Blood Donations

I'm hoping to donate, but the problem is I have lowish blood pressure so I'll probably feel pretty lousy afterwards. And I'm somewhat deficient in iron as I barely eat any red meat. So hopefully I can fix that, because I really would like to donate. Here it's 16 without permission, and I don't think you can do it if you're under that age even if you do have permission. But yeah. I hopefully will donate sometime soon. :}

Xsoteria:

^What do you mean recreational activities?

Pot.

The Brightside.:

I'm hoping to donate, but the problem is I have lowish blood pressure so I'll probably feel pretty lousy afterwards. And I'm somewhat deficient in iron as I barely eat any red meat. So hopefully I can fix that, because I really would like to donate. Here it's 16 without permission, and I don't think you can do it if you're under that age even if you do have permission. But yeah. I hopefully will donate sometime soon. :}

I have lower blood pressure and I was deficient in iron, but I think my iron is up now.

But the weight chart is odd. They changed the requirements for my height I would have to weight 124 pounds in order to donate blood. Then the weight goes up the shorter you are.
I cannot donate until I gain 12 pounds. (I'm planning to donate when I'm 16.)
If I grow 2-3 inches I would be okay, but that is unlikely because I stopped growing years a couple years ago.

If I can't gain weight or don't grow I'm going to have to wait an additional 3 years to donate blood.

You shouldn't need to eat red meat at all to ensure you have reasonable levels of iron in your blood. Cereal (especially iron-fortified), oatmeal, lentils and beans are all packed with iron. Spinach has a higher iron content than beef according to this chart.

Chain Me Free:

I have lower blood pressure and I was deficient in iron, but I think my iron is up now.

But the weight chart is odd. They changed the requirements for my height I would have to weight 124 pounds in order to donate blood. Then the weight goes up the shorter you are.

It's because the chart measures your blood volume and shorter people need to weigh more to have a big enough blood to be able to donate without feeling bad afterward.

I can't donate either because I don't have the weight/height, the blood pressure or the iron levels necessary, not to mention that sugar doesn't like to stay in my blood, but I'm going to volunteer for the Red Cross after I finish my exams/the getting into university charade to make up for it.

I really want to donate blood, but I can't stand needles. Everyone says they don't hurt- they do. And it's more than hurting, it's the FEELING of it in my arm D:

One day, I'll probably face my fears, till then, no blood from me.

I can't stand needles, but I've always wanted to donate blood. You have to be 16 where I live to do it, so I'm old enough, yay! But I've just got my tongue pierced, and you're not allowed to have had piercings done the 6 months before donating blood.. I have the universal doner blood, and I'm really hoping I can..

I'm going to give blood next week. I'm actually really excited, I've always wanted to, since I was really really young. However, does anyone know if hypothyroidism affects whether you're allowed to give blood?

I want to donate blood, but I have a terrible feeling that I'll be that one person who collapses, and they need to rush a wheelchair in and give me chocolate and then everyone will start talking about it in school...

That's usually me.

There's a blood drive at my school next Thursday and Friday.
I'm not going to donate any, but I'm volunteering on Friday. I'll be making sure students that are going to be donating have their ID and I'll be passing out juice and snacks to those who donated.

I'm excited.

I'm donating blood on June 4th. There's a blood drive at my school. I have to put on a bit of weight so that I can be elligible, but that's no problem.
I'm excited to help.

I've tried to give blood three times. The first time, the bag was about 98% full then my blood decided to clot. The other two times my hemocrit was too low. I finally get over my fear of needles, now this crap!

My school donated over 500 pints of blood in two days.

I gave out cookies and drinks to those that donated, and signed people in and out while I spent the day there helping. It was so much fun.

I donated blood on May. I plan to do so again sometime this month. :3

I've been donating for about two years now, but October, I tried going in and my iron was surprisingly low. So I tried eating the recommended foods and keeping at it, but no matter how many times I kept going back, my iron levels keep dropping. I've also noticed a significant drop in my blood pressure, but my pulse is up in the high nineties, almost reaching one hundred. My hands have been shaking more than usual and my dizzy spells are more frequent. I've been wanting to donate for the longest time but I don't think my body is ready yet.
Anyone else have similar experiences/problems like this?

I'd love to give blood, because like others have said, it's a great way to help others and possibly save a life, but unfortunately I'm not able to :( I don't weigh enough, and I have low iron, not to mention I'm absolutely horrified of needles. Maybe someday in the future, though, I'll get over all of these things and be able to donate >.<

I donated blood in May and I left the church hall feeling really happy! It hurt a tiny bit more than the needles that I'm used to (not heroin >_<, but I have bloody tests annually for my hypothyroidism, off topic). The nurses are really friendly. I even got a phone call from the Welsh Blood Service thanking me for my first donation, now that's gratitude for you. ;-)

Most girls have a low iron count in their blood because of menstration. Try eating green veggies esp dark leafy veg. their rich in iron. I would love to give blood but I'm not old enough.

I would love to give blood when I'm older. It's only a couple months till I legally can, and I'd definetly do it every year if I could.
I don't plan on donating my organs at all, so I think it's something I want to do instead, to do my bit.

I'm not sure if my weight matters though. I'm underweight, would that prevent me from giving blood?

sunflowers.:

I would love to give blood when I'm older. It's only a couple months till I legally can, and I'd definetly do it every year if I could.
I don't plan on donating my organs at all, so I think it's something I want to do instead, to do my bit.

I'm not sure if my weight matters though. I'm underweight, would that prevent me from giving blood?

They have charts somewhere. But with your height, you have to weigh a certain amount or you can't donate.