Donating Blood and Diving - Q&A

[Craig]

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for the body to replace the red blood cells and other fluids lost when you have donated a pint of blood.

I dive regularly and give blood about twice a year because currently I work on the principle that I shouldn't donate blood and dive in the same week as the reduction in blood volume in my body will reduce the amount of nitrogen the blood stream can hold in solution and so put me under greater risk of incurring a bend.

If the body can regenerate the blood and fluids in, for example, three days then I could donate on a Tuesday and dive on a sat/sun. Which would be better because donating blood is something I feel strongly about.



Thanks.

[MATTBIN]

24hrs is sufficient if you rehydrate. The loss of cells isnt a problem, but dehydration could be. At least that's what I was told and I think I read it on Scubadoc.comn (or whatever its called), you could also search the archives as we have discussed it before, if they are still available.

HTH
Matt

[Neil Whitworth]

I was told By the NBS that you can dive or donate 24-48hrs after the other when I rang them up earlyer this year.

[kath2407]

I asked this question when I last went to donate becuase I was due to go on holiday the week after. The nurse at the donating centre told me to ensure that I waited 24 hrs before diving and ensure that I drnak lots of water to re hydrate myself.

If in doubt ask the nurses or ring the donation hotline

K XX

[turbanator]

Fluids are replaced very quickly, RBCs take a bit longer.

However:
the RBCs do not carry nitrogen and it could be argued that you blood would be 'thinner' with reduced RBCs.

Hydration is the most important thing, as long as you do not feel giddy, you should be good to dive.

I used to give on a Monday, but that was because that's how the teams visited.
It's on a thursday now and I've not had any problems.

[Humber Coastguard]

Don't ask divers a medical question - ask the experts. Phone the National Blood Service, the number is in the phone book.

[turbanator]

NBS Site

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by Humber Coastguard

Don't ask divers a medical question - ask the experts.

Is that counting those of us on here who are doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and assorted other medical-based professions?



Dom

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Is that counting those of us on here who are doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and assorted other medical-based professions?

No. You're divers so you don't know anything.

[Humber Coastguard]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Is that counting those of us on here who are doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and assorted other medical-based professions?



Dom

Dom

How does the person asking the question know who is knowledgeable and who is just feeding them bad (or dangerous) advice?

I've seen other threads where people have asked for advice, not just medical, some of the advice is good from people who obviously know what they are talking about some of the advice is from people who obviously know no more than the person asking the question. How do you tell which is good advice and which is not?

If you know who the experts are ask them. How many of the divers in the medical profession have answered this query? Do you know who they are? I don't.

Paul