ereks mom Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I ask because my niece went to give blood today but was deferred because she doesn't weigh enough. This girl is NOT skinny--not overweight, but definitely not skinny! She's 5'3" and weighs 115-120 lbs. I know that people over 18 have to weigh at least 110 lbs, and the Red Cross says that there are additional weight requirements for 17yo & 18yo donors. I looked on the Red Cross website, but it doesn't specify. Does anyone here know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I remember it being 110 when I gave in high school and was under 18. I wonder if it's changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 I remember it being 110 when I gave in high school and was under 18. I wonder if it's changed. I know she weighs 115-120, and she is 18yo, and they turned her away because she doesn't weigh enough. At the Red Cross website, it says women giving double red cells have to be at least 5'5" and weigh 150 lbs. But I'm sure she was just planning to be a "normal" donor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I know she weighs 115-120, and she is 18yo, and they turned her away because she doesn't weigh enough. At the Red Cross website, it says women giving double red cells have to be at least 5'5" and weigh 150 lbs. But I'm sure she was just planning to be a "normal" donor. I found this...https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:q3i8JGt7nMIJ:communityservice.wustl.edu/Documents/Height%2520and%2520Weight%2520Requirements.pdf+red+cross+weight+requirements+chart&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjd3qO5wlz68adgAre3NnFVnPVm7Fa3YPqC-P3yh6QuujZGZQKBhs780niN03SIrw6tb4J2M_Jx0AzYgpZy1d81kUy_8-jOnEkMCpyeZG73BQlsCv48zsJa6qHws2caUGEqfXp3&sig=AHIEtbQh2zfdpY50_8__isYvv8jma-UYAw&pli=1 According to that, I wouldn't have been eligible :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Element Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) I remember it being 110 when I gave in high school and was under 18. I wonder if it's changed. :iagree: I remember my dad making me stand on a scale to prove I weighed enough to give. This would have been 15+ years ago, though, so I honestly don't know if the policy has changed since then. ETA: I found this...https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:q3i8JGt7nMIJ:communityservice.wustl.edu/Documents/Height%2520and%2520Weight%2520Requirements.pdf+red+cross+weight+requirements+chart&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjd3qO5wlz68adgAre3NnFVnPVm7Fa3YPqC-P3yh6QuujZGZQKBhs780niN03SIrw6tb4J2M_Jx0AzYgpZy1d81kUy_8-jOnEkMCpyeZG73BQlsCv48zsJa6qHws2caUGEqfXp3&sig=AHIEtbQh2zfdpY50_8__isYvv8jma-UYAw&pli=1 According to that, I wouldn't have been eligible :001_huh: Oh, wow, yeah. That is new. I wouldn't have been eligible either. I don't know many teenaged girls who would be! :001_huh: Edited August 14, 2012 by Element Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 :iagree: I remember my dad making me stand on a scale to prove I weighed enough to give. This would have been 15+ years ago, though, so I honestly don't know if the policy has changed since then. ETA: Oh, wow, yeah. That is new. I wouldn't have been eligible either. I don't know many teenaged girls who would be! :001_huh: That is strange! The shorter you are, the more you have to weigh? Does anyone know the rationale? I'd think someone 4'11 and 110lbs would have more blood to spare than someone who is 5'6 and weighs 110lbs. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA6336 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I tried to give blood not long ago. I am 4' 10" and 103 pounds. I am 30, but regardless of height or age they won't take my blood. It is because their collection bags are pre filled with anticoagulant so they cannot take a smaller amount of blood (messes up the ratio). The minimum weight around here is 120. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindergretta Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 The shorter you are, the lower your overall blood volume thus if they take X amount from my dd (4'10") and that same amount from her friend (5'3") it will impact my dd more than it will the taller girl. So if my dd weighs more, she can more easily cope physically with the blood loss. :001_smile: I donated blood for my own surgery at 16. You had to weigh 110lbs waaaay ;) back then and no one checked. I passed out. Then they brought up the weight issue! :001_huh: As an Army brat raised in Germany, I am no longer allowed to donate. I found that out 2 years ago at a blood drive at my church. I was stunned. Apparently, the military's source for meat in the late '70s - early'80s was was possibly tainted with mad cow. So, I could be a carrier! Oy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I don't know. I recently wanted to bank blood for my dd (we have same type) for her operation and I was told that it was illegal to do so. :001_huh: I haven't researched it yet but I find the idea seriously disturbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I just looked at the document and I would have to be "obese" BMI wise to donate. I'm 4'10" and I would have to weigh 146 pounds! I guess I understand the rationale, but I'm not going to become unhealthy in order to give blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindergretta Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I don't know. I recently wanted to bank blood for my dd (we have same type) for her operation and I was told that it was illegal to do so. :001_huh: I haven't researched it yet but I find the idea seriously disturbing. My dad (all those years ago) wasn't allowed to bank blood for me, either. What we were told is that parents will lie and conceal health issues to donate their own blood for their dc. It sounds logical, but when you think about it, all blood is screened and all donors are screened. If there is something "tainted" about the parent's blood, wouldn't it be detected in the screening? And if not, do I want *any* donated blood??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My dad (all those years ago) wasn't allowed to bank blood for me, either. What we were told is that parents will lie and conceal health issues to donate their own blood for their dc. It sounds logical, but when you think about it, all blood is screened and all donors are screened. If there is something "tainted" about the parent's blood, wouldn't it be detected in the screening? And if not, do I want *any* donated blood??? weird. You can donate for a specific person here. It is totally allowed. I have known people who have done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindergretta Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 weird. You can donate for a specific person here. It is totally allowed. I have known people who have done it. Yes, designated donations. IIRC, (which is a stretch! :tongue_smilie: ) he could donate for my mom or a friend, it was just parents who couldn't donate for their child. :confused: If anyone has any more information on this, please share. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Yes, designated donations. IIRC, (which is a stretch! :tongue_smilie: ) he could donate for my mom or a friend, it was just parents who couldn't donate for their child. :confused: If anyone has any more information on this, please share. :D My dh has donated for my dd. It is allowed. Maybe someone was misinformed?:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 My dh has donated for my dd. It is allowed. Maybe someone was misinformed?:confused: Maybe it is a state thing?? She lives in another state. I never researched it before. I just assumed that it would allowed and was surprised when I was told that it would not. We also asked if she could bank for herself but there wasn't enough time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.