April Fools Day
So, tomorrow for AF Day, I’m going to do something foolish, like bleed into a bag for 15 minutes.
Yep, that’s right. I’m giving blood tomorrow.
I’m also signing up for the bone marrow database, in case someone out there needs bone marrow and mine matches. Hey, you never know when you might save some poor sod’s life.
Anyway, this leads me to remind everyone on my Friends list: if you’re eligible to donate, please consider doing so soon. There’s no long-term risk to yourself, and you can save up to four lives with one donation.
Oh, and a recent change that I didn’t know about, at least here: piercings no longer defer you for a year unless there’s concern about whether the needles were sterilized. If you know the instruments used were sterilized, you can donate.
trelana wrote:
Alan and I were going to go Sunday, except a) he was sick, and b) oops, they don’t have any places open on Sunday around here.
Tied up all weekend this weekend, may see about the Saturday after.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 7:20 am | Permalink
wibbble wrote:
I always feel guilty when I see blood donation places, because I’m O negative, and thus my blood is rather in demand.
Unfortunately, I really, really hate needles and would probably freak out at giving blood, and I’m certainly too much of a coward to try, anyway.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 7:35 am | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
How ’bout tomorrow night? I’ll be at the Red Cross on First Street at 6:15!
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 7:38 am | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
I used to feel that people who cite “needlephobia” as a reason to donate are just chicken.
But then I had a bad vagle reaction to donating blood. Me– the “I’m not afraid of needles or anything pointy” gal. I’ve vagled twice– once when there was some problem and I got massive bruising and a lot of pain, and once when they accidentally hit a valve. It’s not harmful in any way, but I kept feeling this little “fluttering” in the tubing taped to my hand, and I knew it was the valve, which is *inside me* and I just kind of flipped.
Ever since then, I’ve maintained that, if you can donate, you should. If you think donating would seriously make you freak out, then you won’t help anyone if you freak out and can’t donate.
That said, I think if you think you *could* hold it together (I don’t know, maybe by having a cute wife hold your hand or something ;), you should try it at least once. You might be surprised– most of the time, I don’t even look at the needle at all. And with your blood type, yeah– you are very much in demand. O- can safely give to anyone and everyone, even people with a + RH factor (0+ can donate to anyone +, but not negative).
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 7:43 am | Permalink
wibbble wrote:
*nods* I really should give blood. E will likely drag me along some time.
It’s been many years since I last hand an injection - I avoided my last round of inoculations at high school by realising that parental consent forms are meaningless once you’re 16 and just refusing. I had my head gashed open by a flying beer can and refused a tetanus shot at the hospital. I think the last time I had an injection was when the hospital botched a local anaesthetic on my feet, and that must’ve been a decade ago. (I was meant to have my big toenails removed - they jabbed each toe four times, sending blood and anaesthetic all over my feet, and then it didn’t numb me enough and I got sent home. I was meant to report back and have a general anaesthetic. I decided to just keep my toenails instead.)
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 7:51 am | Permalink
copper9lives wrote:
Donating blood is interesting in St. Kitts. Basically, when someone needs it, the hospital puts out a phone call to the community (including the nurses on campus, who email the info to us). If I were ever to do it, I would bring my own needles/catheters and sterile prep. People wear galoshes in this hospital. Chickens stalk the halls. This year is the first year all of the hospital was actually indoors.
Generally, when one speaks of donating blood here, it refers to a bad accident…
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 8:06 am | Permalink
trelana wrote:
I’m stuck walking dogs in the evening after work, and never get home before 6:45-7 or so. If they’re open late, though, sure
(Presuming Alan’s feeling better, no idea if he’s up to it yet or no.) Otherwise, will probably wind up being the 10th of April.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 8:06 am | Permalink
mcnutcase wrote:
I intend to, as soon as there’s a session near me. However, I know tatts DO disqualify me for a year, so it’s a race between donating and my paycheque…
FWIW, once I’m back donating after the tatt, there will likely be a steady supply of O+ from me, and I WILL sign up for marrow donation too; I always support such things, having lost a close friend to leukaemia when I was 13.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 8:28 am | Permalink
snesgirl wrote:
Every time i try to give blood ( which is a big deal as I have a real pathalogial fear of needles), I get tested and told Im’ too anemic.
Thank you for doing what so many more should, but don’t.
I would if I could, but can’t.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 9:53 am | Permalink
halfawake wrote:
I’d go for it, but it’s been less than two months since my last blood donation. They won’t accept my blood again until two months after the last one, late May, I believe it will be. I might donate again in the summer, but probably not before then as I’m getting to be fairly busy.
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
laidar wrote:
WooHoo 2nd that!!
Ive been too exhausted to donate. I cancelled once as I was already struggling to stay awake at work one day and then I ws feeling underthe weather when I went for eth 2nd attempt and the receptionist goes “love, you are not giving us anything today”
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 3:47 pm | Permalink
angelsk wrote:
I’ve done that - I donate blood regularly, and I’m on the bone Marrow register. Have been for over 2 years now
Joey good girl
Posted on 31-Mar-04 at 6:55 pm | Permalink