It's true. They are. They're quite up-front about it as well, and ask for your blood without any qualms.
But it's alright, because 'they' are actually the National Blood Service, the blood-bank from which the NHS and private hospitals in the UK are supplied. I've never thought about it, but there must be fewer volunteers to donate blood at this time of year, when so many people are on holiday or occupied with looking after the kids whilst school is out. In addition, people who go on vacation in places where there's a risk of malaria, sleeping sickness, or other blood-borne diseases, are automatically excluded from the pool (or blood-bath?) of potential donors for a period of time. If you've visited the US of A or Canada, you're asked not to give blood until at least a month after you've returned to this side of the Atlantic. It's good to know how careful they are about blood collection, but that means they're a bit short right now.
That they're a bit desperate is evident as I've had two letters, one e-mail and a sms message asking me to book an appointment (I'm a regular, so they have my details on database). The only reason I hadn't was because I couldn't get through on the hotline! I have now, so I have an appointment with a needle, a pressure cuff, and an empty bag next week (shiver).
One of my friend's sisters had an operation, a kidney transplant, last month, and she needed blood transfusions for that. I wonder if what I give will be enough to 'cover' that? Probably not.
It's not so bad giving blood really, though I still get a bit nervous about it. But, being a student, the free biscuits and drinks you get after (not to mention a stunning, highly fashionable, sticker to decorate your t-shirt and engineer sympathy) are enough of a lure. Like my friend says, I'm a cheap date ;P But if that's not enough of a lure, surely the fact that you're helping to save lives is?
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I try to do it once a year, as my own little form of charity. And I found the fact that they ask you questions that you may not have any answer to, during the pre-donation interview such as: Have you ever had sex with any man/woman who might have had sex with another man/woman whom might have had sex for money. I doubt that anyone does such a thorough background checks on prospective partners.
haha I've found myself trying to imagine how a conversation with any potential boyfriend would go - so how many girlfriends have you had before? Lots of one-night stands? Any of them in the sex industry?
Now I should worry why I'm amused and drafting such a conversation in my head.
It must be because thesis writing is just so boring :O
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