Blood Donation

[Da_Chief]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...-low-1.2782580

Supplies are critically low. I only recently became a donor, due to laziness and not wanting to go through the process, but its super simple and great way to help out.

The ads are also running on radio stations and its so true you'll never know either you or your loved can be in need.

I encourage everyone to donate.

[MoneyGuy]

I just made my 25th donation. Everyone should donate if medically able to do so.

[The Ditch]

maybe they shouldn't exclude gay males from donating blood, that would probably be a good start.

[Mr.Coffee]

^
Is this true?

How would they even know?

[Da_Chief]

There are bunch of questions you have to answer before you donate (doesn't take long) and you have to honest. It's not explicitly "are you gay" its more like "have you had a sexual intercourse with another male in the last number of months" something like that.

[JeanLucPicard]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

maybe they shouldn't exclude gay males from donating blood, that would probably be a good start.

edit: [Da_chief explained it, my response could've taken this thread off course]

[PIMking]

I donated for the first time a few years ago. I'm terrified of needles so It took a lot for me to do it.

I also ran into issue donating before because of where I lived as a child.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

maybe they shouldn't exclude gay males from donating blood, that would probably be a good start.

They can donate... as long as they haven't had sex in 5 years.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

There are bunch of questions you have to answer before you donate (doesn't take long) and you have to honest. It's not explicitly "are you gay" its more like "have you had a sexual intercourse with another male in the last number of months" something like that.

So is the theory then that because one has gay sex, the risk of a sexually transmitted disease like HIV is higher, rendering the blood at risk?

I'm legitimately asking the obvious, because it does seem to be discriminatory in nature.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

So is the theory then that because one has gay sex, the risk of a sexually transmitted disease like HIV is higher, rendering the blood at risk?

I'm legitimately asking the obvious, because it does seem to be discriminatory in nature.

Considerably higher, yes.

[mrkajz44]

It was considered a huge step from their old policy where if you had gay sex just once ever, you could never donate, to their new policy that gay sex 5+ years ago is fine.

I can't see how that changed the policy in any way, considering your sexual orientation is pretty much set for life. At least it was some progress, I suppose.

[DeluxeMoustache]

One additional remark with respect to having to answer honestly. I have given blood many times. The process is quite nice. There are a number of risk related questions, relating to travel, homosexual activity, sex that is paid for, and more... and there is one of two stickers applied in light of the responses - essentially risk free or risky, I believe feel free to use my blood or don't.

So anybody previously aware or unaware of their own risk factors walking in with friends/ colleagues / whatever has a fair opportunity to do the right thing and not worry about a walk of shame

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

maybe they shouldn't exclude gay males from donating blood, that would probably be a good start.

We have one of the best, safest systems in the world. I don't know if it's proper, but the safeguards are there for a reason. I have no idea if this helps to protect the blood system or is unnecessary.

[Devils'Advocate]

There is one on there about whether you know the sexual history of all your partners. That's not something I really like to delve into. "Hey would you mind telling me the names of all the people you have had sex with and if you think any of them might cause a risk to the blood supply?" From what I understand, if you had a one night stand, even if you used a condom, don't even bother going to the clinic to donate. That question is in the "high risk" section of the form and you will be shown the door.

[wretched34]

I have thought about donating numerous times, but my addiction to tattoos always gets in the way.

I understand all the protocols, but it just seems odd that they are so quick to deny based on a questionnaire. I would expect they still test all the donated blood, because, you know, people can lie on paper. So why flat out deny people before a donation just because they are more "high risk". They could easily be turning away completely acceptable blood.

[FlameOn]

I used to regularly donate every three months because my blood type is the most common (O) but apparently I lived a country that had a CJD outbreak at one point when I was living there and since blood services no cheap effective way of screening for it in the blood + CJD is blood transmissible through plasma, I can't donate anymore. Last time I went, the nurse just politely told me sorry and sent me on my way.

If you are thinking of donating and lived in the UK or Saudi Arabia, you need to see the vCJD section here:
http://www.blood.ca/centreapps/inter...Q?OpenDocument

Quick note on the deferral for CJD and vCJD that is extremely broad

People are not eligible to donate blood or plasma if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (U.K.) between 1980, and 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in France between 1980, and 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe outside the U.K. or France since 1980. In addition, people are not eligible to donate blood or plasma if they have had a blood transfusion or received medical treatment with a product made from blood in the U.K., France or Western Europe since 1980.

The U.K. includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales, Channel Islands. Western Europe includes: Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstien, Portugal, Denmark.

You may not be eligible to donate so don't waste your time going down to the clinic. Seems like a very odd reason to blanket reject everyone given the occurrence rates and likely levels of exposure (esp from ppl not having received blood products/being on a farm) but hey, precautions and what not.

[Jimmy Stang]

^ I'm another former regular who can't because of too much time spent in the UK eating shepherd's pie. It is a shame that the ban is so widespread and excludes a lot of potential and former donors.

I'll be back the minute that they allow me to donate again.

[habernac]

Went Friday and was a little annoyed that making an appointment seems like a waste of time. You wait the same amount of time regardless.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

^ I'm another former regular who can't because of too much time spent in the UK eating shepherd's pie. It is a shame that the ban is so widespread and excludes a lot of potential and former donors.

I'll be back the minute that they allow me to donate again.

Good for you, I, on the other hand, having donated every 12 weeks since I was 17 in the UK and here, was getting so tired of the increasingly longer and longer process of donating blood so was quite happy when told I can't anymore.

I believe it is everyone civic duty to donate, but the intake was just dumb by the time I'd finished, asking the same question 4 different ways as if it was your first time ever to donate was a stupid waste of time, and the frankly the guys that engage in the most risky sexual practise these days are newly divorced middle aged straight guys thanks to plenty of fish.

Given the ban on donating due to tattoos, that Brits used to be their most regular doners and they've lost them, it's no wonder they having issues.

[doctajones428]

I received two blood transfusions between March and April when I was in the hospital for a month (I nearly died twice in late February), so thank you blood donors!

I would return the favor but I have cardiomyopathy