Who else donates....whole blood, plasma or platelets

Dropped in to donate Plasma today.....

A few observations.

I straight away notice there was no volunteer in the kitchen and a staff member was doing to restocking and cleaning.

During my donation I was took note of a guy donating platelets....he seemed super organized ordered some flavored milk, had his book and head phones. I’m pretty sure platelets takes a lot long the Plasma. Looked over a little later and notice a lot of activity, something wasn’t going right, they had is bed fully flat, legs raised, ice/heat packs/blankets etc.....as I was finishing up his the machine was running again, the girls said he recovered and was happy to continue. They said it happens from time to time. The effort/determination was incredible. The girls did confirm that the donation continued within guild lines. Kudos to him, I’d love to donate platelets but sadly I cannot.

They questioned my hydration as my platelets were on the dark side, even though I ticked the boxes and said yes to drinking water thinking back I was actually short on water intake today. A 6k morning run didn’t help.

In the recovery kitchen I asked the blood bank lady if the volunteer didn’t turn up, she said they haven’t had a volunteer on Tuesdays for some time. She also mentioned that she used to be a volunteer quite some time ago and landed a job it was her first full time permanent job....really pleasing to see young people volunteering and that there are rewards. Hopefully they secure a volunteer soon as it does take employees away from the core duties.

Having my crackers and cheese an interpreter arrived to assist a non English speaking donor to sign up for her 1st donation.

My donation takes me away from my work for 2hrs, I’m lucky that my work have never questioned it or where I’ve been or suggested donating just whole blood as it quicker.

For those that are able to donate and have the time than it’s certainly a good gift to the community.

There was also an interesting story about somebody from defense recruiting dragging new recruits along when they donate.

My wife is a Scot so they won't let her donate. They won't let me donate either as I can't stay conscious.

So this is to say a huge thankyou to all those who can and do. :BigThumb:

I probably shouldn't ask, but why wouldn't they let a Scot donate? Do they have weird blood or something?

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I probably shouldn't ask, but why wouldn't they let a Scot donate? Do they have weird blood or something?

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There are a number of potentially humorous answers I could write, but in the interest of not getting nutted I'll stick to the facts.

If you were residing in the UK during the BSE outbreak (or surrounding dates) the risk of potential contamination is apparently greater than the need for blood products. Unlike HIV or Hepatitis, CJD can't be screened for. There's another joke buried in there about "Mad Cows", but see sentence no 1.

After that time, a friend of mine was working in the NHS as a Nurse and was unfortunate enough to witness several cases of CJD (the human version). Apparently once you've seen that you'd understand why the risk is as high as it is assessed to be. I'm happy to be told second hand, and still can't unhear some of the stuff I was told (nurses can be incredibly and bluntly graphic).

If you are seriously asking, a quick google turned up : 'Mad cow disease' - why you can't donate blood, breast milk and tissues | Queensland Health

That page has a fairly succinct explanation including dates and details. Combine that with my second hand information that CJD is "Not a disease you want to be within a mile of" and I can see why.

OK, that makes sense. Thanks.

Clinical Plasma today......

It’s the quietest I’ve ever seen it @ the Brisbane CBD donation Centre.

A sign displayed the following in the foyer

1 in 3 will need blood products in there life
Only
1 in 30 donate.

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I am not allowed to donate blood as I spent a year in the UK in the 1980s. The logic is that I could be a carrier for Mad Cow disease but they do not test people, so the result is that for the last 36 years I cannot give blood where I was prolific in donating before that.

Their loss I guess as no one anywhere has contracted mad cow disease from the blood supply - unlike some other really bad diseases.

Garry

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Originally Posted by 101RRS

I am not allowed to donate blood as I spent a year in the UK in the 1980s. The logic is that I could be a carrier for Mad Cow disease but they do not test people, so the result is that for the last 36 years I cannot give blood where I was prolific in donating before that.

Their loss I guess as no one anywhere has contracted mad cow disease from the blood supply - unlike some other really bad diseases.

Garry

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Me and my wife are in the same boat and she has the rare blood type and would love to be able to give blood to those that need it.
It's a shame and as you said there seems to be no real reason for it

I put this in another post I think but it belongs here.

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I tried bleeding to death a few weeks ago. 5 pints of other peoples donated blood later and some nifty patch work to stop leaks and I am alive. As a blood donor myself, I never fully appreciated how vitally important and generous blood donors are. (PS walking with out crutches since last Thursday rocks) [thumbsupbig]

One of my boys is receiving platelets as I type this. It's probably his 15th bag since Easter. When you see what people have to go through to donate them, it's easy to see why the medical team refers to them as "liquid gold". A casual nurse spiked a bag with a cyto line one afternoon, causing the entire bag to be discarded. The poor RN who had to call the blood bank to request another bag on her behalf took weeks to get over the reaming she got.

As one who can't donate, and who has a lad being kept alive by the products of those that do, just another huge ****ing thankyou.