Giving blood

[hdtran]

Is there a contraindication (or is anyone aware of a contraindication) to diving after giving blood?

Clearly, you can wait 8 weeks after giving blood & dive again. (Why 8 weeks? Because that's the minimum time after a donation before you can donate again, so I would assume that your body has replenished all the red blood cells, etc.)

Personally, I would not dive the same day after a donation.

Anyone know (ok, or guess, since this is a board & not a doc ) what a reasonable wait is?

Thanks!

 

[mrobinson]

In Canada, they say no strenous activity for at least 8 hours and in the meantime, drink plenty of fluids. I worry about the bends so I don't dive for at least two days (dehydration reasons.)

 

[FreeFloat]

My OW instructor was an army medic, so I asked him the same question during my OW course (as I'm a frequent blood donor myself)

He also said 48 hours minimum as a "break" from diving.

 

[mrobinson]

Thanks Freefloat! I'm happy to hear that from a diver.... I'll be interested to see any other doctor divers' opinions here on this board.

 

[hdtran]

Is there a contraindication (or is anyone aware of a contraindication) to diving after giving blood?

Clearly, you can wait 8 weeks after giving blood & dive again. (Why 8 weeks? Because that's the minimum time after a donation before you can donate again, so I would assume that your body has replenished all the red blood cells, etc.)

Personally, I would not dive the same day after a donation.

Anyone know (ok, or guess, since this is a board & not a doc ) what a reasonable wait is?

Thanks!

Received a PM which said, essentially, 24 hrs + "normal" hematocrit. The body refills the lost fluid in 24 hrs. If donating blood did not make you anemic, you may resume diving after your blood volume has recovered. (paraphrased).

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

As a diving doctor myself, I would say avoid diving at least 24-48 hours after giving blood and make sure that you get yourself well hydrated during that time. There is some concern about diving while anemic, but this is unlikely to be a problem for recreational diving and donating a single unit of blood. The bigger concern would be dehydration putting you at increased risk of decompression sickness. By the way, this is my personal bias. I know of no scientific studies of this subject to allow me to make a firm recommendation.

 

[FredT]

Over the years I've given well over 10 Gallons, generally on an 8 week schedule so I'm used to average running a half pint low. I've done many easy shallow dives in warm water to less than 30' within a couple hours of donating with no ill effects. Anything with a DCS possibility waited until the next day. SOP is outbound blood ALWAYS comes from my left arm to save a scarless vein in case I need inbound flow someday. Gear is carried by my right. This minimizes the strain on the puncture wound. I also rehydrate fully (drink over twice the volume that left) within an hour of donating.

FT