Donating blood- is it safe ?

MikeyBSN · Oct 13, 2009

Where I agree that the risk of becoming infected with anything by donating blood is low, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea. When you donate blood, they usually use a size 16 or 17 gauge needle. Many greedy "non-profit" companies use minimally trained technicians to stick you with this needle. They get away with this because there is no catheter, so technically they are drawing blood and not inserting an IV. Further, the blood donation guidelines are draconian and archaic. The village woman of bath can donate as much blood as she wants, but a gay person who has had one episode of protected anal sex once in his life and has had 50 negative HIV tests since cannot donate blood. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want an organization that ignorant on the issue medical science coming anywhere near my body with a needle. We all heard about the nurse who reused equipment down in Florida. That was an RN, so there is a lot to think about before letting a technician who works for a scientifically-ignorant organization stick you with something. Plus, you are type AB, so your blood is not in high demand. Just something to think about.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 13, 2009

Might help if the OP clarifies whether they are referring to the US or another country/area.

justiceforjoy · Oct 13, 2009

Where I agree that the risk of becoming infected with anything by donating blood is low, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea. When you donate blood, they usually use a size 16 or 17 gauge needle. Many greedy "non-profit" companies use minimally trained technicians to stick you with this needle. They get away with this because there is no catheter, so technically they are drawing blood and not inserting an IV. Further, the blood donation guidelines are draconian and archaic. The village woman of bath can donate as much blood as she wants, but a gay person who has had one episode of protected anal sex once in his life and has had 50 negative HIV tests since cannot donate blood. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want an organization that ignorant on the issue medical science coming anywhere near my body with a needle. We all heard about the nurse who reused equipment down in Florida. That was an RN, so there is a lot to think about before letting a technician who works for a scientifically-ignorant organization stick you with something. Plus, you are type AB, so your blood is not in high demand. Just something to think about.

I can't believe a nurse would advocate against donating blood.

Good lord.

Cherybaby · Oct 13, 2009

Donating blood is the single most selfless gift one human being can do for another. If it were not for the generous donations of others, my son would not have received the blood he did for a life saving procedure. I have donated blood 4 times a year, every year, since I am 18 years old. I am 43 now. The technicians are wonderful. There has never been a bad experience. I have never had so much as a hematoma. Infection was never an issue. All the products used are single use and sterile instruments. Donators are screened very thoroughly.

From the Red Cross website:

1) It is not possible to get AIDS or other infectious disease by giving blood.

A sterile, disposable needle is used for each blood donation. Once used, the needle is discarded.

2) Feeling faint or fatigued after donating blood is rare or minor.

If it occurs, it most likely will pass in a matter of hours.

3) You can only donate if your health history permits and you feel well.

You are asked some health questions and are given a mini physical — temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and red cell count check - prior to donation to ensure that you are feeling well and that it is safe for you to give blood.

4) Your health history and test results are confidential and cannot be given out without your permission, except as required by law.

5) You can help ensure your experience is a positive and rewarding one:

Stay in the canteen area for the requested period of time; mention to the staff any unusual feelings or sensations; and avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for about 5hours after donating.

http://www.givelife2.org/donor/bloodsafety.asp

I hope you do opt to give the gift of life. It is a very rewarding experience.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 13, 2009

Re: Donating blood- is it safe ?

"gosh mamamerlee. no, i am a student nurse. sorry that i didnt know.

when i was younger ive heard of news reports about someone getting AIDS because she donated blood, through transfusion I suppose. im not the only one who has concerns about this though. "

Hopefully this thread has been educational/illuminating to you and other nursing students.

Please spread the word - donating blood/blood products does not equal risk of any kind.

MikeyBSN · Oct 14, 2009

I can't believe a nurse would advocate against donating blood.
Good lord.

I'm not against "donating blood", I'm against the organizations that pride themselves in the blood selling business. To say that I am against donating blood plays off of the durable ace used by these organizations to shift attention away from their depravity. Of course, no person, and no self-respecting health care professional wants to be portrayed as "anti-blood". This is the easiest red hearing for supporters of depravity, and for those who fall victim the propaganda of such organizations: "Oh lord, how can you be against giving blood. Think about the children!"

These emotionally charged, knee-jerk reactions enable various types of otherwise deplorable behavior. We would never tell a person that hugging an HIV positive individual would put you at risk for HIV. However, you chastise a person who refuses to do business with a company that insists an otherwise healthy individual will infect the blood supply with HIV. So, the company is either truly ignorant, or willfully ignorant. If truly ignorant, I wouldn't want that company performing medical procedures on me. If willfully ignorant, I wouldn't want to support such an organization anymore than I would write a check to the Klan.

Further, it is not like blood donation companies have the best track record for the moral veracity that you infer I lack because I said he should think first before giving blood. The Red Cross, for example, barred blacks from giving blood in October of 1940, even though it was a black doctor who helped discover the process to freeze the blood. By the way, he quit in protest of the rule. Let's not forget about the actions of the noble Red Cross during WWII, when they said that Jewish prisoners were being legally segregated under the Geneva Convention, that they were not being mistreated, and that the IRC was working with the Nazis to resolve "the Jewish problem"(the same phraseology used by the Third Reich itself).

So, with that type of track record, why would you ever support these types of organizations? They are just as self-serving as other organizations, but they do it under the guise of doing "good" for humanity. The Red Cross wants you to donate blood so that they can sell it. That's right, many people don't even know or like to believe that the Red Cross sells the blood that you donate. In fact, they sell the blood to help pay their fines for violating safety laws (see: http://www.slate.com/id/2149359/). People are also under the misconception that "non-profit" means the companies do not operate with profit in mind. This is a false assumption; the "non-profit" status only refers to special tax rules, basically stipulating that certain officers can't hold a certain amount of stock or engage in some types of profit sharing for owners. Therefore, I maintain my not-so-good-nurse, yet moral and protective stance that the original poster should seriously consider whether he wants to have a minimally technician siphon out his blood so that a company with a long running and current history of blatant discrimination may sell it. Would you let a technician hired by Rush Limbaugh draw your blood and then give it Limbaugh to sell? I certainly would not, and I don't see why so many other people would so blindly allow other companies to do so without at least investigating the safety techniques they use, their evidence-based practice and their history as an organization. :twocents:

allnurses Guide · Oct 14, 2009

What a crock.

Well, enjoy your moral high horse while the patients go without blood then. DO you think you are punishing RC? Do you think that your protest is noticed?

I fully support the practise that people at high risk of HIV are excluded from donating blood. That is not discriminatory, it's smart. Can you show me where the Red Cross "insist[ed] an otherwise healthy individual will infect the blood supply with HIV"? I believe people who travelled to certain areas at certain times, heterosexuals with certain histories... etc etc are also excluded. They don't all have HIV, but they are certainly at higher risk. I'd rather we didn't take that risk.

Obviously you are the only one with any sense while we ignorant sheep continue to donate.

Jeez.

dannyc12 · Oct 15, 2009

I am just concerned about the safety though, is it safe to donate blood nowadays (as opposed to the 90s)?

It had better be! I am working on my 14-gallon pin and have been donating whole blood (and more recently platelets) at the Red Cross since the 1980's.

I remember meeting so many people who wanted to give blood after 9/11. I gave blood on 9/10/2001.

jetsabel621 · Oct 15, 2009

I think the OP was referring to the possibility of the technician reusing a needle. That is why I like to witness the opening of the sterile package myself. :)

And, might be a little off topic, but does anyone have suggestions for donating blood? I've tried three times and each time I lose consciousness halfway through the pint. I've tried eating large amounts, drinking sugary soda while being drawn, etc. and so forth.

dannyc12 · Oct 15, 2009

This is the easiest red hearing for supporters of depravity,

Depravity? Get a grip.

Of course the Red Cross sells the platelets I donate. How do you think they pay for all the buildings, machines, and staff to draw and transport the stuff?

Any organization that has been around since 1881 is certainly going to have made progress in every single aspect of being - social, medical, ethical, racial, scientific. Do you have any evidence at all that the Red Cross is carrying on bad practices from the 1890's, 1920's, 1940's...?

The nurses I have had stick me over the past 20 years have been competent and caring. The instructors I had for my Red Cross CNA class and CPR/AED classes have been as well. The reactions of the entire Twin Cities Red Cross staff, including myself and my classmates, when the 35W bridge collapsed a few hundred yards away during my CNA class have been lauded worldwide.

Your portrayal of the Red Cross is at odds with everything from my personal experience and with freely available evidence.

Sigh. Sometimes I forget how much the nature of internet boards brings out the tinfoil hat crowd.

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2009

It's so sad that in general those who are "wanted" to give blood don't care to do so while many individuals who really want to do it are banned for some very questionable reasons.

I know a nurse who started donating in '85, whole blood and later platelets, and in 2002 was "permanently deferred" (Red Cross speak for permanently banned) from ever donating blood again because she had lived with her husband, who was in the U.S. Army at the time, in Europe in 1981; reason: "BSE risk" (aka Mad Cow Disease). Never mind the nurse is a vegetarian...

Strangely, when she tried to notify the NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) to take her off their list she was told that she was still eligible to donate bone marrow. What's the logic in that?! If BSE is such a great risk (all former residents of Europe are now banned from donating blood), why allow marrow (or peripheral blood cells drawn by apheresis) donation for this purpose?! As well as organ donation?! (She is tempted to tear up her organ donor card...)

I can understand the frustration of individuals who have been banned from donating for reasons that don't seem to make a lot of sense... and all of you regular donors keep in mind, it could be you tomorrow if, for instance, you have traveled to country X which is suspected to harbor a new blood-borne disease (the guidelines are that arbitrary; you could get banned for having eaten donuts in the Midwest in 1994 tomorrow... slight exaggeration, but maybe not?!).

DeLana

P.S. This nurse and friend of mine is in excellent health, has type O neg blood (which is why she really enjoyed donating) and cannot understand why she is banned for a "risk" that is almost nonexistent (fewer than 200 people in the world have contracted Mad Cow Disease and almost all of them in the UK!)

WalkieTalkie, RN · Oct 15, 2009

I make regular blood donations at the Red Cross. Unfortunately, I am currently on the "defer" list until July 2010 because I spent one night in Iguazu Falls, Argentina (in the winter, mind you). They think I could have malaria... because I wouldn't have noticed that by now! Unfortunately, someone is missing out some units of blood I can't donate until next year.

I checked the CDC's recommendations before I went on the trip, and there was little to no concern for malaria in the area I traveled to, especially since it was winter. I think some of the guidelines are a bit much, but then again, I guess it's better safe than sorry.