run to my appointment at work. Last time they asked me if I'd give platelets, hooked up to both arms and have my blood drawn and returned. I said of course, since I'm an experienced donor. Well at one point they said the line clogged and they were going to disconnect me. Ok, but I was feeling funny. Five minutes later I see people looking over me and there is a wet towel on my head. I asked how that happened. I had passed out for the first time in my life.

Still, giving is a safe easy experience. I know my blood is marked for "pediatric oncology" and ER service since it is O neg. I feel blessed to have that type and need to pass it on.

[mmhmm]

Jan 13, 2015 22:39:29 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

I've given 40 pints, but I guess got too used to how easy it was to give. I'd skip breakfast, drink coffee and run to my appointment at work. Last time they asked me if I'd give platelets, hooked up to both arms and have my blood drawn and returned. I said of course, since I'm an experienced donor. Well at one point they said the line clogged and they were going to disconnect me. Ok, but I was feeling funny. Five minutes later I see people looking over me and there is a wet towel on my head. I asked how that happened. I had passed out for the first time in my life.

Still, giving is a safe easy experience. I know my blood is marked for "pediatric oncology" and ER service since it is O neg. I feel blessed to have that type and need to pass it on.

Heh. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, young grasshopper! 

[mmhmm]

Jan 13, 2015 22:36:17 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

I used to donate regularly, and would sometimes get calls to please come in, they need my B+ blood. I was also on the list for bone marrow donors.

I gave regularly to the American Red Cross as well.

Unfortunately, now I'm very anemic and need B12 shots. They won't accept my blood anymore.

I can't donate anymore, either. My weight is too low, I'm afraid. Hopefully, I'll be able to change that over the next year. 

[msventoux]

As a friend of a person who has a son who is a hemopheliac, yes, giving blood really does save lives. 

[Tennesseer]

Jan 13, 2015 22:44:16 GMT -5 msventoux said:

As a friend of a person who has a son who is a hemopheliac, yes, giving blood really does save lives. 

My great-nephew, born last week, is a hemophiliac. His grand-father died from the disorder when he was in his 30s. My GN has a much better chance of a long life due to all that has been learned about hemophilia since his GF died so young.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I've given 40 pints, but I guess got too used to how easy it was to give. I'd skip breakfast, drink coffee and run to my appointment at work

After my dad had done his regularly scheduled monthly donation, they used to pump him up with Coca Cola afterward.

[Tiny]

As for when shortages happen, I would suspect that they 'import' blood from other near by places - You can pretty much 'overnight' just about anything. OK, I'm sure it's more sophisticated than that. Regardless, I would imagine that having to 'import' blood to meet a current need/keep things stocked probably increases the COST of blood to the hospitals.

I give blood twice a year (I'm O+) been doing it for years. The free donuts and snacks lure me in every time.

Virgil, I've had a couple of awful donating experiences - where I felt the needle the entire time and it took like 15 minutes to fill the bag OR where it was very ouch-y but a quick donation (about 5 minutes! or less) followed by a black and blue arm and quite a bit of discomfort (tenderness) for a couple of days. The vast majority of my donations go something along the lines of Me: "Hi! I really don't want to watch any of this so how about you use my left arm - where do you want it? - and I'm just gonna sit here and read my book - or watch the TV on the wall - or read this 'work report' just let me know when you're done. OK?" And usually, after the unpleasant cold iodine swabbing I manage to loose myself in whatever distraction I'm using and the next thing I know I've got a 'stress relieving ball' in my hand (I have no idea where that comes from!)  and something's beeping and someone's telling me I'm done. Then it's on to the SNACKS!

I agree that not drinking enough before hand (or having too much alcohol the night before) can make for discomfort. Also not eating for several hours before donating can make you feel funky too. OK, and it depends on the skill of the person doing the draw. I'd say the majority of them do a great job.

I'd highly recommend drinking plenty of water/non-alcoholic liquids the day before. I'd also plan to have more liquid and possibly some food and hour or two before you donate. Do that. You'll feel a lot better.

And yes, there's always a little bit of a prick or pinch and sometimes a bit of a weird pressure? feeling - just have something with you to distract you - a book, magazine, cell phone, tablet, whatever and you'll be fine.

[Jaguar]

Virgil I'll go with you and make sure the tech does a good job. lol

[Bluerobin]

Virgil, stop being a wuss and roll up that sleeve!

[Tennesseer]

If the discomfort of a needle insertion is ones most painful experience to date,  then consider yourself lucky.

Men thank their lucky stars they are not the ones who get pregnant and go through the pain of childbirth.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 13, 2015 21:13:04 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

Like you, I don't even like getting blood drawn for lab tests, Virgil Showlion - I usually ask to lie down so I don't get dizzy or pass-out, since they usually draw 4 or 5 vials in one session.

But I WILL take one for the team and donate a pint if needed - you'll just have to learn to pull on your big-boy pants and suck it up, buttercup.

The only way to overcome your fears is to face them.

PS: My father (who'd received the transplant and many transfusions during/post surgery), had already been a regular donor for about 20+ yrs before his need for blood. He started donating some time in the 60's.

Growing up, my parents donated blood every 2 months or whenever they got a call from the Blood Center.  And my Dad absolutely loathes and fears needles.  Yet he donated blood approximately 6-8 times a year for at least 4 decades and possibly 5.  He stopped because he had a stroke and is now on blood thinners.  They don't want his blood. 

I've donated blood with him - he lies down stiff as a board and just waits for it to end.  I'm ok once the needle is in but for Dad, the entire thing was horrible. 

[swasat]

I am registered American Red Cross blood donor. I don't see it as a big deal. I have a common blood type as well (B+) and donate blood 5-8 times a year. 

If even 50% of my blood helps someone in need, I think I'll have acheived my goal.

[NancysSummerSip]

Oh, man up Skippy, and do the Christian thing.

I'm an AB-, the rarest blood types. I'd like to think I'll never need any blood, but the good news is I can accept a few types (all the negatives) and even better, I am a universal plasma donor. Unfortunately, my blood donation isn't much good to anyone other than another AB-. No other blood type can accept AB-.

And yes, donations are a good thing, until someone figures out how to recreate the red stuff in a lab.

[Angel!]

Jan 14, 2015 9:52:53 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Oh, man up Skippy, and do the Christian thing.

I'm an AB-, the rarest blood types. I'd like to think I'll never need any blood, but the good news is I can accept a few types (all the negatives) and even better, I am a universal plasma donor. Unfortunately, my blood donation isn't much good to anyone other than another AB-. No other blood type can accept AB-.

And yes, donations are a good thing, until someone figures out how to recreate the red stuff in a lab.

AB+ could take your blood.

[NancysSummerSip]

Jan 14, 2015 10:36:30 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jan 14, 2015 9:52:53 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

I'm an AB-, the rarest blood types. I'd like to think I'll never need any blood, but the good news is I can accept a few types (all the negatives) and even better, I am a universal plasma donor. Unfortunately, my blood donation isn't much good to anyone other than another AB-. No other blood type can accept AB-.

And yes, donations are a good thing, until someone figures out how to recreate the red stuff in a lab.

AB+ could take your blood.

They can? OK, so the site I looked at was inaccurate. That's good to know.

[zibazinski]

I'm also O +. You had a bad draw. Ask for the A team next time. I'm had flu shots for years. Last November I got one and she hurt me. I've never had one hurt. I won't have her again. As far as vials being jiggling that shouldn't happen either. You did have a bad experience. I'm so sorry.

[Angel!]

Jan 14, 2015 9:36:10 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I used to do it... I think there are some very questionable phlebotomists out there.   I now have scar tissue in the arm that I would donate from.   Alas,  I don't have to worry about it anymore since I've been banned for life from donating.   Who would have thought a british hamburger* would have had such repercussions. 

Wow, didn't know that. I'll admit I have rarely donated. For years I didn't weigh enough. And then 2 separate tattoos kept me out for 2 years. And then there were 2 pregnancies. Then in my third pregnancy I learned that I have RH antibodies, so now I will never be eligible again.

I am on a list to donate for antibody research, but right now they have enough with anti D antibodies. From what I have read I can donate to create Rhogam, but it appears they won't take you until you are post-menopausal or sterilized & I am neither. Not sure if there is a local center for that anyway.

[Angel!]

Jan 14, 2015 10:41:47 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Jan 14, 2015 10:36:30 GMT -5 Angel! said:

AB+ could take your blood.

They can? OK, so the site I looked at was inaccurate. That's good to know.

Yeah, a negative can go to a positive.  It just can't go the other way around.  You can't get blood from an AB+ (or any +).

[weltschmerz]

Jan 14, 2015 9:27:18 GMT -5 swasat said:

I am registered American Red Cross blood donor. I don't see it as a big deal. I have a common blood type as well (B+) and donate blood 5-8 times a year. 

If even 50% of my blood helps someone in need, I think I'll have acheived my goal.

Not THAT common. B+ is something like 9% of the population.

[Chocolate Lover]

I was a for profit plasma donor (the anticoagulant tastes funny and it's cold going back in) back when I was married to XH. I have a small scar inside the elbow on the arm I used most. It shouldn't hurt beyond the initial stick. I don't watch because I naturally want to pull away. I give blood now, in fact the blood mobile is outside my office today. They always ask if I've eaten and since I skipped breakfast, I'll go after lunch.

[zibazinski]

My mom was AB- and used to sell her blood for money back in the 50's. She was very proud of being "special." I'm glad im common!!!

[tskeeter]

Jan 13, 2015 20:33:48 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

On my way home from work, I often pass by a blood bank ("Canadian Blood Services", which is a not-for-profit organization that manages the blood supply in Canada). Recently I've noticed bus shelter ads in the vicinity of the blood bank are encouraging people to donate blood. The ad slogan is "Give Blood. Save a Life."

I've only ever given blood once before. I was told there'd be a sharp prick and then mild discomfort (or maybe none at all) over the few minutes the blood was drawn, not unlike drawing blood for lab samples, which I've done dozens of times. The reality for me was a sharp prick and then feeling as though a giant needle was sticking out of my arm for a quarter of an hour. It hurt.

People have since told me that the phlebotomist screwed up, I should have complained, it's not supposed to be that way, etc., etc., but seeing the bore of that needle (it's huge!), I have a really hard time believing it doesn't hurt even at the best of times. Also, perhaps what I was feeling was the so-called "mild discomfort" and I just have a low tolerance for pain. At any rate, once was enough for me. I was more than happy to let other Canadians pick up the slack.

But noticing this ad today made me wonder: how true is their "save a life" slogan?

My blood type is O+, which is the most common blood type. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't have any rare qualities to it. Since the CBS has had the "save a life" slogan for as long as I can remember (the Red Cross and other blood organizations have similar slogans) but I can't recall ever reading about Canadians dying en masse due to blood shortages, it's always seemed to me that the claim was/is the kind of absurd hyperbole one normally sees in advertisements. As in: if the blood bank was running six standard deviations below its average supply, and 20 passenger trains simultaneously derailed, and the Rogers Stadium suddenly exploded in a giant fiery ball of death, my blood might conceivably save somebody's life. On any other day it'd go into a reserve bin somewhere until it expired and was thrown out. But honestly I have no clue.

Today I was questioning the wisdom of not giving blood. Firstly, because if there truly is some non-negligible chance that my blood could save a life, "the needle hurts" is a lousy excuse not to donate. Secondly, it wasn't lost on me that if we apply the categorical imperative--that is, if everybody felt like me and didn't donate blood--people literally would be dying by the dozens on the operating table. Thirdly, in recent years it does seem as though the blood banks are pressing unusually hard for donations. I've read that depending on where you donate, the blood is sometimes sent overseas to disaster zones, etc. And given the growth in STDs, blood illnesses, heart conditions, etc. that might disqualify potential donors, it's possible the pool of willing candidates has shrunk to the point now where blood banks can't build up statistically sufficient reserves.

Hence my question to posters (especially posters with a medical background) is this: How true is the claim, "Give blood. Save a life."? Is there any non-negligible statistical chance my blood could help (say, greater than a 1-in-100,000 chance), or is this something I should just leave to the multitudes out there whose blood-giving experiences are significantly better than mine?

Does anyone here routinely give blood? If you've had a painful experience, can vouch for the fact that it was just an isolated incident, or does it hurt like a dog every time?

Thanks for your feedback.

Virgil, blood donations really do save lives.

I live in Reno, NV.   In 2011 an airpane crash during the national championship air races happened just a mile from where I work.  The plane came down just yards from the stands, killing 7 people and seriously injuring another 73 people.  The local emergency response was absolutely stellar.  Even though the accident happened just after shift change at the local hospitals, medical personnel who heard the news on the radio during their drive home turned around and returned to work.  Specialists from all over town headed to the hospitals so they would be on site if they were needed.  (When one trauma nurse asked that someone call a thoracic specialist, a voice behind her said "I'm here.  What do you need?")  Within a hour of the crash, all of the injured had been transported to an emergency room.  Before the last victim made it to the emergency room, there were lines out the doors of the local blood bank and people were lining up at the hospitals.  Without gallons of blood to treat the amputations and serious lacerations, all of the great work that emergency and medical services personnel did would have been for naught.  (Only four victims, of the dozens and dozens who were transported to an emergency room, did not survive.)

None of us knows when a disaster or really serious accident is going to take place.  Who knows when being able to put blood in faster than it is leaking out will mean that somene will get to go home to their family?

[zibazinski]

Jan 14, 2015 14:02:32 GMT -5 tskeeter said:

Jan 13, 2015 20:33:48 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

On my way home from work, I often pass by a blood bank ("Canadian Blood Services", which is a not-for-profit organization that manages the blood supply in Canada). Recently I've noticed bus shelter ads in the vicinity of the blood bank are encouraging people to donate blood. The ad slogan is "Give Blood. Save a Life."

I've only ever given blood once before. I was told there'd be a sharp prick and then mild discomfort (or maybe none at all) over the few minutes the blood was drawn, not unlike drawing blood for lab samples, which I've done dozens of times. The reality for me was a sharp prick and then feeling as though a giant needle was sticking out of my arm for a quarter of an hour. It hurt.

People have since told me that the phlebotomist screwed up, I should have complained, it's not supposed to be that way, etc., etc., but seeing the bore of that needle (it's huge!), I have a really hard time believing it doesn't hurt even at the best of times. Also, perhaps what I was feeling was the so-called "mild discomfort" and I just have a low tolerance for pain. At any rate, once was enough for me. I was more than happy to let other Canadians pick up the slack.

But noticing this ad today made me wonder: how true is their "save a life" slogan?

My blood type is O+, which is the most common blood type. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't have any rare qualities to it. Since the CBS has had the "save a life" slogan for as long as I can remember (the Red Cross and other blood organizations have similar slogans) but I can't recall ever reading about Canadians dying en masse due to blood shortages, it's always seemed to me that the claim was/is the kind of absurd hyperbole one normally sees in advertisements. As in: if the blood bank was running six standard deviations below its average supply, and 20 passenger trains simultaneously derailed, and the Rogers Stadium suddenly exploded in a giant fiery ball of death, my blood might conceivably save somebody's life. On any other day it'd go into a reserve bin somewhere until it expired and was thrown out. But honestly I have no clue.

Today I was questioning the wisdom of not giving blood. Firstly, because if there truly is some non-negligible chance that my blood could save a life, "the needle hurts" is a lousy excuse not to donate. Secondly, it wasn't lost on me that if we apply the categorical imperative--that is, if everybody felt like me and didn't donate blood--people literally would be dying by the dozens on the operating table. Thirdly, in recent years it does seem as though the blood banks are pressing unusually hard for donations. I've read that depending on where you donate, the blood is sometimes sent overseas to disaster zones, etc. And given the growth in STDs, blood illnesses, heart conditions, etc. that might disqualify potential donors, it's possible the pool of willing candidates has shrunk to the point now where blood banks can't build up statistically sufficient reserves.

Hence my question to posters (especially posters with a medical background) is this: How true is the claim, "Give blood. Save a life."? Is there any non-negligible statistical chance my blood could help (say, greater than a 1-in-100,000 chance), or is this something I should just leave to the multitudes out there whose blood-giving experiences are significantly better than mine?

Does anyone here routinely give blood? If you've had a painful experience, can vouch for the fact that it was just an isolated incident, or does it hurt like a dog every time?

Thanks for your feedback.

Virgil, blood donations really do save lives.

I live in Reno, NV.   In 2011 an airpane crash during the national championship air races happened just a mile from where I work.  The plane came down just yards from the stands, killing 7 people and seriously injuring another 73 people.  The local emergency response was absolutely stellar.  Even though the accident happened just after shift change at the local hospitals, medical personnel who heard the news on the radio during their drive home turned around and returned to work.  Specialists from all over town headed to the hospitals so they would be on site if they were needed.  (When one trauma nurse asked that someone call a thoracic specialist, a voice behind her said "I'm here.  What do you need?")  Within a hour of the crash, all of the injured had been transported to an emergency room.  Before the last victim made it to the emergency room, there were lines out the doors of the local blood bank and people were lining up at the hospitals.  Without gallons of blood to treat the amputations and serious lacerations, all of the great work that emergency and medical services personnel did would have been for naught.  (Only four victims, of the dozens and dozens who were transported to an emergency room, did not survive.)

None of us knows when a disaster or really serious accident is going to take place.  Who knows when being able to put blood in faster than it is leaking out will mean that somene will get to go home to their family?

Wow. Thanks for sharing this.

[weltschmerz]

Jan 14, 2015 13:58:09 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

My mom was AB- and used to sell her blood for money back in the 50's. She was very proud of being "special." I'm glad im common!!!

It`s against the law to sell your blood or organs where I live.
You give it in the spirit of generosity.

[zibazinski]

It is now. That was then.

[weltschmerz]

Jan 14, 2015 14:24:08 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

It is now. That was then.

They don't pay for blood any more?

[mollyanna58]

I've donated a few times a year for the past couple of years.  Twice, I was turned away for being slightly anemic.  I have to remember to take iron pills for a few days before donating.

The free donuts and snacks lure me in every time.

One time I got a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.  The coupon said "A pint for a pint."

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 14, 2015 14:56:34 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

I've donated a few times a year for the past couple of years.  Twice, I was turned away for being slightly anemic.  I have to remember to take iron pills for a few days before donating.

The free donuts and snacks lure me in every time.

One time I got a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.  The coupon said "A pint for a pint."

Considering the price of ice cream these days, it's actually a pretty good deal for a pint of blood.

Same thing with the doughnuts and other sweets. An investment in goodies to net the goods, like the witch in Hansel and Gretel.