Donating Blood and Diving - Q&A

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by 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.

Hi Craig,

there were two other threads on this very subject so I've merged them and made it sticky, as there's obviously enough interest it the subject.

You might want to take a gander through the full thread now and have a read of other answers.

[Ali]

As far as I'm aware.
No diving for 24 hrs after giving blood.
But I gave blood 3 hrs after diving last year. I did get them to check it was ok. I didn't want to give anyone DCI now did I

Ali

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by Humber Coastguard

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

Maybe, but it doesn't take a lot of digging about the boards to find out who is who on the boards.

For my sins, I am a nurse - specialised in emergency medicine and polytrauma management, most of the regulars here know that.

I know of at least 2 doctors on here, again, others know who they are.

Equally, anyone here could doubt the veracity of the information you have provided as "Humber Coastguard"

Uniquely for internet boards, there is a degree of trust on YD as many of us have met.

I did not answer as I do not have knowledge and/or interest in the subject, I read the thread out of curiosity, if I am interested but do not know the answer, I can usually find out.

I appreciate what you were trying to say about being careful - but you came across as very condescending

Dom

[Humber Coastguard]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Maybe, but it doesn't take a lot of digging about the boards to find out who is who on the boards.

For my sins, I am a nurse - specialised in emergency medicine and polytrauma management, most of the regulars here know that.

I know of at least 2 doctors on here, again, others know who they are.

Equally, anyone here could doubt the veracity of the information you have provided as "Humber Coastguard"

Uniquely for internet boards, there is a degree of trust on YD as many of us have met.

I did not answer as I do not have knowledge and/or interest in the subject, I read the thread out of curiosity, if I am interested but do not know the answer, I can usually find out.

I appreciate what you were trying to say about being careful - but you came across as very condescending

Dom

Dom

Sorry I come across as condescending. Yes you do well to doubt the veracity of my information as a Coastguard - you only have my word for the fact I am one!

This query has apparently cropped up 3 times (threads now merged) there have been a lot of replies, no doubt some from expert medical practitioners though how are we to know who is who.

Also where is the answer? I suspect that if it was ever proferred it has been lost amongst the thread, amongst the well meaning but non-expert advice.

All I was saying was that for the sake of one phone call Craig would have got the answer he required and from a source he could have confidence in. As I said before if you know who the experts are ask them - if that's a YDer fine but you have to know who they are and in this case I for one don't know who they are.

Paul

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by Humber Coastguard

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

Paul

I refer you to the answer I gave earlier

"Hi
24 hours should be fine. We all store spare blood cells in our bone marrow and that gets back in to the system very quickly after giving blood. The only probem is replacing the fluid lost, so as previously mentioned plenty of non-alcoholic drinks! Avoiding dehydration even in its mildest form is so important in diving.
Chris"

[Deck Bitch]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

I refer you to the answer I gave earlier

"Hi
24 hours should be fine. We all store spare blood cells in our bone marrow and that gets back in to the system very quickly after giving blood. The only probem is replacing the fluid lost, so as previously mentioned plenty of non-alcoholic drinks! Avoiding dehydration even in its mildest form is so important in diving.
Chris"

I HAVE NO BLOOD JUST RED WINE me ok please sir

[MATTBIN]

Originally Posted by Humber Coastguard

Dom

Sorry I come across as condescending. Yes you do well to doubt the veracity of my information as a Coastguard - you only have my word for the fact I am one!

This query has apparently cropped up 3 times (threads now merged) there have been a lot of replies, no doubt some from expert medical practitioners though how are we to know who is who.

Also where is the answer? I suspect that if it was ever proferred it has been lost amongst the thread, amongst the well meaning but non-expert advice.

All I was saying was that for the sake of one phone call Craig would have got the answer he required and from a source he could have confidence in. As I said before if you know who the experts are ask them - if that's a YDer fine but you have to know who they are and in this case I for one don't know who they are.

Paul

Paul
you are of course correct in being a little dubious of medical info from divers, actually any info, however, if the answer comes from a number of divers and its consistent I think it can be assumed to be correct. Blood donation is only a minor medical question after all. Without wishing to be controversial, experts are always right are they?

Matt

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by Deck Bitch

I HAVE NO BLOOD JUST RED WINE me ok please sir

As long as you sign the disclaimer and leave all your dive kit to me in your will I am sure you will be just fine Mr Bitch

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Without wishing to be controversial, experts are always right are they?

Matt

Very contoversial statement .
Not always in my experience.

[dlegros]

Well, I'm sure we all know the definition of "expert"

An ex is a has-been
and a spurt is a drip under pressure!

Dom