Not weighing enough to give blood

I would love to give blood, but according to the website you have to be 7 stone 12, but they don't explain why. I would've thought taking your height and weight into acount would be more accurate :confused:

Obviously not. Anyways, I just wondered why this is, as no-one seems to know. Is there no way they would take blood from someone under 7 stone 12, and what would happen to the person if they did?

Help would be greatly apreciated :smile:

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Reply 1

Chumbaniya

They base it purely on weight because the bigger you are, the more blood you have in your body. If your body mass is too small, the amount of blood they take will be too much comparative to the total amount of blood in your body and you might suffer more after effects than most. I'm just under 10 stone and I almost fainted when I gave blood.

Reply 2

isabella

How much do you weigh ?

Reply 3

Hygeia

the first time i gave blood it is quite likely that i was actually under the 50kg which is what they ask however, my scales at home were broken so i thought i was over the weight. i didn't faint or anything, just felt very tired for several days afterwards and spent the afternoon after collapsed on the sofa. Haven't been able to compare this experience with when i actually weighed enough as they couldn't get enough blood that time
they ask you during their little run through of your health questionnaire how much you weigh if they think you don't look heavy enough but as far as i know don't ever actually weigh you

Reply 4

~the_one~

yeah i've been waiting about a year to give blood, however am still under the required weight. I guess it's because they take the same amount of blood from anyone so would clearly have a bigger affect on a smaller person.

Reply 5

Louise88

I went to give blood about a year ago and was told that I was underweight. I didn't know this at the time but she checked my weight there and then and told me that I was too light. The nurse there said that she would let me speak to the doctor anyway, just incase there was a chance that he would take blood from me but he turned me down because of it and something else. I would love to give blood but theres no chance of that ever happening because of my Crohn's disease and even if I didn't have that, i'm still under the weight required to give blood. It's a bit annoying.

They take the same amount of blood from everyone though, taking a certain amount from one person may have very little effects but taking it from someone else who is underweight, it could have serious effects.

Reply 6

quadruple_twist

Anonymous

Anyways, I just wondered why this is, as no-one seems to know. Is there no way they would take blood from someone under 7 stone 12, and what would happen to the person if they did?

No, the NBS have very strict guidelines on who can and who can't give blood. There won't be any way to get round it. I know of someone who weighs 8 stone who gave blood (when the blood van came to our school) and they passed out and were generally ill for the next few days (I know that can happen to heavier people too but it's far more common in lighter people).

Reply 7

Enchanté

I think it can be dangerous if you give blood if you are underweight, it's there for a reason and cleary isn't good for your blood supply. You need a specific amount of blood depending on your weight so giving it isn't the best idea.

Reply 8

bone-machine

erm..i lied when i first gave blood...i weighed just under what they wanted...i was fine. i wouldnt advise it though as everyone is different.

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

isabella

How much do you weigh ?

6 Stone 7lbs...Ah well :frown:

Thanks everyone :smile:

Reply 10

Bubblebee

Anonymous

6 Stone 7lbs...Ah well :frown:

Thanks everyone :smile:

How do you not blow away in the wind! :O:

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

Lol...well I'm 4'11, so it balances it out :cool:

Reply 12

goodLife

Yea im 6 stone 13 so I can't either, though if you had a rare blood type they would probably think twice.

Reply 13

Jillie Boe

Hmm. Well I'm 10 stone and 5,7 and even after giving blood for two years now I still always feel light headed afterwards. I can't imagine what it would be like for a person who weighed so little.

lol!

Reply 14

goodLife

It depends on the amount of oxygen you generally have in your blood too some people have more than others and are better able to carry it etc

Reply 15

space hopper

Anonymous

6 Stone 7lbs...Ah well :frown:

Yeah thats a lot under so they would deffo not take it from you. If you tried they would notice how small you were and weigh you. Before you give blood there are loads of questions, and they don't take it if there is any doubt at all, such as even if you have had a cold or not had enough lunch.
What would probably happen is you would faint half way through and they would have to stop, which would mean u goin through it for nothing.
Perhaps when you are older you will weigh enough, for the time being just keep eating :wink:

Reply 16

DoMakeSayThink

The first time I gave blood, I was 5'10" and weighed 8 st 4, and I felt fine. In the time between now and then I was determined to put on some weight, and I'm now about 9 st 8, but when I gave blood this time round I was flat out on my bed the entire afternoon... Hence it would seem that it'd sure be possible for people weighing less than the minimum to give blood, but probably not such a good idea, as it would probably compound the effects should other variables ... gah, I give up. Too tired. It's admirable that you want to give blood, and you should probably ask your GP if they would be able to, but don't lie to try and donate.

Reply 17

space hopper

wags85

The beds that you lie on when you give blood have scales on them that tell the nurses how much you weigh - so there's no real way of getting round it.

Really, i never noticed that!! how funny, well i s'pose i was a bit preoccupied :biggrin:

Reply 18

Bubblebee

In the end it is very honourable of you to want to give blood, but if it is going to be detrimental to your own health then there isn't really much point!

Reply 19

Anonymous #1

I don't hold out much hope of ever weighing enough, I've always been rather on the skinny side...Ah well. It just annoys me when I know lots of people who can do it, but won't. Then I want to do it, but can't :rolleyes: