Giving blood (LFGSS blood drive?!)

Good work.

Did #12 in early Jan. Hurt the least of all of them (it's only a little scratch anyway), biggest bruise though.

Have booked another one for May (can't do any earlier due to marathon and will delay to after September Ironman for #14.)

Last time I tried to donate they didn't want my dirrty tattooed blood.
Is that still a thing?

they review the criteria the whole time, I think it's now a 4 month waiting period following your tattoo - but could be wrong. Best way is to call the hot line (0300 123 23 23) with Qs - who'll also be able to book you a donation slot if all okay. in my experience most donation centres struggle to accept walk-ins so booking first makes everyone's life easier

Have to wait 4 months since last tattoo, also need to tell them if it was in the last 12 months so they can do some additional tests on the blood you do donate.

http://www.blood.co.uk

Last time I had a sore arm for 2 weeks afterwards. I'm going to get them to do my right arm next time (I'm left handed...)

Definitely going back though!

well done all! do this whenever I can, just moved back SE so booked in to start platelet donation again in a couple of weeks.

Fifth done, I asked for a long serving nurse which made the needle feel more like a pin prick, also managed to bring one friend along too, happy days all round

I've got a question though that I'm sure one of you can answer, if everyone in the UK that could give blood did how often would each person need to give in order to keep stocks full?

Reddit answered it
hilburn17✓ • 1h
By the reckoning of the NHSBT service they require 6,000 donations/day on average to keep up with demand.

They also state that the majority of 17-65 year olds are capable of giving blood. So let's say that's about 90%

According to census data, roughly 65% of the UK population are between 16-64, so presumably it's about the same for 17-65.

UK population is 64.1 million, so that's 41.7 million between 17 and 65, and of those 37.5 million people can give blood.

If they need 6,000 donations/day, that's just once every 6250 days, or 17 years and a month (and a bit). This means that if everyone donated blood at this rate, we would only need to give blood at most 3 times in our lives

I have registered, and am looking for a local centre, all the up coming pea are fully booked, which is good, but the next available is about the time I 8by and yo get another tattoo so will be excluded. Going to try local to work and maybe go st lunch time

My 1st donation will be on 4 April (sooner ones were either fully booked or unattendable times)

I'm always amazed how busy my nearest donation place is and it's in a school with 8-10 chairs. If you don't book you can't just drop in as I've discovered in the past.

Drink a fuck load of water in the morning is my only advice.

So - donation and training.

How much of an impact is there, and how long does it last?

I'm booked in tomorrow (for the first time - although I've been registered for years) and I've also got the turbo set up for a 2 x 20.

I'm guessing I should knock the 2 x 20 on the head, but for how long? 2, 3, more days?

it all depends on the person, IMO its mainly psychological, you will feel light headed but just be calm and relaxed but stay alive and chatty. have a big breakfast and drink before and after then just take it easy and chilled out for a day then you'll probably be back to normal the next day but take 2 days before the turbo

^ Sounds about right. I train daily (running, bit of cycling) and normally find no noticeable effect if I take a rest day, sleep, then an easy day the next day. I wouldn't donate, say, the week before a target race.

Cheers for the thread bump BTW, good reminder. I tried to give blood a few weeks ago but literally couldn't find the building from the address. Spoke to a couple of other similarly lost looking people wandering around trying to do the same thing. Strange place, that Greenwich peninsula! Now booked in for early March in a venue I know how to find. I'm O+, anyone can have me. :-)

There is an app, and you can filter by area and date. Pretty handy.

Their website says best not to train hard immediately before or after (a day either side)

It's a turbo session ffs - go ahead and do it, it's not as if you're going to fall in traffic when you pass out. Plus you get to tell people you beasted it so hard you passed out.

except A- and AB- but over 93% can receive yours

There you go, every day's a school day!

it's not as if you're going to fall in traffic when you pass out.

I like to turbo dangerously & have it set up next to a main road.

This thread has reminded me that I'm a very rare AB- so I'd better donate to ensure there's a stockpile for when I need it. Booked for my birthday so will be able to get pissed really easy afterwards.

I have no idea what my blood type is.
Will I find out when I give?

I think they'll tell you in a letter when they send your donor card.

I did that too, cheapest night out ever

Session completed. Blood now in circulation in the general population.