have you ever donated blood, ? Options

[voguelove]

i did! today. it's a weird process. you have to be at 16 with parental consent in some states and in others, you have to be 17. and, you need to weigh 110.

after you get there, you fill out forms, then they prick your middle finger and measure it for how much iron you've got in your body along with what your temperature is. if your iron is too low or if your temperature is too high, they reject you on the spot.


next, you lie down on a stretcher-thing and that's when they take your blood. the needle is VERY thick. and it hurt. i was really nervous before going into it and the insertion of the needle scared the shit out of me so i cried. hah. apparently, the person who attended to me said that the last time they heard a scream like mine was when one of the nurses had to draw blood from someone's neck.

at least i saved two lives. =]

[*.fire*]

I've tried two times, each time I've been stuck in each arm and my veins have collapsed so they couldnt go any further. But I'm still going to try again.

[*salcha4u*]

Yep, only one month after I turned 16 last October, I decided to donate blood for the first time. Needless to say, after I saw the needle go into my friend's arm and she said that it wasn't as bad as she thought, I didn't think it would be a big deal...until I passed out 3/4 of the way through donating. Everyone at my friggin school knows too and always remind me.

The finger pricking hurts :T

[MrStrife]

I tried to but they couldn't accept my blood because I travelled to Southeast Asia and also had tattoos done recently.

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

First of all, I'm one and a half years too young. Secondly, I'm deathly afraid of needles AND blood.
I would really love to donate blood if they had a better way of extracting it..




Why would the nurse draw blood from someone's neck?

[*afflict.x*]

No I haven't. I'm too young, and the suringe with the big point needles scare me.

[*mishyerr*]

i really want to, but i don't weigh enough :/


my boyfriend does it a lot though! :) i think giving blood is a wonderful thing ^_^

[Comptine]

i did once. my first pin prick produced to little iron. the second one was like just right. i nearly passed out at the end of the donation.

i tried a second time but my blood pressure was too low.

the damn blood donation place keeps calling me to donate more.

[me1issaaaa]

I'm too low in iron to donate blood. And the idea of needles penetrating my flesh isn't too calming, either...

[sprezzatura]

First of all, I am not 17 yet and I can't donate blood.
Also, I think I need to get over the fear of needles and I don't like passing out since the amount they draw is more than a blood test.
Even in blood tests it take the nurses like FOREVER to find my vein, so I don't want to risk that anymore...

I agree with whoever that says when they invent a better way to draw blood, because I really would do it if there is a better way.

[phoenixpyre]

Oh boy i was all excited till that needle went in... and then... i saw the blood trickle through the tube... then i nearly passed out... ITS OK THOUGH! they injected me with saline and so I came right back, as i drank my juicy juice


dont you think blood drives are just fantastic?! :D

(sarcasm?)


I SAVED THREE LIVES TODAY! HAVE YOU EVER?

[Simba]

I always thought blood extractions kind of tickled.

I haven't donated blood yet, however.

[phoenixpyre]

oh it tickles, and then, because I did the red blood cell extraction, they inject your plasma back into you

it's the coolest sensation i've EVER felt

[misoshiru]

I went to go donate blood today.

and then they told me I wasn't allowed to because I haven't been a permanent resident of the U.S. for 3 years.
They burst my bubble

[breakingdawn]

I don't think I would be able to donate blood.
I pass out whenever I get a blood test.

But good for you!

[*Monochrome.*]

I went to go donate blood today.

and then they told me I wasn't allowed to because I haven't been a permanent resident of the U.S. for 3 years.
They burst my bubble

^Cause they think you might have cooties.
Im kidding,Well at least your lucky..Over here im not allowed to donate blood ever because I want born in Ireland.The only time i could is if it was a crisis or if a family member needed it.

[Stefanny]

Rofl, I'm not allowed to donate blood and neither are my parents, because they think we might be infected with some virus or w/e. Just because we were born in Asia.

[phoenixpyre]

Yeah they asked me all these questions about if I had traveled to certain places (like Africa, Asia, etc) at a certain time b/c of disease... there were a lot of questions like that

[HakunaMatata]

PSSSSSSSSSSSST

Topics Merged

[phoenixpyre]

PSSSSSSSSSSSST

Topics Merged

my bad

[HakunaMatata]

Which is why it's in The Lounge now.

HEYOMGYOUEDITEDYOURPOST!

[*onewaysalcha*]

Yep, only one month after I turned 16 last October, I decided to donate blood for the first time. Needless to say, after I saw the needle go into my friend's arm and she said that it wasn't as bad as she thought, I didn't think it would be a big deal...until I passed out 3/4 of the way through donating. Everyone at my friggin school knows too and always remind me.

The finger pricking hurts :T

And yet I still might donate again :)

[much2muse]

no i haven't. i don't know how to except through the school, and you have to be 17 for that.

maybe next year

unless i chicken out.

[YaGurlSukedMe2SL...]

I passed out

Pussy.

[krnxswat]

Yah, three times.

[falsetigerlimbs]

I'm not allowed to because I was born in England/lived there for a long time.
Seriously.
They think I have mad cow disease.
People from Britain aren't allowed to donate blood over here.
O_O

I would totally donate some if they would let me, because I like having blood drawn.

[Jeng]

No but I probably would if they needed it, to save lives, OMG THICK NEEDLE?!?!?! That sent the chills all ove rme just now. So scary dude.

[Detective]

No, But i really want to. Knowing that i can save somewone's life by donation blood is wonderful.

[NgocQuyen]

no, i've never donated blood. i'm scared to death of needles. i'd probably have to hold my breath and have a death grip on someone..><

[Jinny]

i wish i could =/ but i'm scared of needles

[smoke]

No, but I think I am tomorrow.

[pinacoolada]

We had a red cross blood donation thing at our school today!
And my 17 year old friend donated blood, and felt all dizzy afterwards
...I'm never gonna donate blood

[freeflow]

I always wanted too, I'm just scared.

[Mulder]

no, because my weight is too close to the minimum.

[*onewaysalcha*]

no, because my weight is too close to the minimum.

So was mine (it was RIGHT on the border) but I did it anyway.

[littleswallow]

Well... I was supposed to, but then I'm anemic and I only weigh 95 lbs... seriously, I need to gain some weight

[*Duchess of Dork*]

I donate quite often. They have the blood drives here in the hospital, so it's pretty convenient. They also offer an addition 8 hours of PTO (paid time off) if you donate 3 times in a fiscal year.

Also, since I'm O Negative (universal blood type) I've always felt that I should donate.

[YourSuperior]

I've never donated blood before, because I'm only 16 and I'll be 17 in May. But I still won't be able to donate until I'm 18.

[PuppyChan]

MEH! the thoughts of it is making me feel faint.

I don't think I could ever donate blood....for reasons I won't go in to....I don't want to bore anyone

Even blood tests are too much for me....wow I'm feeling dizzy

[gelionie]

Nope.
I'm kind of afraid of blood and I can't bear seeing the sight of it being pumped from my body. O_o

[alysaphobia]

No, not yet.
I'm 16 now and I weigh enough to donate, now, but I have a great fear of needles. I'm totally fine with the blood part- just the thought of needles piercing my skin irks me.

I really hope I will, sometime in the future, though.

[mylittleMiracle]

No,I am too afraid of needles hurting my skin too much...
I will scream loudly and scare the nurses away.

[*steve330*]

It honestly doesn't hurt that much. Every time I've given blood I turned it into a competition w/ friends to see who could do it the fastest and see whose blood was the best. I usually won fastest and always had the best blood :D
They would give us a foam ball to squeeze and the more we squeezed the more blood pumped and the more was taken.
Man y'all have never given blood, and I've given a double dose lol. I guess it's cuz I'm no where near the min weight and males have an easier time getting high amounts of iron in their blood *shrug*

[*[2]Nekked*]

i can't, i'm underweight. which sucks cuz people always call my house asking me to donate since i have O-neg.

[*steve330*]

Yeah I got O negative too oO. I got tons of iron in mine too. Whatever the measurement thing is, I get like a 48 when they test my iron. I think the minimum to donate is like 36?

[Phil2thejay]

I donate to the mayan gods~
lol jk
Im too young to donate but when Im able too I think I might.

[*Intercourse.*]

No, I have never given blood. And I don't know if I ever will because I'm freakishly afraid of needles xD

[Gypsy Eyes]

Nope, i'm not allowed. Stupid anemia.

My best friend isn't allowed to because he's gay.

[transcendentalis...]

I'm not sixteen, and I'm usually not at 110 pounds.
:(

I wonder how large the needle is?
I used to get my blood taken a lottt for tests (like every four weeks or less), and I'd always be like wiped out after.

[*steve330*]

Oh yeah the blood taken out of you really does wipe you out. I forgot one day that I had given blood and went for a 3 mile run that night, only to remember as I was getting home, feeling incredibly weak. I did this right before spring break too oO. Took like 3 days to recover.

[transcendentalis...]

My brother did get his blood drawn twice, however. He was completely wiped out both times... and the blood-drawing people screwed up both times too. -sigh;

My family in general doesn't gain weight easily. We're all super-light with tiny bones. Peter (the brother), Dad, and I are the only ones who have a regular bit of muscle on the bones so we're more durable than mom and sis.

I'm kind of imagining them being dainty wineglasses being dropped off the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Whereas, Peter, Dad, and I are more like... thermoses?

Yeah, maybe it's getting too late for me.

[*AngelicEyz00*]

I don't think I'm healthy enough to donate blood. I would like to, though. Last time I checked, I was anemic.

[DarkImpressions]

Nope.
Im to young lol.
But When I get older I am.

[gelionie]

Oh there's another reason that people want to donate blood when there's a promotion at school because they get to skip class... legally. :P

[*JoanOfArc*]

Nope, never. They say I'm too young. I want to though.

[trulyandnever]

I plan to, my dad does & he says its fine :)

[*stephinika*]

No I haven't...I can't stand the idea of a big needle in my arm taking blood...

[*steve330*]

y'all mean to tell me you wouldnt want something that big going in your arm sucking out a pint of blood?

[31miracles]

yes I have many times
most recently at my school
I got a free tee-shirt :)

[pandamonium]

I volunteered three years for the red blood drive and i could only donate blood two times because i was very young and i had to wait until my senior year.

but i love donating blood i think its a great thing to do. i would do it as many times as i could. i dont think it hurts, it just feels like a really long pinch.

[*steve330*]

it only really *stings* as it's going in, and that sting really isn't much at all. it's more like woO ooo o. a needle in my arm. lots of blood. cool!

[*Duchess_of_Dork*]

it only really *stings* as it's going in, and that sting really isn't much at all. it's more like woO ooo o. a needle in my arm. lots of blood. cool!

It's funny (at least to me) because the little prick they do to your finger to test for anemia is much worse than the needle they use to draw the actual blood from.

I'm donating again next week. I swear, they find out your O neg and you get hounded. =X

Just kidding, I like donating blood.

[*steve330*]

Haha yeah I donate quarts whenever I can, which is a much larger interval in time than donating pints. I forget why they love quarts, something like they can extract platelets from quarts?

[*Duchess_of_Dork*]

I think it does have something to do with the platelets. I'll ask one of the ER docs when I see them.

I know that generally I can't do platelets for some reason. I have issues with anemia ever since I had my son for some reason, so I have to eat a lot of iron containing foods before donating. I so love those days. I'm a sucker for a good cheeseburger.

Not sure if that's why or not.

[*!!!!!!&#*]

I can't donate blood... My BMI is too low.

And I'm scared of needles. It's all a very bad mix for blood donation. Which is a shame, because I could use the good karma.

[*IVIike*]

i will once i get old enough [one more month]

[*steve330*]

@ !!!!!!!!!!
What's your BMI?
Mine's like 8% and they still let me donate. But then again, I'm a guy.

[Rachel]

I don't think I'm healthy enough to donate blood. I would like to, though. Last time I checked, I was anemic.

Hey, same here! Besides even when they take blood to do tests, I almost faint.

[Just_Dream]

I tried to but they and other people kept telling me I am 20 lbs. too light. T_T That, and supposively I have a low red blood cell count. Or well, that's what my doctor told me in the past. T_T

I wanted to donate blood because it counts as community service and it helps others. :D

[hi-C]

I have! Our NHS did a blood drive, and as a member I felt obligated to give. They found a really good vein though and my blood came out faster than it should've. I was light-headed for a good while afterward but I didn't pass out.

[*kryogenix*]

I donate other people's blood.

[ashleybby]

on monday i went in to donate blood, and i never have donated before, and i was soooo nervous. i hate needles. i hate blood. but i want to donate blood. i just think it would be for a good reason, you know?
but then they did the finger prick [which really hurt, lol] and they told me my iron was to low
sooo they told me they would call in 30 days
hopefully i will be able to donate next time.