Donating Blood and Diving - Q&A

[Helen F H]

I am hopefully, going to be giving blood on the 18th of this month (after work this time).  How long should i leave it before i dive again?  
The guy in the gym says i should be fine to try to kill myself on the treadmill by the next day (god dammit he made me do 60 sit ups...)

[peter k]

Hi Helen,
           I can remember this being asked somewhere before and the answer was a year or two! Only joking, about 24hrs.

Peter

[MATTBIN]

The important thing is to replace the lost fluid quickly, the other stuff you can do without and your body will cope with the loss after a short while, as Peter says 24hrs, but do remember to rehydrate.
Or so I was told anyway.

Matt

[Dr Stevil]

THe plasma (the liquid bit) should be replaced by the following day, the red blood cells replaced within three weeks, I'd say you're fine to dive the next day but there may be some moderate impairment of stamina (due to lower O2 carrying capacity with less RBCs) so I wouldn't try anything excessively strenuous for a week or two, depends on your present state of fitness though, effects may be negligible if you're particularly good in the CV department
Chee-az
Stevil

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'>I remember once when I gave blood probably on a Friday lunch time from work and went to the gym the following morning, felt very queezy and had to stop. &nbsp;I wouldn't go diving the following day now but would give it at least 48 hours.

Fiona

[Devon Diver]

That question is answered by Dr.Jules Eden on his Q &amp; A page here:
Cardiovascular System

about halfway down the page.


HTH
Roy

[tiewrapdiver]

Hi guys,

After giving blood yesterday i had a sudden thought of what is the recommended time between donating and diving. Is there an official or recommended time period to use?

Also those of you who don't donate blood, go and do it!!!!!!

Cheers,

Tim

[scubadog]

I must admit, I haven´t given blood for a number of years...
However, great question and I can´t wait to read the answer...

[sweep]

I haven't donated for a while either, I was told when learning to dive to leave 2 to 4 days between giving blood and diving.
But there are people on these boards with a greater knowledge than me (and better memories) who will be along to give us the right answer

[Helen F H]

I asked this ages ago, but i suspect the thread would have been lost when the boards went tits up. From what i can gather, 48 hours will be defo safe, although 24 was also mentioned. Just make sure you drink loads of NON ALCOHOLIC fluids. On the other hand, when i was at uni we used to all go and give blood then get pissed as it cost less! Bargain.