Skydiving and Blood Donation

[Bloodsucker 0]

Before anyone starts yelling "Troll" about this post and the fact that the profile isn't filled out, I'd just like to say that this subject is an emotive one in the UK and has lead to flame wars and general name calling against those of us that would like to see a change to the policy laid down in the BPA Ops Manual, namely:

Quote

SECTION 11


MEDICAL


2.5. Blood Donors.


Sport parachutists are advised that parachuting and giving blood are not
compatible. Whilst the quantity of blood is quickly replaced after donation,
the necessary oxygen retaining qualities required at altitude are not.

In effect this means that a blood donor has to choose between giving blood or skydiving.

My question is:

Does any other parachute federation in the world have such a draconian attitude towards blood donors? Or do they trust their members to act in a responsible manner?

Given the attitude of some members of the UK forums (some of whom frequent these hallowed halls) I PM'd Sangiro and asked for permission to run this topic anonymously, which he graciously agreed to.

The problem is that in order to get anything changed in the OPs Manual, we have to make a case to the STC which is comprised of all the CCI's.

As I understand it, and if I'm wrong someone with far more experience will correct me, neither the USPA or the DFV have any regulation that would prevent a skydiver from giving blood.

If anyone would care to share information about their own parachute federation/association's attitude and/or regulations, please feel free.

Many thanks in advance.

[turtlespeed 226]

You should give blood on the way to altitude.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[quade 4]

Quote

Does any other parachute federation in the world have such a draconian attitude...

I think you mean, "fact based."

What they are concerned about is the amount of oxygen carried by the blood. While volume returns quickly, hemoglobin takes several weeks.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

turtlespeed

You should give blood on the way to altitude.

Well, that is better than giving blood on the way down from altitude.

Been there, done that. Got the blood stained jumpsuit.

[turtlespeed 226]

ZigZagMarquis

***You should give blood on the way to altitude.

Well, that is better than giving blood on the way down from altitude.

Been there, done that. Got the blood stained jumpsuit.



Depends on how much.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Bloodsucker 0]

The fact is that in the UK blood donors have a haemoglobin test prior to donation every three months for men and every four months for women. In order to be accepted to give blood, the haemoglobin level has to be high enough so that the donor will not be anaemic after donation. Borderline cases are tested with a Hemocue monitoring unit.

I sometimes wonder how many jumpers get on the plane anaemic and at risk of hypoxia because they're not getting tested on a regular basis.

[quade 4]

Regardless of testing before donation, the fact remains a person is down in oxygen carrying capacity after donation.

That is the only relevant fact with regards to donation and jumping you need to know to understand the BPA position. It is not "draconian." It's simply math and biology.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[grue 1]

Bloodsucker

Before anyone starts yelling "Troll" about this post and the fact that the profile isn't filled out, I'd just like to say that this subject is an emotive one in the UK and has lead to flame wars and general name calling against those of us that would like to see a change to the policy laid down in the BPA Ops Manual, namely:

Quote

SECTION 11


MEDICAL


2.5. Blood Donors.


Sport parachutists are advised that parachuting and giving blood are not
compatible. Whilst the quantity of blood is quickly replaced after donation,
the necessary oxygen retaining qualities required at altitude are not.

In effect this means that a blood donor has to choose between giving blood or skydiving.

My question is:

Does any other parachute federation in the world have such a draconian attitude towards blood donors? Or do they trust their members to act in a responsible manner?

Given the attitude of some members of the UK forums (some of whom frequent these hallowed halls) I PM'd Sangiro and asked for permission to run this topic anonymously, which he graciously agreed to.

The problem is that in order to get anything changed in the OPs Manual, we have to make a case to the STC which is comprised of all the CCI's.

As I understand it, and if I'm wrong someone with far more experience will correct me, neither the USPA or the DFV have any regulation that would prevent a skydiver from giving blood.

If anyone would care to share information about their own parachute federation/association's attitude and/or regulations, please feel free.

Many thanks in advance.

It's been my experience that the BPA is among the most cotton-wrapped and nannyish organisations in an already cotton-wrapped and nannyish country.

That's not to say their policies aren't based on good ideas, just that they're very, very conservative.

cavete terrae.

[headoverheels 334]

If you are donating more than 1.5 to 2 times per year, I recommend that you have your ferritin level checked. I was donating 4x per year, then failed the hemoglobin test they do when you donate. Got my ferritin level checked, and it was down to 4, with 18 being a normal minimum, and 50+ being a better level.

Iron taken with vitamin C, at least 2 hrs before/after calcium/tea/coffee/dairy, got me back to normal within 6 weeks. It took 9 months of supplements to get me up to a good level.

Now, when I donate (no more than 2x per year), I take iron for 5 weeks following, to replace ~250mg in a unit of blood. You only absorb ~15% of supplements, and ferrous sulphate is only 20% iron, so you need to take about
(1/0.15) x (1/0.2) x 250mg = 8.33g
of ferrous sulphate, which is 26 tablets of 325mg each, or get extra iron from diet. Vitamin C (tablet or 8oz orange juice) greatly improves absorption, and calcium/tea/coffee within 2 hours interferes. BTW, vegetable sources of iron (e.g.spinach) are not absorbed as well unless consumed along with blood (meat) sources.

Ferritin is where iron is stored until needed. As long as you are close to normal, your hemoglobin will not drop. When you get down to 4, your red blood cells will vary in size more. They will, on average, be smaller and contain less hemoglobin per cell, and your total hemoglobin will be low. Below 50 or 60, and you are more likely to be losing hair if you are female.

An exception to the above is if you are 1 in 200 that genetically tend to accumulate iron to an unhealthy level (hemochromatosis ), in which frequent blood letting may be required to keep your ferritin level under 300, and forget the supplements/beef/etc.

I never hesitated to go skydive soon after donating blood, but I would suggest Monday rather than Friday if you are jumping on Saturday, or a week when you aren't jumping (should be plenty of those with weather there).

[Arvoitus 1]

I know British people are a bit eccentric being stuck all alone on that island but this is a whole new level of crazy. Does this apply to foreigners? Would I be barred from skydiving in Britain for being a semi-regular blooddoner?

Your rights end where my feelings begin.

[quade 4]

Arvoitus

. . . but this is a whole new level of crazy.

It's not "crazy." It's prudent.
http://www.ifr-magazine.com/oxygen-and-hypoxemia.html

Right after donating, you're going to be at about 90% capacity at sea level. It will take 3 to 4 weeks to recover to 100%.

You can quibble over how fit you are or some other such nonsense, but the fact remains it's a prudent recommendation. Not "crazy."

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[TriGirl 343]

In reply to your original question (asking how it is "done" in other countries), I will say that many DZs actually invite a "bloodmobile" for a blood drive right on the DZ. The rule is that you cannot jump any more that day once you donate.

I have not seen a rule that the limitation is extended for any more days after that (TK -- please chime in here with more complete information?).

And a question of my own: how does a pheresis donation differ to the BPA? What if it is just WBCs and platelets donated, not plasma (hence no effects on volume)?

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

[Bloodsucker 0]

Pheresis donations are allowed including plasma and platelets but the problem is that pheresis donations tend to be taken at specialist donation centres (nearest one to me is about 1.5 hours away) as they don't take the machines mobile.

Additionally, blood donations are purely voluntary in that donors don't get paid (unless you count the free tea and biscuits afterwards).

I'm an O neg donor and atm the transfusion service for my part of the country only has 3 days supply on hand to cover the hospitals.

[tkhayes 348]

it is complete bullshit. Donating blood is an individual thing with individual reactions to it, much the same as taking medicine and skydiving.

Figure it out for yourself and then donate if you can. Obviously you should not donate right before jumping to be sure, but most blood volume is replaced within a day and most red cells are replaced in a few days.

I have over 400 donations, platelets mostly, and have been donating longer than I have been skydiving.

overreaching bureaucracy.

Funny how a UK organization imposes a rule/suggestion that is seemingly conflicted by the UK authority in that subject:
http://www.blood.co.uk/about-blood/how-the-body-replaces-blood/

[jclalor 12]

quade

*** . . . but this is a whole new level of crazy.

It's not "crazy." It's prudent.
http://www.ifr-magazine.com/oxygen-and-hypoxemia.html

Right after donating, you're going to be at about 90% capacity at sea level. It will take 3 to 4 weeks to recover to 100%.

You can quibble over how fit you are or some other such nonsense, but the fact remains it's a prudent recommendation. Not "crazy."

I wonder why the military and the FAA would only require A three day wait for pilots after donation?

I have a hard time believing that even if your Hemoglobin was down 10% That your Sp02 would mirror that and sink to 88%-90% at sea level,and then decrease into the 70s at altitude.

[Bloodsucker 0]

Letter from the BPA medical advisor (printed in Sports Parachutist 1992 and reprinted 2000)

Quote

COPY OF LETTER PUBLISHED IN SPORT PARACHUTIST 1992 AND REPRINTED IN 2000:

Dear Sir,

re: Blood Donation and Skydiving

It was nice to see some constructive ideas from Hugh Montgomery on how toavoid getting AIDS from blood transfusion in developing countries. Unfortunately, skydiving while giving blood regularly is not always straightforward.

The Blood Transfusion Service has an excellent series of checks to confirm that you are fit to give them your blood and remain well during normal activities at ground level. However, these checks were not designed to ensure that you will be fully fit to skydive at altitude after giving blood.

Most of us like to think that we are unaffected by the reduction in oxygen at altitude but the facts are that our concentration and co-ordination are impaired as we go higher and we often fail to notice it. At 8,000 ft there is impairment of recently learned skilled tasks (i.e. more brain locks). At 10-15,000 ft there is impairment even on well ingrained skilled tasks (more misjudged approaches, bad dockings, bombings) and physical stamina is reduced (floaters falling off, tandem masters having stiff pilot chute pulls after heaving a heavy student around). Any exertion or exposure to cold makes the situation worse and increases the normally tiny risk of faintness or dizziness. With these factors already working against you, any reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is clearly unacceptable.

After giving blood, the volume is rapidly replaced, but the oxygen carrying capacity is not. Giving a pint of blood may reduce the oxygen carrying capacity by over 10%. This will not matter to you at ground level but may make a big difference to how well your skydive goes at altitude. Most blood donors restore their blood to near to predonation levels within a few weeks but a minority may take several weeks (the slowest being small framed people with diets low in iron, particularly women with heavy periods).

If you want to give blood and continue to skydive:

Ask the BTS for your Haemoglobin level (this is checked routinely before you give blood).

Do not jump at all within a week of donating.

Ask your doctor to recheck your Haemoglobin level 1 - 2 weeks after donation. (This is not an NHS service and there may be a charge.)

Do not jump above 5,000 ft until your haemoglobin is within 5% of its original level.

If this seems like too much hassle, the solution is to avoid mixing skydiving and blood donation. Unless STC decides to change it, the BPA Ops Manual continues to read "parachuting and giving blood are not compatible" (Section 11).

Nowadays some people give just plasma and have their red cells returned to them. Plasma donors should be able to skydive safely after 48 hours.

Yours sincerely,



John Carter, BPA Medical Adviser.

Personally, I don't jump within 72 hours of donation and then I don't exceed 5,000 feet for another week after that because I believe that it is my responsibility to ensure my safety.

I've given blood since the age of 18 and haven't missed a donation even when I was serving with the Army and if I was faced with an ultimatum then much as I love skydiving I'd have to choose giving blood (my blood has been cleared for neonatal use and one donation provides 8 transfusion units for prem babies).