On Tuesday I will be donating blood for the first time, I booked myself in quite randomly to do this. I've planned on doing this for a while but haven't got around to it for a variety of reasons. I know I have to eat and drink lots beforehand, are there are any other tips for someone who hasen't done it before? I'm not expecting it to be too painful, figure any mild discomfort will be worth it. Anyone else amongst the 3% of the population (well that is the Australian average) who donates?

I'd donate my sperm before I donate my blood.

Don't you do that already?

When I can.

LLCoolF

That's me, home skillet.

i dont give it, and I dont take it

I donate in the US. I figure the blood still comes out the same way, yeah?

Usually where I donate I have the option of donating whole blood or packed red blood cells, and the latter option is more exciting. Sometimes when I donate whole blood I get light headed and whatnot, so packed red blood cells (referred to as R2) for me is a better option. They end up taking the equivalent of two units of packed red blood cells but they run it through a centrifuge and give you your plasma back. Maybe I just like the feeling of being a bionic man with all the IVs running in and out of my arm, but I generally tolerate it better. As far as discomfort goes, I always find the finger prick to test your iron level to be more unpleasant than actually sticking the needle in the arm.

After you donate you'll have the lovely feeling of being far more of a humanitarian than the other 97 percent of the populace.

Donating blood is something that I have always wanted to do. I remember as a kid my mom donating blood and getting this little metal pin to wear that had a little drop of blood with a face on it that said "I donated blood today".

As an adult, when I have discussed it with friends they always start listing the reasons they couldn't do it or the reasons why I wouldn't be able to do it. I have tattoos, I get them regularly, and I did know there was a waiting period after getting a tattoo or piercing, etc.

This thread helped me decide go to the American Red Cross website to learn the exact rules about donation. I think a lot of people are misinformed about what they can and can't have in their bodies at the time of donation.

I can do it now. It's been over a year since my last tattoo. I am going to find a place and donate sometime before Christmas.

Thanks for the motivation.

i mean...no one's gonna die from loss of blood

unless you don't give any of yours

haha

Damn Angi, you just convinced me to do it, too. Good job, baby!

I almost fainted the one time I gave blood. I don't have any issue with needles, but the thought of a large amount of my blood being slowly drained through tubes into a bag sitting right next to me....yeesh.

the best part of voluntarily donating blood is that when YOU need it years later they charge you triple digits.

Yeah, what the cock is that shit?

you people are a bunch of pussies. i've given over five gallons of blood. i would have given more by now but i've gotten tats and piercings and have had to wait. if you eat a normal breakfast and drink some juice, you'll hardly get lightheaded and if you get lightheaded at all, you'll be completely over it within ten minutes or so. it's really the most important thing you can give of yourself with minimal discomfort.

I have always wanted to give blood, especially as I have friends that do this regularly. However when I was seeing the pathologist I was told that I would not be accepted because I have weak viens after a severe childhood illness and that there is a possibility my viens may collapse after donation. This bummed me out because I don't have a fear of needles and I have a high threshold for discomfort

Plus there goes your lifelong dream of being a junkie

some of the posters here are not filling me with confidence, but i don't think it will be that bad. i'll see if i still have the same view after i have done it once.

I'm sure it will go fine and you will feel heaps good after you have done it

I donate here in Oz every 4 months or whatever it is they allow. Seriously it's a piece of piss, and you get chocolate, a juice box and cheese and crackers after.

The worst bit is the little pin prick in your finger when they do the haemoglobin test. Otherwise it's cake.

I actually do it solely for personal selfish reasons. If I ever need to be able to point at something that makes me "a good person" I can say that I donate blood. Totally self-fulfilling.

Go ahead, it ain't no strain.