diving after donating blood

[SteveC]

What is the general consensus on diving after giving blood? Would the lower blood volume have any affect on nitrogen retention?

 

[SparticleBrane]

Not sure--I would wait a week or two, to make sure that you have the strength.

 

[do it easy]

I do this regularly and I try to donate at a time when I'm not diving for a week.

Of course, life isn't always so convenient and I'm donating on Wednesday and diving both days this weekend, with some light deco on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes...

 

[Charlie59]

I prefer to give blood on the boat between dives.

Most likely difficulty would be if you did not replace the volume in your blood vessels and you would be effectively dehydrated. I'm not sure, but some people seem to think that dehydration can increase your risk of DCS. I'm not sure, but that sounds bad.

I would think a day with really good hydration should be all it takes. You shouldn't miss the red cells as much as the volume.

However, for best results, talk to DAN.

 

[ArcticDiver]

What is the general consensus on diving after giving blood? Would the lower blood volume have any affect on nitrogen retention?

Don't ask us; Ask the Blood Bank people. There is more involved than just the temporary volume loss. There is also the temporary loss of the contents of that volume. There is a list of activities that disqualify a potential donor if participation is expected after the donation.

 

[ArcticDiver]

...However, for best results, talk to DAN.

DAN is a clearing house, not an original authority. He has an original authority at his disposal in either the Blood Bank, or his personal health provider.

 

[Jason B]

I seriously doubt that Jane Doe running the local blood bank or his local health care provider is going to be more up on hyperbaric medicine than DAN. Call DAN, it will cost you nothing but your time.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi SteveC,

DAN says: ""Although blood volume will return to normal shortly following blood donation, a lower red blood cell count may contribute to undesirable signs and symptoms such as fatigue and dehydration. Such conditions are well known to increase one's risk for a dive accident or possible decompression sickness. Medical standards for divers, as defined in a clinical by the Undersea Hyperbaric and Medical Society, states divers should not dive for at least 48 to 72 hours after blood donation. DAN routinely recommends 72 hours."

Diving medicine expert Dr. Ern Campbell (aka "Scubadoc") recommends 24 hours in a healthy diver:

Blood Donations and Diving
http://www.scuba-doc.com/blddon.html

I think that Dr. Campbell's statement, "The donor&#8217;s body replenishes the fluid lost from donation in about 24 hours. If there is no anemia (<12 gm/dL), the diver can return to diving whenever the fluid component is replenished," is quite reasonable. If both hematocrit and hemoglobin level are within normal limits, vigorous hydrating over the 24 hours following donation should leave the healthy and fit diver with fully adequate blood volume and oxygen/waste gas carrying capacity.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[ArcticDiver]

I seriously doubt that Jane Doe running the local blood bank or his local health care provider is going to be more up on hyperbaric medicine than DAN. Call DAN, it will cost you nothing but your time.

Doubt away, that is your privilege.

BUT, the fact is that the person running the blood bank is doing so under pretty strict supervision from very knowledgable people. Many questions about donation are answered by the screening procedure. If a prospective donor has any other question they have the resources to get a prompt, authoritative answer.

Similarly, there is no better initial contact for medical matters that affect and individual than that person's primary care provider. It is erroneous thinking that the person whom you trust for all your other medical care will some how, in this case, fail to do the research necessary to give the same care you are accustomed to. That includes referral to a specialist if necessary. In short anyone's first thought in a non emergency situation should be to seek the advise of the medical person who knows them best, their primary care provider.

I'm not knocking DAN. They are a good clearinghouse for a wide variety of information. I'm told they do a good job of coordinating various agencies when a diver has a problem. They do a pretty good job of data gathering. But, with the exception of certain specific projects all they are doing is coordinating or publishing information from others. So, they are like a combination of a search engine and an expediter's office.

 

[Charlie59]

Clearinghouse? DAN is more like a factory with expert craftsmen inside who actually produce their own information and "know the business" environment with all that is going on in the marketplace. DAN is made of onsite medical experts with a specific understanding of dive physiology.

Most blood bank people I know are great people but not dive experts. DAN represents both.