Save Lives, Give Blood. You might need it one day... (National Blood Services (NBS))

Member Name: al1892

Product:	National Blood Services (NBS)
Date:	14/02/06 (1813 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Who wouldn't want to save lives? Free biscuits!

Disadvantages: None in the grand scheme of things.

I've given blood a total of 6 times now and will keep going as long as I can. Everyone should go at least once. Personally I believe that the hardest bit is going the first time as you don't know what to expect. Certainly this is how I felt and is what put me off.

When I was in University I shared my flat in halls with a medicine student, annoying as she was she did have one good impact on me by encouraging me to go and give blood. So one day when the National Blood Service (NBS) came to the university I thought I'll be brave and go along. I took my friend with me on the understanding that we would both give blood and support each other. She wussed out but I went through with it and was so glad I did. Plus as a special thing for students they had a voucher for free ben and jerry's - mmmm save lives and get free ice-cream, you can see why I went back!

Once you've been once you'll get sent a card like a credit card with your individual donor number and blood type on. Rest assured, whatever blood type you are they'll be very grateful for you donating. You can take this card the next time you go and they swipe it to bring up the information. Much quicker. The colour of the card changes as you reach certain numbers of donations, for example 1-4 donations and your card will be red. 4-10 and it will be green etc until gold!

Sadly the Welsh Blood Service and National Blood Service don't speak to each other as it were so i'm stuck on red for both having given in both places! Two separate cards is a nuisance but then I suppose most people only give in one country. I give whenever I feel like it. If I delay chances are I won't go!

Things that might put you off:-
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Needles - Now I'm not keen on them, I think you'd have to be mad to be keen on them! but you can get local anaesthetic on your arm if you ask. However I am being totally honest when I say that I have never had it and have never been hurt or even really felt it in the slightest. I have to look away still though, I'm not that brave!

Time - It really doesn't take up much of your time at all. Fill out a form, talk it through with the nurse, up to a maximum of 9 minutes for actual blood donation (I got close to 9 minutes one time and had to speed up as the man told me they can't use the blood if it takes more than 9 minutes). Then a few minutes rest, few minutes scoffing free biccies and then you can be on your way. For the difference it makes to people's lives it is a very worthwhile use of your time.

Ineligibility - The general rule is that if you are over 17 and under 60 (70 for a regular donor) and over 7stone then you will be eligible to give blood. If you are unsure about health implications etc there is plenty of information and plenty of time to discuss with the nurse your eligibility.

Fear - The most common one I'd imagine. Take a friend with you. They can talk to you while you are donating and even if they don't end up giving, the support is good. Also if you don't have anyone to take the staff are incredibly friendly, having dealt with hundreds of nervous donors, they know exactly how to make you feel at ease and if you're new will stay talking to you throughout.

Not knowing what to expect - Hopefully I can allay some of your concerns by telling you what happens below...

You've decided to go, what now?
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Once you've been and given blood once you'll get sent a letter informing you when sessions are, until then keep your eyes open, they often have banners about advertising local donor sessions (usually in church halls, places like that). Or go to their website where you can find out all the details of sessions near you by typing in your postcode. www.blood.co.uk. Or you can ring them. Really it's harder to miss a session!

When you get there, as a first time donor you'll be given a form to fill in with personal details, name address etc. so they can send out your card and info on future sessions. You can also get sent Donor magazine which gives you all kinds of stories of how blood has helped people. Very inspirational, and once you've given blood, it certainly makes you feel very proud for helping.

You'll also need to detail any health issues such as HIV, Malaria, Travel History (if you've been abroad), Sexual History (if you've had unprotected sex with someone who's been given money or drugs for sex, amongst others) etc.

You'll also be given a file with some information to read. Basically just to check there isn't anything that makes you ineligible.

You then take your form to the nurse behind a screen who will discuss the answers. Mine consists of saying "yeah that's right they're all 'no's" - boring ; )

Take a seat again for a minute or go straight to the next nurse (depending on how many people are there). This nurse will wipe your finger with cleanser and prick it. Then they squeeze the blood into a little tube and blob it into some copper sulphate solution (I think). This tests whether you are anaemic or not, if it sinks you have plenty of iron and are fine to give blood, if it floats you are not able to give blood as they suspect you to be anaemic. If this is the case, as it was once for me :(, they will do a quick blood test and send off the results and get back to you. I was gutted to have needle and not to be able to donate and then when letter came back it said I wasn't anaemic after all. Ah well, better to be safe than sorry. I find the finger pricking and squeezing the more painful bit of the whole donation process!!

If they've given you the okay, which seems to be most of the time, you go to a free bed to give the donation.

You can choose which arm you donate from by the way. It would gross me out if they made me give from my right arm so it's a very good thing!

They set up the bag and stick labels on them. They ask you your name and birthday (you will get sick of answering this as it's their way of checking you're not going woozy!). Then they tie a tornakay (sorry I have no idea how that's spelt!), wipe your arm and put the needle in.

When I started giving blood it was customary to get something resembling a bike handle to roll around in your hand to encourage the blood out. They have stopped this now - health and safety, hygiene etc. But if you're awkward like me you can ask to have something to roll and they'll happily make something up for you. The thought of pumping as is the norm now, absolutely freaks me out so again they are flexible to your needs.

Essentially you lie there for around 5 minutes pumping or rolling your hand until the bag is full and they have around a pint of your blood. They take the needle out. Stick a plaster on it (unless you're allergic to elastoplast) and get you to move when you're ready to the resting beds.

Here you, as the name suggests, rest. For around 5-10 minutes depending on how you are feeling - they won't rush you. You can read magazines or papers or just lie back and chill.

After you have rested and are still feeling okay, you can go over and raid the table of biscuits and get a drink. First-timers orange juice or water only. Once you're a regular donor you can have a hot drink. I'm afraid I don't know the reasoning but there is some!

You can also pick up a sticker or badge or keyring to show the world how brave and thoughtful you have been and hopefully encourage them to go!


There are loads of NBS people to guide you through each step of the blood donation process so if you are ever unsure about any aspect or just are curious like me, they are more than happy to talk to you about it and reassure you. Every NBS person I have ever dealt with has been really friendly (you often can't stop them talking!) and helpful so there's no need to be worried.

I did faint one time after giving blood. I'd got up from the rest area and sat down to eat a biscuit when I thought hmm not feeling so good, best head back to the beds. Got halfway up one when thump! Got a bruised elbow where I feel but really was no big deal. They were so caring and now I get extra time on the beds each time! : )


Things to consider
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Take someone with you to keep you company, give you moral support if you're worried.

Wear something that makes it easy to get to your arm! e.g. tight long sleeves tops not good.

Don't drink alcohol before you go.

Have a good meal an hour or so before you go.

Drink plenty of fluids afterwards - though they stress not alcohol, although it would be a cheap night as you'd get drunk very quickly!

Don't worry - go once, if for whatever reason you don't want to go again, noone will force you and just going once will have saved lives.

If you are ever in any doubt about going just think of the people you will be helping with your donation - people with cancer, children, people having operations, people on dialysis, if you're rhesus- premature babies. The list goes on. They are desperately short of blood as only around 6% of the population gives blood whereas 100% of us could need it one day.

Having O Rhesus Negative blood myself, everyone of you reading this could use my blood one day. But I don't have enough for everyone!!

As their motto says "Save Lives, Give Blood".

Thank you for reading, if I have persuaded just one of you to go and give blood then I'll be so pleased.

al : )

Summary: everyone should go at least once.