By passedout - 14/07/2017 05:00

Today, I got my blood drawn for a donation and they didn't warn me that I was borderline anemic. I passed out in the middle of Walgreens and woke up to people just standing there, staring. FML
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Top comments

C8H18 33

The people who draw blood when you're giving a donation are not your doctor. They had no way of knowing what conditions you have before hand unless you tell them. They are not at fault here.

69 9
ImminentDisaster 12

Would they know that before taking the blood and sending it to be analysed?

34 3

Comments

ImminentDisaster 12

Would they know that before taking the blood and sending it to be analysed?

34 3
GhostFox 33

Yes. It literally takes a prick of the finger and a few minutes. It's supposed to be standard procedure before being allowed to donate.

18 2
joeyl2008 29

I have donated blood in 4 different states and have never had that done prior to giving donating

0 0
C8H18 33

The people who draw blood when you're giving a donation are not your doctor. They had no way of knowing what conditions you have before hand unless you tell them. They are not at fault here.

69 9
GhostFox 33

Except they're supposed to check iron before they even start any other prep, because if you are anemic or low in iron for any other reason, the blood is completely useless. It's a medical procedure that has guidelines they're supposed to follow, and they failed to do so. OP could have sustained a serious injury from them not adhering to protocol. They are at fault for their mistake.

16 4
C8H18 33

That's never happened when I've donated blood. They only had me fill out a form and asked me a few questions. Maybe they just don't care when it's military donating to other military.

4 2
Uniquestar7 20

Or OP passed out from low volume status which is not an uncommon side effect of blood donation, even in totally healthy individuals.

15 1
khaleesi_reyna 15

Actually, any blood donation place worth beans tests your iron levels before donation (it only takes a few seconds and a small stick on your finger). So yeah it is their fault. If they'd tested OP for iron and it was that low they shouldn't have taken their blood in the first place

2 1
CSSDimian 6

I believe OP meant that due to the reduced oxygen carrying capacity of her blood after the donation she had symptoms comparable to anemia, not that she had a pre-existing medical condition.

2 0
BlackPhoenixNigh 9

They check your blood iron levels to make sure you are able to donate. Therefore, they would in fact know if her iron levels were borderline.

0 0
Namenlos_fml 20

You've never gotten that pinprick where they take a drop of your blood and put it into some liquid? The Red Cross does it. That's supposed to test for anemia. There's a minimum iron level you need to be able to donate.

0 0
GhostFox 33

They're supposed to check if donators are in the correct margins for iron (among other values) before starting. If not, they are supposed to turn them away, because they can't take use blood because it's effectively useless. The people doing the blood drive are 100% at fault for failing to follow procedure.

20 6
skippydoda 32

OP could have iron that's in the right margins and still have passed out from donating.

8 1
GhostFox 33

When you are in the right margins but it's close, they're still supposed to tell you. They also shouldn't be doing it in a non-sectioned off area because it involves people's medical information.

2 2
skippydoda 32

I don't what tests you get but when I donated blood they just stick it in some liquid. Either it floats or sinks. That's how they tell of you have enough iron. I usually have lower iron but it still enough to donate and they haven't told me anything. This is a really good place to donate blood. Now when I did plasma they would tell me my numbers for my iron right at the table.

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amberfox 11

I always take someone with me when I give because blood donation makes me woozy.

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Brian Green 8

And how exactly would STRANGERS at a blood drive KNOW her iron levels???

0 2
rampatmonkey 7

BECAUSE they test your iron levels before taking any donations! I've donated many many times and this is one of the first things they do. Quick stab, get a sample on a slide and stick it in a machine, 15 seconds later BOOM! Iron levels. It even has to be higher than just enough to be healthy because donating lowers the iron levels. OP could have passed out from just the blood loss itself, which can happen with no relation to iron levels

2 0
RichardPencil 30

Would you have rather they immediately started giving you mouth-to-mouth? Yeah, right?

2 2
Robert Owen 5

How could they warn YOU that YOU are borderline anemic? That's ridiculous!

1 6
Lobby_Bee 17

At least now you know you'll be less prone to a vampire attack. Everybody knows they tend to seek blood high in iron.

6 1
im_teekay 7

Didn't they give you a cup of tea and a biscuit afterwards?

7 0
LeoCor 19

I had my blood drawn by my doctors for a blood test, it was 5 vials. I didn't pass out but I lost my hearing, could barely keep my eyes open or sit up straight. It came back I was completely healthy

2 3
SpaceToast 25

For those of you wondering, most blood donations check your iron levels, and have you fill out some sort of questionnaire to make sure that you are fit for a donation. These tests can't register if you're ill, but they can accurately tell if you have anemia, or an iron deficiency, and help you determine if you have any sort of sickness. I myself have been to blood donations. You should go talk to your doctor about your anemia, good luck OP.

5 1