Who Here Gives Blood?

[anthro-nerd]

Just sat waiting for my name to be called!

[BagPussAA]

I would love to be able to but I am not allowed with the medications I have to take. My dad gave blood regularly for his entire adult life and I would have loved to continue his tradition so I always just encourage others to give instead. I have signed up to give bone marrow though.

[ummmm]

Do all the blood donors carry a organ donation card? Is it still the case that family can override it?

[sandyRoe]

When my brother was killed many years ago he had a donor card. Our mother overruled it as he lay on life support.

[ummmm]

Sad really isn't it. When someone is willing to help others. I can understand why parents refuse though.

[sandyRoe]

She was from another time. I think she thought that no more offence should be done to him.

[woofgang]

Blood donors don't have to carry an organ donation card. I never did and don't now. The two things are separate issues.

[EDDIE51]

I'm also on the Organ Donor register for any part of my body to be used. What's left is to go to Cambridge University Medical School for student surgeons to practice dissections and operations on. Saves the family having to pay for my funeral as there won't be one. Any 'left over bits' are disposed of free by the University & my family get a commemorative plaque in memory of the donation of body to help the medical school. More people should be aware that they can do this. It gets me annoyed every time I see an advert for funeral plans, there is just no need for one. I have already seen my local Vicar and she will be very happy to hold a free 'Thanksgiving for the life of Eddie' service in place of a funeral.

[EDDIE51]

Woofgang, No you don't have to carry a blood donor card. But it helps if you do, they just scan it and all your details come up instantly on the database. Saves having to give your details every time.

[Canary42]

/// they just scan it and all your details come up ///

The wonders of modern technology. They lost my records when I moved job/house in 1977 and I had to start all over again - that's why I can't prove over 100 but I'm pretty sure it's right.

[Cloverjo]

As Woofgang says, blood donation and organ donation are completely different things, and have different registers.

[sunny-dave]

I used to donate, I was up to about 50 pints by the time they said 'no more - we're running out of viable veins'.

I'd do it now if they'd let me - one of the great altrusitic services of our time and one our country can be proud of.

[sunny-dave]

grrrr - "altruistic"

[Eve]

I used to. I had the screening for platelets donation too but apparently didn't have enough. I wish I still could still give blood, I haven't been able to donate for years due to medication I'm on.