Yesterday I donated blood..BUT

India
June 14, 2010 11:40pm CST
There was a blood donation camp yesterday, near my home, a part of the global celebration. Many young guys and girls donated blood there. I and 4 other senior citizens donated too. While teaching in colleges and university, I used to organize ‘blood donation camps’ for about 40 years. I was always the first to donate. Whenever I visit a hospital, be it my city or any other place, or when a friend, relative who is ill, admitted in hospital, I used to donate blood. You can call it my hobby. But now I donate once a year. I have so many cards and certificates to my credit; I can claim blood against them. My blood group is O+, I am a universal donor. Now about the ‘BUT’ part, after you donate blood, you are supposed to be given a healthy nutrious meal, or at least a packet of glucose. But these organizes were giving just a candy costing half a rupee, though there was money for it. I hate this poor mentality of the organizers. What is your blood group, how frequently you donate? Are you given food, glucose after you donate. Please share your story and comment on the BUT part.. Professor
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14 responses
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I heard cookies are the usual staple here in the US but it has been a while since I looked into it. They do not want my blood because of my relationship with another man in the 1980s. Here are other disqualifications, at least for one hospital: http://www.stlukescr.org/our-services/all-other-services/blood-bank/donation-disqualifications/ I know the letter designation of my type is B, but I keep forgetting if it is positive or negative.
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• India
17 Jun 10
Hello Qaeyious Thanks for response. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• India
17 Jun 10
Rich I never knew they don't accept blood from Gay, though you are HIV negetive, really sad to hear this.. Thanks for sharing . Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• India
18 Jun 10
Thanks Welcome always. Professor
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I have only donated blood once, when I was a lot younger and non-diabetic. They won't let me donate anymore and it hurts because I really liked donating. I also found that I always felt better, physically, afterwards. They did give me orange juice after and had me sit for a few minutes but I actually felt energized. I would love to feel that way again. It is disappointing that your blood drivers didn't give out something better than candy but at least they did that much. They at least should have had some juice.
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• India
15 Jun 10
yes i too ace this problem,just take any juice after donating blood
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• India
17 Jun 10
I think they should accept if your blood sugar is controlled and in normal range.. Thanks for sharing your views. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
16 Jun 10
That shows how helpful you are. Blood donation is a noble donation. It is great to know that you are doing this service from such a long time. God bless you and your family.
• India
17 Jun 10
Thanks Buchi, for your kind words, i feel encouraged Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
15 Jun 10
Hello my dear honorable professor. I am so happy to know that you have donated your blood for so many times in your life. I have to say that you are such a kind-hearted professor that deserves a pat on the back. . But I am sorry to know that the blood organization you mentioned here did not do a good job to appreciate its blood donors for their selfless donation to help those who need it. Well, I don't have any experience of blood donation, but I am thinking about it. Anyway, thank you so much for being so helpful and selfless to the public. Have a good day.
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• India
17 Jun 10
You too are in teaching profession, if i am right dear William Sir Don't you organise such camps? Thanks for sharing your views. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• China
19 Jun 10
Blood donation bus is often seen in the city close to the Mcdonald. There were a few times when I would go for it, but as I feel dizzy seeing blood, I usually give it up eventually. Also I feel scared of needles when getting injected...Take care.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Jun 10
I've never been offered a full meal after donating blood (and I'll admit that it has been quite a while since I've done it), but after donating blood at our local blood center there is a little snack area that has all kinds of different snacks that you are able to enjoy. They also have soda and juice as well. I'm a blood type B+ so I'm not in quite as high demand as you are, but donating blood is something that makes me feel good about doing.
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• India
18 Jun 10
Thanks for response and sharing things at your end. Nice to know you are given a choice about the snack, soda and juice Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• India
15 Jun 10
I am very happy to know that you donated blood which will save precious life. In my last company there were blood donation camps by Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune but I never donated blood by visiting donation camps. I have donated blood in the past for 3 times to the needy patients. I was in first year of my collage and one day my neighbor was walking on the roof and I felt that he is worried about something and asked him the cause of worry, he told that his father need B+ blood urgently but he could not arrange that from any source. He promptly asked me about blood group, I was not aware of my blood group and told him same. I went with him to the hospital and my blood matched with his father’s blood group. I had some fear in mind about blood donation but when I saw my neighbor being happy about blood group match, I decided to donate blood. It was such a great feeling that day, May be he could get blood from other sources but I was the one who did it. Again, I was in second year of my collage and went to meet a friend at his room, found that he went to hospital as some of his relative is in ICU. I rushed to the hospital and found that all of the relatives of my friends are running in the city to find the blood. I asked the nurse there about the blood group and donated the blood there. I do not wish to donate blood at the camps as these organizers make money out of our blood.
• India
17 Jun 10
It is good you donated to the needy ones, but the blood has to pass through blood banks, well done Ajoy, keep donating, blood is worth gold.. Thanks for sharing your experience. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@katisaurus (1038)
• Canada
15 Jun 10
I'm 0- I've never donated blood, though. I'm horrified of needles and only go near them when I have to have bloodwork done. lol That's too bad they didn't give you anything though besides candies. You should start bringing your own stuff with you. Even if it's just a bottle of Orange juice or something.
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• India
17 Jun 10
Come forward my friend, don't be afraid of needle, donate blood, save life Thanks for sharing your views. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I donated to the Red Cross after 9/11 happened. I frequently can't donate because I am usually iron deficient. And, it always takes me such a long time to recover from my donation for a few weeks afterward. I haven't been able to since 9/11. But, when I did donate back then, I got some orange juice and I think some fruit. They don't give us a meal here. They just give us some orange juice which has vitamins and minerals and natural sugar in it. And they usually give us some fruit with all the same natural stuff that is supposed to help give you your energy back without making you sick. I think sometimes they may give a cookie and some Orange Juice. Some may even give a donut. Anyway, they are supposed to give you something so you don't pass out afterward. It is irresponsible if they don't give you something and I think they can get into trouble if they don't provide something to help you recover.
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• India
17 Jun 10
Thanks for response and sharing your views in details. Welcome to my discussions. Cheers. Professor
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Jun 10
hi professor 20 10 I would love to donate blood but once I fillout the forms and check off that I had hepatitis as a young woman thats'all she wrote. Sorry you cannot donate blood. grrrr. I would think after all these years that that disease would no longer be in my body. but of course I would not want to make any one ill. I feel specially frustrated as I would love to pay back for the four blood transfusions I had when I had bleeding diverticulitis. they saved my life as I was already anemia before the illness. I am also a C+ type and universal donor but cannot donate. sad.
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• India
17 Jun 10
Thanks for sharing your story dear Hatley.Glad to know you too are 0+ Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Jun 10
I used to donate blood pretty regularly at work sponsored blood drives. As of right now that is on hold, as I have developed a heart condition, and I need a note from my cardiologist before they will allow me to give blood. And I keep forgetting to get the darn note. I am blood type A+ (of course, lol).
• India
15 Jun 10
I do not donate blood to organizations who conduct these blood donation camps. They take blood for free and sell it at such atrociously high prices, the needy can never get a drop of it. I prefer to donate only on request basis and when I am quite healthy and has no uneasy symptoms. Most of those who conduct camps only pay lip service. they care nothing for those who donate to blood. certificates wont be of any good, when the one who donated is not treated with dignity and care. I feel one needs to be choosy while donating blood. It will be better if we donate directly to the one who needs at the time the need arises.
• India
17 Jun 10
No they cant sell the blood, it has to go to the govt blood bank, one doctor from the govt blood bank is always there.. Thanks for response. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• South Africa
15 Jun 10
Hi Professor, I too am a universal donor, O+. I am not presently donating blood, but I used to donate 3 to 4 times a year. I am a South African and it saddens me to say that it does not matter how many times you have donated blood, you will never get blood for free when you need it, not even a discount. If you donate blood, you do it for free. In all the years that I have donated, the blood bank nurses have always only provided us with 2 cookies and a cool-drink. That's the South African way.
• India
17 Jun 10
Thanks for sharing your experience. They don't issue you a card? Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
15 Jun 10
Hi Prof! It's really a noble thing to do. When I first donated blood years ago I was faced with tons of questions from lifestyle, medicines and what I took that morning. I got through though. It's been a while now since I take regular vitamin supplements and glucosamine.
• India
17 Jun 10
Thanks for sharing your views my friend. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
• India
15 Jun 10
Hello professor, Its a great job you are doing by donating blood. Due to fear of injecting the needle I havent participated in any blood donation camps; may I will do it future. However I think the organizers should think of providing nutrious food to the donater's. Candy or cookies is just rediculous. We should educate the organizers about the need of providing the nutrious food to the blood donater's.
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• India
17 Jun 10
Welcome to mylot Shyam You need not be afraid of the needle.. Thanks for sharing your views. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor