It was a dark and stormy session...
We had a lot of strange new would-be blood donors in today - but none of them were able to give blood.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to check our website, contact us online, or phone us on 0345 90 90 999 before you come in for your first donation – you could save yourself a wasted trip.
Caspar Carnegie
- Very, very, very underweight.
- Very pale - possibly anaemic?
Can Caspar give blood?
No. To give blood, you must weigh over 7st 12lb (50 kg). You must also have enough haemoglobin (iron) in your blood, determined by the fingerprick test.
Lestat McGregor
- Recently returned to Inverness after visiting pals in Transylvania, but this wouldn’t affect his ability to give blood as there are no there are no donation restrictions on Romania.
- Severe garlic allergy, although he keeps it under control and is showing no symptoms.
- Had fangs scaled and polished on Monday night, but that’s fine – it was over 24hrs ago.
- Has had trouble with high iron levels in the past, due to his diet. Part of giving blood is the finger prick test, which determines how much iron you have in your blood. If it is too high (or too low) you cannot give blood.
- Age: 327.
Can Lestat give blood?
No. You must be aged between 17 and 66 to give blood for the first time.
Elphaba Eastwick
- Travels a lot (by broomstick), but apart from visiting relatives in Salem (USA) last year, it’s all been pretty local.
- Big fan of complementary medicine (although as a practitioner rather than a patient).
- Aged 30, fit and healthy, no piercings or tattoos.
- Keen to give blood this week as she’s going to Haiti for a big voodoo convention next month.
- Got scratched by her cat Lucy Fur last month and had to have a tetanus shot
Can Elphaba give blood?
Not this time. Had it not been for the tetanus shot, Elphaba seems like a someone who would probably have been able to give blood. However, the tetanus shot means she will have to wait for four months until she can give blood, and the fact she is going to Haiti (which is a malarial country) means she will have to wait for up to twelve months after she gets back until she is able to give blood.
Sean White-Walker
- Shuffling gait (feeling faint or dizzy?)
- Large areas of unhealed wounds. Leg hanging off.
- Severe heart problems (not beating).
Can Sean give blood?
No. His heart problems mean it would be unsafe for him to give blood, while his infected wounds could make his blood dangerous for patients.
Jacob McLupin
- Spent last year travelling around South America, where he got bitten by a large dog. Had rabies injections immediately afterwards, but the bite seems to be taking an unusually long time to heal.
- Undergoing quite a lot of dentistry at the moment. Feels like he has new teeth coming in, although he could have sworn his wisdom teeth were in already.
- Undergoing tests to try and understand recent sensitivity to silver and moonlight.
Can Jacob give blood?
No. A number of South American countries have donation restrictions, and he needs to wait at least 12 months after rabies injection and must be declared clear of rabies by a doctor. Complicated dental work can also stop a person being able to give blood, and you’re also unable to give blood if you are waiting for the results of medical tests. Finally, he would not be able to give blood while his bite remained infected.
- Thinking about giving blood for the first time? Haven’t been for a while and thinking about coming back? Have a look at our website to see if you’re able, get in contact online, or give us a ring on 0345 90 90 999