blood donor

[poppy10559]

when would it not be possible to give blood?

[rachela500]

If you are on antibiotics, or if you have HIV etc. I think if you have a cold then they don't take it either.

[Pherstun]

I get migraines and they don't allow me to give blood.

Best thing to do is go on their website www.blood.co.uk

[joko]

any kind of medication should be declared as the person the blood goes to may have an allergy or be taking something that will react with it.

anaemia

various other illnesses

i would suggest going along on the day and telling the nurse everything - they will tell you whether its safe or not

[LazyGun]

Copy and past this link poppy... think most of the excluded categories are listed via the link on this page.

http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/flash_questions.html

[doglady]

If you've had a tattoo or piercing in the last 6 months you can't give blood.

Also if you have MS, or similar, they won't let you.

xx

[zara 4]

If you're dead!!!

[snook]

I was told they would no longer be able to accept a donation from me when I was diagnosed with MS some years ago. I'd been a donor for years and wanted to continue, so I asked why. They said they knew MS wasn't contagious, but there was still doubt as to its cause so they couldn't take the risk. Seems a shame, since I was happy to carry on, having already donated about 40 times in the past, and since the doctors were quite convinced MS is not contagious. Still, that's life.

[Emma-J]

My mum had an operation on her kidney about 20 years ago and she still can't give blood. Don't know why.

[Why??]

Almost ironically, if you have recieved blood before you can't donate either.

I had a transfusion last year and I wanted to donate some of mine but I can't.

[Danni79]

You can't give blood if you are pregnant either x

[LazyGun]

The exclusion parameters have been tightened up considerably in recent years, due to concerns over the risks of transfusion transmissable diseases.

If you have received a transfusion, you do have an increased risk of having been infected with something like Hepatitis C,ror even HIV, remote though this possibiity now is, so are therefore are excluded from consideration as being a blood donor.
There are other reasons; You may, having been transfused, have developed antibodies to certain blood subgroups, which may cause complications, if they wished to use your blood for a transfusion.

[Why??]

Just wanted to add, if anyone is thinking of donating blood and there is absolutely no reason why they can't give blood please do. It could be one of the greatest gifts you ever give. I am so greatful to the people that took the time to make a donation for the units that I recieved. I just wish I could give some back.

[Denise S.]

It was a year after having breast cancer I went to donate but I could not give blood again. I was pretty upset as I was just one donation short of my GOLD award. They still sent it to me though, with a lovely letter. I think all health people should donate blood.

[jedimistress]

If you weigh under a certain amount.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

if you have high blood pressure and are diabetic

[spudqueen]

I used to work with a girl who had had malaria as a child. She said that she couldn't give blood.

[snook]

I agree with Why??, giving blood is one of the finest things you can do. You're helping someone, maybe even saving their life, before they need your help and without knowing who they are, or anything at all about them. It could be a child, or a person of a different faith (or none at all), or someone that speaks a different language. Beneath the obvious differences, the one thing they all have in common is flesh and blood.

Giving blood is a selfless act, and such a simple one. Assuming you can, you should not only give blood, you should go out of your way to do it. Ask how often you can donate and make a point of doing it, rather than waiting for a reminder letter to come through the letterbox. And as a reward you get a nice warm feeling of having done something worthwhile (even though it was quick and easy), and the knowledge that somewhere, in some operating theatre, your donated blood could literally mean the difference between life and death for a complete stranger. What a powerful gift!

If more people focussed on positive things like donating blood, things that benefit rather than divide, there'd be a whole lot less killing and bombing going on round the world. Yes, it's only a little thing, it's painless, and it's over in half-an-hour, but it's valuable and constructive. I wonder how many dimwits and morons, sitting in their miserable hiding places, attaching timing devices to explosives, actually bother to donate blood. None, I guess. Too busy spilling it. A perfect example of stupidity in action.

[Otrere]

Tis true - you can't give blood when you're pregnant - or for 9 months after the birth.

[Otrere]

Oh - and my husband has a hole in his heart so he's not allowed to give blood either - for his own health and safety more than anything.

[treacle84]

I think if you're under 8 stone you can't give blood