Giving Blood

[hiccabuffy 0]

What are the regulations on giving blood? I gave blood last week and was told it was safe to skydive again after 24hrs. I have since been told that active skydivers should never give blood ever.
Cat

[fatmarl 0]

In the UK skydivers are advised not to give blood but I still give a pint every 6 months, hell, I might need it some day!

[JohnRich 4]

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I have since been told that active skydivers should never give blood ever.

Who told you that? A doctor?

[billvon 3,013]

>I have since been told that active skydivers should never give blood ever.

Ha! I know a lot of skydivers who give blood regularly. I do it whenever I can.

[Remster 30]

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>I have since been told that active skydivers should never give blood ever.

Ha! I know a lot of skydivers who give blood regularly. I do it whenever I can.

The UK does have some....mmm... perticular views in healthcare issues....

Remster

[Tink1717 2]

Whoever told you that skydivers should never give blood had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. Recovery periods for skydiving after blood donation are the same as for any other strenuous activity. You will be fine.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[cpoxon 0]

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You will be fine.

That's a pretty dangerous statement since everyone is different. A slight, unfit, smoker, who bleeds heavily and regularly with a diet deficient in iron will react very differently above 10,000 feet to the loss of 475 ml of blood than a large, fit, non-smoking person who doesn't frequently lose blood, with an iron rich diet. This is why in the UK, according to Section 11 (Medical) Para 2 (General) Sub-Para 2.5 (Blood Donors) of the BPA's Operations Manual, we are:

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advised that parachuting and giving blood are not compatible

This is on the advice of a skydiving doctor. Yes, there are people who can give blood and skydive without any issues, and I know some who do, but that doesn't mean that everyone can and that is why it is not advisable.

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[Beerlight 0]

I can't donate blood here in the US due to me living in Europe back in the 80's. Any "madcow" issues to address?

Otherwise, 24 hrs is the min time to "fly" after blood donation. And that would be flying passively as a passenger.

Skydiving is strenuous and more time should be allowed.

[karenmeal 0]

I've given blood and jumped in the same day before.. but as a smaller person with asthma, who tends to be borderline anemic.. it just didn't work out well for me. (felt pretty hypoxic at 13.5)

If you feel like giving blood and then following it up with a good rush, try smoking a cigarette right afterwards! Thats some serious fun right there...

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

[freeflynick 0]

I heard (and it was a while ago, so maybe slightly hazy) that after giving blood, you quite quickly regain the volume of blood you loose but it takes quite a while longer for your blood to regain its full oxygen carrying capabilities, and this is the reason that in the UK they recommend not jumping for a number of months after giving blood.
Feel free to correct me

.

Hobbes: "How come we play 'War' and not 'Peace'?"
Calvin: "Too few role models."

[Fast 0]

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I heard (and it was a while ago, so maybe slightly hazy) that after giving blood, you quite quickly regain the volume of blood you loose but it takes quite a while longer for your blood to regain its full oxygen carrying capabilities, and this is the reason that in the UK they recommend not jumping for a number of months after giving blood.
Feel free to correct me

.

This was the point that was brought up in another thread on the same subject. I think they said something like a few days at the least. The other point was that flying in the terms of what they are considering is most likely commercial, which is a pressurized cabin, and not strenuous.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[i.a.w.i.a. 0]

I've been told that 24hrs is the wait-time repeatedly by one instructor.... the last time i gave blood i jumped about 4 days after. no problems whatsoever. but then i never have any trouble after giving blood, which isn't the case for a lot of other people. you have to know your own system... (and then wait an extra day or two to be safe :)

[Falko 0]

If one feels like giving something to the community, but doesn't want to give blood on a regular basis (for the reasons mentioned above), maybe they want to join a Bone Marrow Donor Database at least?
Only requires giving a one-time blood sample. And maybe you'll get to save a life one day?
See this thread also: vibes for divingduck (leukemia)

Links:
National Marrow Donor Program
National Children's Leukemia Foundation
Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (German bone marrow donor database)

I did it and it really makes you feel good. It's such a tragedy that people die of blood cancer, when they maybe would have had a chance had YOU been registered.

Don't mean to sound like a tv ad here, but I believe it's worth giving a thought.

Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse.
(Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

[jumperconway 0]

Heck, smoke a stogie suck down a brewsky and go skydive the same day!

I'm not big by any means, 5'9"/160# and I've jumped hours after donating blood the same day, and I smoke. I am physically fit and donate regularly, over 3 gallons so far!

[Pammi 0]

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>I have since been told that active skydivers should never give blood ever.

Ha! I know a lot of skydivers who give blood regularly. I do it whenever I can.

Ditto (and am borderline anemic)

Pammi

[Remster 30]

Nobody here wants my blood anymore....

Remster

[JohnMitchell 16]

I just got my five gallon badge today. I've gone straight from the blood bank to home, grabbed my rig, and gone straight to the DZ. They say no heavy lifting, but never mention flying. Have to wait 4 hours to have a beer, though. Dang, that's the rough part.

[headoverheels 333]

I'd give it at least 24 hours, more if practical. I'm older and wiser than I used to be (mostly older).

[damion75 0]

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Nobody here wants my blood anymore....

Ditto. Apparently having lived in Africa makes me unsuitable...

I want to help!!!!!

***************

Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

I've given blood and jumped in the same day before.. but as a smaller person with asthma, who tends to be borderline anemic.. it just didn't work out well for me. (felt pretty hypoxic at 13.5)

If you feel like giving blood and then following it up with a good rush, try smoking a cigarette right afterwards! Thats some serious fun right there...

You felt hypoxic...but then did the skydive?
-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[tkhayes 348]

rubbish - if it is 'not recommended' by someone or something, then that statement is either out of context or out of date. Take normal precautions like everyone else.

There is a blood shortage in the world, not a surplus. Donate whenever you can, take 24 hours to jump,

TK
Apheresis donor (230+ times)

[flylikeahandbag 0]

Below are copies of letters regarding this issue, taken from UK.REC.SKYDIVING:-



COPY OF LETTER TO LESLEY GALE, early 2000:


Dear Lesley,

Thankyou for your enquiry about skydiving and blood donation. I attach
three documents which may be of relevance.

There has certainly been no change in BPA policy on this matter for as long
as there has been an Ops Manual. The Medical Section clearly states that
parachuting and giving blood are incompatible. For at least the last ten
years the "Advice to Parachutists" on the back of the Medical Declaration
form has referred to the possibility of Blood Donation causing problems and
to the need to seek medical advice if you have given blood recently.

It is my understanding that the Blood Transfusion Service's Standing
Advisory Committee on Donor Selection considered this matter in February
1992 and that there has been no change in their policy since then, though
the policy itself may not have been applied very consistently at some
centres until recent years. In the BTS, as in many other parts of the NHS,
there is now a much more controlled implementation of policy and a much
greater awareness of risk management or risk avoidance. As you yourself
noted in your e-mail of 9th February, you encountered a similar policy ten
years ago. Regular skydivers form less than 0.005% of the population of
Great Britain. Their exclusion from blood donation is therefore not a
significant loss to the BTS.

It is extremely unlikely that either the BPA or the BTS will attempt to
write a formal protocol to regulate how to be both a blood donor and a
skydiver. It would involve each organisation in regulation and legal
liability in areas where they have limited knowledge, little to gain and a
lot to lose if something went wrong. There is no simple time interval which
could be applied between donation and jumping to provide a safe recovery
period. I did write to Sport Parachutist about this matter in August 1991
(copy attached) in order to help those who wish to mix the two activities.
However, this is "unofficial" advice and is unlikely to be adopted as
official BPA policy. I believe the BPA office has some copies of my letter
of August 91should anyone wish to obtain a copy. It is not practical to put
more information about this on the back of the medical form as this is only
one of hundreds of areas where a short book could easily be written.

Although you could reprint my letter from 1991, I suspect that a general
encouragement to read the advice on the medical form and occasionally to
browse parts of the Ops Manual would be more helpful. Sadly, many jumpers
have little knowledge of any parts of the Ops Manual. It is not just in
relation to blood donation that there is much misunderstanding of
regulations and, consequently, opportunity for mishap! There are many
professions, sports and activities where huge improvements in safety and
efficiency can be obtained, not by writing new regulations or advice, but by
simply advertising and implementing the rules and advice that have already
been published.

As far as flying and blood donation is concerned, I don't feel it is my
place to express an opinion. However, it is worth noting that the altitudes
and physical exertion routinely involved in skydiving are often very much
greater than those routinely experienced in many other branches of aviation.
It is best to contact the governing body or authority that regulates your
personal type of flying as their regulations may be quite different to ours.

Yours sincerely,



John Carter





EXTRACT FROM BPA OPS MANUAL

SECTION 11


MEDICAL


2.5. Blood Donors.


Sport parachutists are advised that parachuting and giving blood are not
compatible. Whilst the quantity of blood is quickly replaced after donation,
the necessary oxygen retaining qualities required at altitude are not.






EXTRACT FROM BACK OF BPA MEDICAL CERTIFICATE:


NOTES FOR PARACHUTISTS Parachutists need a reasonably high standard of
physical fitness and must not be overweight in relation to their sex, age,
and height. No person above the age of 50 years will normally be accepted
for novice parachute training. Exceptions to this rule may be allowed if the
candidate either has previous experience or is of a high standard of fitness
and can convince the instructor of that fitness.


Aswell as the conditions listed overleaf, the following may cause problems
to parachutists and if you have ever suffered from any of them you must seek
medical approval before parachuting:


Previous fractures, back strain, arthritis and severe joint sprains. Chronic
bronchitis. Asthma. Rheumatic fever. Pneumothorax. Liver or Kidney disease.
Thyroid, adrenal or other glandular disorder. Chronic ear or sinus disease.
Any condition which requires the regular use of drugs. Anaemia. Recent blood
donation.




COPY OF LETTER PUBLISHED IN SPORT PARACHUTIST 1992 AND REPRINTED IN 2000:

Dear Sir,


re: Blood Donation and Skydiving


It was nice to see some constructive ideas from Hugh Montgomery on how to
avoid getting AIDS from blood transfusion in developing countries.
Unfortunately, skydiving while giving blood regularly is not always
straightforward.


The Blood Transfusion Service has an excellent series of checks to confirm
that you are fit to give them your blood and remain well during normal
activities at ground level. However, these checks were not designed to
ensure that you will be fully fit to skydive at altitude after giving blood.


Most of us like to think that we are unaffected by the reduction in oxygen
at altitude but the facts are that our concentration and co-ordination are
impaired as we go higher and we often fail to notice it. At 8,000 ft there
is impairment of recently learned skilled tasks (i.e. more brain locks). At
10-15,000 ft there is impairment even on well ingrained skilled tasks (more
misjudged approaches, bad dockings, bombings) and physical stamina is
reduced (floaters falling off, tandem masters having stiff pilot chute pulls
after heaving a heavy student around). Any exertion or exposure to cold
makes the situation worse and increases the normally tiny risk of faintness
or dizziness. With these factors already working against you, any reduction
in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is clearly unacceptable.


After giving blood, the volume is rapidly replaced, but the oxygen carrying
capacity is not. Giving a pint of blood may reduce the oxygen carrying
capacity by over 10%. This will not matter to you at ground level but may
make a big difference to how well your skydive goes at altitude. Most blood
donors restore their blood to near to predonation levels within a few weeks
but a minority may take several weeks (the slowest being small framed people
with diets low in iron, particularly women with heavy periods).


If you want to give blood and continue to skydive:


Ask the BTS for your Haemoglobin level (this is checked routinely before you
give blood).


Do not jump at all within a week of donating.


Ask your doctor to recheck your Haemoglobin level 1 - 2 weeks after
donation. (This is not an NHS service and there may be a charge.)


Do not jump above 5,000 ft until your haemoglobin is within 5% of its
original level.


If this seems like too much hassle, the solution is to avoid mixing
skydiving and blood donation. Unless STC decides to change it, the BPA Ops
Manual continues to read "parachuting and giving blood are not compatible"
(Section 11).


Nowadays some people give just plasma and have their red cells returned to
them. Plasma donors should be able to skydive safely after 48 hours.

Yours sincerely,

John Carter, BPA Medical Adviser.

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http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk

[LGreg34 0]

Okay...........what does anyone know about Skydiving and Thyroid problems? I have to have Thyroid surgery next Wednesday (lower right lobe removed at least, and possibly all of it depending on pathology at the time). I was going to jump this weekend to finish up my AFF jumps but have to have some blood work done today to prepare for the surgery. What do you think?