Blood donation question.
- Thread starter DPApilot
- Start date
darrenf
resident denizen
More likely the reason you cannot is because then you are unfit to fly.
Number1atNumber2
Tries to keep it fun.
We can do it, but we have to wait 72 hours (as germb747 mentioned).
JA Yawd Bwoy
Well-Known Member
Radiation?
casey
Well-Known Member
its mostly a concern if people flying at higher altitudes and latitudes. The higher up you are the less atmosphere there is above you to absorb stuff. Consider that when you are at 18,000 feet there is as much of the atmosphere (by mass) above you as there is below you. By the time you hit the tropopause its closer to 80% below you and 20% above.
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
I used to donate, but since doing charter, I had to take a 2 year break since I visited the "wrong" side of Jamaica. Of course, this was told to me on my second donation since visiting the lovely island. Now, since I'm Europe based, and going all sorts of places, I probably won't be able to give blood for many more years!!!
By the way, if you donate blood, and are planning on getting into this career, once you start doing international trips, start a journal or cheat sheet so you can answer the questions easier. The ladies (and one gentleman) always hated it when I showed up once they knew I did international trips. At the end of my donations, it took a second page for them to write everything in.
And, for those that will ask, it is due to Malaria possibility, since I stepped foot in Kingston, Jamaica, even though I never left the airport and was there for a total of 1 hour. The other side of the island is okay though
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By the way, if you donate blood, and are planning on getting into this career, once you start doing international trips, start a journal or cheat sheet so you can answer the questions easier. The ladies (and one gentleman) always hated it when I showed up once they knew I did international trips. At the end of my donations, it took a second page for them to write everything in.
And, for those that will ask, it is due to Malaria possibility, since I stepped foot in Kingston, Jamaica, even though I never left the airport and was there for a total of 1 hour. The other side of the island is okay though
.
Old Pete
Cockpit Authoritarian
Unfit? I have seen the Doc and other recommend waiting 48 hrs., but I have never seen an FAA reg require a minimum waiting period before flying. If you can provide one, I would appreciate it.
Number1atNumber2
Tries to keep it fun.
I don't think there is a reg for it. My company's ops specs dictate 72 hours, as did the last place I worked at.
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
A.There is no specific policy on this, only guidelines. The primary concern is your increased risk of becoming hypoxic. The usual blood loss to an otherwise healthy pilot by donating blood is well-compensated by increased heart and respiration rates. But there is the possibility of some impairment in hypoxic conditions (altitudes, cabin or otherwise, above 10,000 feet) for 8-12 hours after making the donation (more if the donor is in poor physical condition).
The military requires pilots to wait 72 hours after giving blood, and many corporate flight departments follow this guideline. Others don't allow their pilots to donate blood. Therefore, as a guideline, flying within 24 hours of donating blood may not be totally safe and is not worth the risk. If you are not in good health and even slightly anemic, check with your doctor or do what the military does.
source: AOPA
Dr. Richard O. Reinhart, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner If you have medical certification or physiology questions, send them to: "Ask the Doc." Flight Training, 405 Main St., Parkville, MO 64152. If your questions are personal or complex, Dr. Reinhart offers private consultations for a fee. Call him at (612) 896-3186.
The military requires pilots to wait 72 hours after giving blood, and many corporate flight departments follow this guideline. Others don't allow their pilots to donate blood. Therefore, as a guideline, flying within 24 hours of donating blood may not be totally safe and is not worth the risk. If you are not in good health and even slightly anemic, check with your doctor or do what the military does.
source: AOPA
Dr. Richard O. Reinhart, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner If you have medical certification or physiology questions, send them to: "Ask the Doc." Flight Training, 405 Main St., Parkville, MO 64152. If your questions are personal or complex, Dr. Reinhart offers private consultations for a fee. Call him at (612) 896-3186.
Our company policy is 72 hours also.
I had always understood potential hypoxia as the reason not to fly too soon after donating. I have never heard this other theory - would someone care to explain the concern about radiation? I understand the thinner atmosphere above at altitude = less protection from solar radiation, but I don't follow how donating blood comes into the equation?
I had always understood potential hypoxia as the reason not to fly too soon after donating. I have never heard this other theory - would someone care to explain the concern about radiation? I understand the thinner atmosphere above at altitude = less protection from solar radiation, but I don't follow how donating blood comes into the equation?
JA Yawd Bwoy
Well-Known Member
Interesting, what kind of charter's did you do to Kingston? The only way I would not want to be an Airline Pilot is if I had a charter job to Jamaica! Yeah I don't know why, but whenever you visit Caribbean countries ie. Jamaica, they always list Malaria, Dengue Fever, and etc as reasons not to give blood...
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
It was Lear 60 charter, and there was no way of knowing where you were going. I never overnighted on Jamaica, but did in some other nice Caribbean spots, even for 4+ days a couple of times. The bad parts of that job eventually outweighed the good parts of it!!
anic:
JA Yawd Bwoy
Well-Known Member
It was Lear 60 charter, and there was no way of knowing where you were going. I never overnighted on Jamaica, but did in some other nice Caribbean spots, even for 4+ days a couple of times. The bad parts of that job eventually outweighed the good parts of it!!
Oh thats cool, in a way...