Donating Blood

Hey guys,

I don't know if this is the right forum for this.... but I signed up to donate blood next week and I'm a few pounds under 110. Do you guys think it'll be okay for me to do this?

Depends if you're 4'6" or 6'4".....   Just make sure you have some whopping big meals before you go along.  Their policy on body-weight may be one thing, but they'll certainly turn you down if you've not had something to eat.

they'll let you know on the day of.  i hate needles, but my way to give back is to give my hair away.  i grow it out for a few years and donate.  can't do it as often, but it's still helping out.

I'm 5'4". And I'm definitely planning on eating before I go. I'm probably actually going to tell them something like 115ish so they don't turn me away. Hopefully nothing bad will come of it.

No!! Anything under 110...you cannot donate blood. Not even depending on your height (I'm a nurse, i would know!) this is because when you are smaller you dont have as much circulating blood. The average person as 5 liters...a smaller person will have alot less than that, like 4L-4.5L this is perfectly normal for them!! They will take about 1L of blood...if you only have 4, this leaves you with 3L of blood in your body...you will pass out from not getting enough oxygen to the body as blood delievers oxygen. The brain requires the most oxygen in the body and if your brain does not get oxygen you will pass out. worst case scenrio: Brain injury from hypoxia (lack of oxgyen)...probably wont happen in this case because you would need to loose MASSIVE ammounts...so i wouldnt worry about brain injury. in you're case your at high risk for passing out.

NOT a good idea for someone under 110 lbs....You also need to be 17 or over.

My cousin was turned down for donating blood until she reached 115lbs, I believe.  She's around 5'3-5'5, I'm not sure.

the first time i donated blood, i was 5'4 and 115...let me just tell you it really took a lot out of me! it honestly took me a week before i had my usual energy back. i couldn't work out hard, couldnt focus, and was very light headed. i think that your intentions are really great but just ask yourself if your willing to spend a week feeling veryy sick. 

WOuld you have the option of aphorisis (or however it is spelled)  instead of just taking a pint, they hook you up to a machine, and take only the cells they need, and put the fluid/plasma back.  IE, you can donate just platelets, or platelets + red blood cells.  It isn't at all locations, and it takes a lot longer (up to 2 hours, depending what you donate) but might let you give without passing out :)

I donated last week and they took 500mL, not a whole liter. I didn't have any problems, but I weigh more than twice as much as you. They had scales there and they weighed anyone who looked close to the limit, so unless you are just a pound or two under 110 and your clothes and a recent meal put you over, they will probably turn you down anyway.

I've only donated once, but I'm big enough that I didn't feel a thing from it, ha ha ha.