Be a Blood Donor, please?

[rogerguzzi]

1 hour ago, mattius said:

I bet at that rate they hope you don't as well.

You'll be banished for good like me.

Well done, that's an incredible amount, do they still give badges?

Hello Matt

                    I have not had any new badges since the 100 glass thing and then a Dinner a bit later??

Roger

[Nick Jones]

Well done Roger! Quite an achievement.

I have to assume that the donation arrangements are better organised in your neck of the woods than they are around here. SM has basically given up on them as they keep making donation locations more distant, appointment numbers fewer, times less convenient then, when you do manage to make a date, cancelling at short notice.  Also, on one occasion, providing a vampire so inept it was unable get any blood out of her.

Yesterday they cancelled another appointment by text, following up seconds later with another text saying how much they need blood and begging her not to miss her appointment!

Not surprising they’re short of blood when they make it so awkward!

[rogerguzzi]

Hello Nick

                  Yes there is fewer centres now or not used so often ?

For years I used to go to Stourbridge Town Hall but now I finish up going to one or two others that are not to far away?

They do not make it easy for people now and no Hot drinks after donations!!! that's ok in the summer but a cup of tea or coffee is better in the winter?(bean counters I expect?)

Roger 

ps I was talking to the nurse about old cars he has a BMW?? about 2002 with 250,000 miles on the clock but would like a BMW?? about 1982/1983 and fixes his own most of the time

[Kiwifrog]

I used to give blood every 4 months unfortunately due to health hiccoughs I am no longer allowed to give blood, the good news is that my daughter who is of the same blood type has taken up the blood letting habit and they make it quite easy at French university’s 

[rogerguzzi]

Hello All

              Gave another one today so that's 133 now

That's about 13+ Galls!!!

So I have had a few oil changes in my life and I started in 1964!

Roger

[JohnD]

We should all appreciate Rogers contribution by comparing his total with that of the oldest blood donor in the UK, who has given 150 pints.  Roger's record is only a very few less.

Roger, in noting this I mean it as the highest compliment!   Thank you!

John

[Hamish]

That’s great Roger well done

they stopped taking mine years ago when I tried plasma donation and long story short my blood was too thick !

[JohnD]

We all admire and congratulate Roger on his remarkable history of blood donation! So here's another reason for us all to try and follow him:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2471573-giving-blood-frequently-may-make-your-blood-cells-healthier/

"Giving blood frequently may make your blood cells healthier."

John

[rogerguzzi]

Hello All 

             Gave another bucket full this morning so that's 135 on my record card now

Roger

[rogerguzzi]

Hello All

                 They managed to Squeeze some more out of me and the Memsahib!!!

So that's 136 for me and 77 for the Memsahib!!

So that's about 22/23 gallons between us

So I recon that's about 4years to the gallon for me?(sounds economical?)

Roger and the Memsahib

[RedRooster]

Only did it once, got a letter saying don't give blood again, we will call you, they never did... 

[DeTRacted]

 Well done. You must be nearly a dry husk by now Roger 

Unfortunately I only managed 49 sessions before they decided they didn't want any more. (because of medication).  

On 3/12/2025 at 1:03 PM, JohnD said:

"Giving blood frequently may make your blood cells healthier."

So there might be some science behind the leeches then? 

[JohnD]

Pah!   A leech may take as much as 15mls of blood - a donation takes 500mls!  You would pneed 30-odd leeches at once to have that effect!

John

[Nick Jones]

Leeches are still used in modern medicine, though not for quite the same purposes

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2020/03/how-leeches-can-save-lives-and-limbs-for-some-patients