Giving Blood at 17

[Stitch & Smudge]

I first donated as a 17year old to skip off a college class. Last month my son, 17, donated his first pint. He’s come along with me a few times, watched me donate and snaffle a biscuit so he knew what to expect. He’s a good lad so was desperate to go once he was old enough. Get her to go along and watch only. Once she’s there and relaxed she may change her mind or be brave enough the next time you go.

[planecrazi3778]

I can't give blood due to being gay, which in this day and age is a joke i think... I would love to give blood but I can't. I'm in a relationship and have been with the same partner for 9 years, but I still can't give blood...

[allycat228]

My then 17yr old came with me and gave blood, he now quite happily gives blood

[Greyfriars]

Good for him! I first gave blood in 1966 when I was 16. It was a school dare!
They weren't as strict with the age then. I continued until I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1995. I also was on the bone marrow register and reached the second stage twice but in the end did not donate.

Sadly I have not donated for many years due to medical problems.

[Stitch73]

My daughter started donating last year at 17, and has been back several times, she's on hold at the moment due to having a piercing. She even altered her tattoo to the day after giving blood so she could. She's a fairly rare blood type so wants to give as much as she can.
DH has given for years, unfortunately I can't due to medication.


Take her along with you to see what goes off, she may not be able to give today as they may not have appointments, unless you have a walk in situation.

I'm so proud when I see young people giving Blood

[Lightyear]

We had them round at our work for blood donations but apparently you can't give blood if you've been to Florida in the past 12 months, something to do with it being a malaria / zika zone I think.

[*jovi_girl*]

Originally Posted by planecrazi3778

I can't give blood due to being gay, which in this day and age is a joke i think... I would love to give blood but I can't. I'm in a relationship and have been with the same partner for 9 years, but I still can't give blood...

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Not entirely true. You can give blood if you haven’t had sex with another man in the last 3 months.

Not ideal but it’s a step in the right direction, albeit rather too slowly.

Personally I’d rather receive blood from a gay man who has been in a monogamous relationship for 9 years rather than a straight man that sleeps around every weekend

[Ciano]

Can I just say as someone who is about to start blood transfusions how totally grateful I am to you all and your children. I am in tears reading your posts. I am a young mam who unfortuantely has developed an issue with my bone marrow. The blood that I will receieve will boost my haemoglobin so I will not feel exhausted and have heart palputations. It means I can carry on and lead a relatively normal life, be there for my children and work until the disease progresses to the next level. Thank you all so much xxx

[Stitch & Smudge]

Don’t be put off by having travelled to Florida. Here’s the official information for both Scotland and England. As long as you’ve not been ill its only 4 weeks.
my.blood/knowledgebase/travel
scotblood/news/zik...lorida-update/

[*jovi_girl*]

I like how you receive a text now to say where your donation has gone, it makes it feel more real.

I’m O- so I feel it’s my duty to give blood to help save lives