VeeshanVault

The Red Cross comes to my work every 8 weeks for a blood drive, I find it's a really easy way to potentially save someone else's life and I try to donate every 8 weeks. It really doesn't hurt or anything, and only takes like 30-60 minutes. Today was the day, made me wonder if the rest of you guys donate, and if not, why?

I did it once, wasn't a good experience. I'd prefer to keep my blood and not pass out again (pumped too fast) rather than potentially save someone who I don't know.

I tend to pass out about 30 seconds AFTER they remove needles from me (shots, blood giving, lots of stuff - yeah, I guess that makes me a pussy). So went and gave blood once, passed out... they told me not to bother coming back. Also, I run a bunch so I enjoy my red blood cells for that.

Oh well,

Animale

i donate every time a mobile blood bank comes to my location but i've never gone to a blood bank to donate.

I do periodically, working from home now so I don't see the bloodmobile and remember to do it.

I don't remember what it was my Mom was treated for in the late '50s. The antibiotics she was given aren't on the market anymore or are illegal, but the resistance factors (?) are still needed for something or another. She gets a call if she's a day or two late donating, there aren't a lot of people left that had gotten whatever the treament was and who are willing to donate.

I think it's a good idea to have a couple of pints of my own blood hanging out somewhere, just in case. Although I know the donor system is anonymous, I'm B-, and there's only 1 type more rare than that, so the more I put into the system, the better off I am (theoretically).

That's pretty good reasoning, imo, Al. The more that anyone puts into the system, the more there is for everyone when it's needed. As it is, it doesn't do me a whole lot of good just hanging out in my system, I'll make more as I need it.

That said, if you tend to get ill from donating, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable rationalization for not doing it.

You're not allowed to donate if you have a tattoo?

A recent tattoo. I think it's within the last 36 months.

Sylvus wrote:That said, if you tend to get ill from donating, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable rationalization for not doing it.

I concur. The only reason I have no aversions to giving every chance I get is that it doesn't bother me at all to give blood. I've seen people that cannot get stuck with a needle without passing out. If I were like that, I would not give blood. Ever.

Al wrote:I think it's a good idea to have a couple of pints of my own blood hanging out somewhere, just in case. Although I know the donor system is anonymous, I'm B-, and there's only 1 type more rare than that, so the more I put into the system, the better off I am (theoretically).

I'm B- as well Al. Thanks!

I knew a guy in college that would donate blood before going out drinking. His rational was that he'd catch a quicker buzz and save money on alcohol. Than again, this is the same guy who's biggest concern if he was about to throw up from drinking was losing the food he just paid for and ate so be your own judge.

masteen wrote:You're not allowed to donate if you have a tattoo?

I believe the question on the computer (the questionnaire is computerized now!) said something along the lines of "In the past 12 months, have you received a tattoo or body piercing." I'm not sure if answering yes automatically disqualifies you from donating.

I had the same screener today that I had in July. I was like "Do i really have to answer all these questions again? In the past 8 weeks I haven't gotten any tattoos, been in Africa, had sex for money or gotten a dura mater transplant." Needless to say I still had to answer all 50 questions.

Yep if you got a tatto or a piercing within 12 months you can't donate. I havn't been able to give blood for awhile now due to some of the locations I go when I'm overseas on orders.

Den lives!

Dude, go post on the Sovereign site and say hi!

I'm O Negative and I gave blood once at my old work like 7 years ago and now I have to go 7 times a year or the red cross phones me and harrasses me every day to the point where they once drove a fucking bloodmobile to my house. This one lady got hacked off at me when I got a tattoo back in 2001 and yelled at me for like 10 minutes.

I hear that if you get a transfucion of denadeb's blood you get an overwhelming urge to speak in ebonics and put spinners on your car's wheels.

I gave blood while in high school. I got up and practically collapsed. They gave me some juice and some kind of cookie/cracker, then I laid down for 15 mins, and felt perfectly fine.

I haven't tried it again because it kind of scared me, they didn't explain what happened at all, and didn't tell me if it would happen every time I gave blood or not. I've heard more about donating since then, and apparently that's not terribly rare. Especially the juice/cracker thing. I still don't know what happened precisely, though.

I can have blood drawn for lab work or take a shot, whatever, I'm fine. But that experience has stayed with me the last 7 years or so.

I give at work. We have regualr drives here. Also, I'm on the Red Cross hit list, so if there is a blood drive within 100 miles of my mailing address, I'll get a phone call and also a snail mail, both of which I detest and tell them every time to stop.

Red Cross is just in it for the $$. No matter how much I give, they'll still make a tidy profit on me if I ever need a transfusion. I'm telling ya, working in a hospital is very enlightening.

So, why do I give blood? So I can rub elbows with the upper management of my hospital, be seen doing something "good" for the community, and I get paid the entire time I am donating. If it wasn't for those little perks, the Red Cross could just kiss my ass. I have no respect for them after 9/11/01. How soon people forget.

Rarest blood type here , they (the Red Cross) told me they NEVER want my blood ... they want my Plasma . I used to donate every couple months when I was in So Cal. Here I cant find anywhere within 50 miles that does Plasma donations.
BTW AB- is the universal donor for Plasma (yet the rarest boodtype). It is a bit more complex and time consuming to donate plasma. They stick you with 1 needle with 2 tubes on it, one forward one return. They take the blood in stages , spin it through a centrafuge and feed back the red cells, rinse and repeat 4-5 times. Then when finished they drop some room temp Saline Solution bacvk into your arm, which feels really fuckin odd since normal body temp is 98 and the solution is like 68. All in all its about a 45 min ordeal. Not as bad as platelette donors , but still time consuming , AND WORTH EVERY SECOND. As stated above someone else needs it a lot more than I do. If I happen to help a cancer patient through Kemo , great.
I will say it is good to see all of us doing something that is right and Unselfish for others that we may never meet.

Phuggs wrote:Then when finished they drop some room temp Saline Solution bacvk into your arm, which feels really fuckin odd since normal body temp is 98 and the solution is like 68.

I also tend to have a salty taste in my mouth almost immediately after it's injected. Yes, I realize something saline is more than likely going to be salty, but I've just found it odd that something injected intravenously would elicit a gustatory response.

Fairweather Pure wrote:I give at work. We have regualr drives here. Also, I'm on the Red Cross hit list, so if there is a blood drive within 100 miles of my mailing address, I'll get a phone call and also a snail mail, both of which I detest and tell them every time to stop.

Red Cross is just in it for the $$. No matter how much I give, they'll still make a tidy profit on me if I ever need a transfusion.

I'm pretty sure they don't sell it. That being totally illegal for a charitable organization and all.

It's not selling, it's "covering thier cost" or something equally deceptive. Trust me, Red Cross makes money. They have a lot of employees as well as people that donate thier time and those people make decent money. How do you think they can pay people to donate?

The current President is a former rear admiral and still works for some big ass investment firm. The whole upper tier of the red Cross is a bunch of pandering Republican lap dogs who have connections to some of the most powerful companies in the country. These people do not donate their time.

Hell, the Canadian Red Cross just went through a huge scandal of giving out infected blood for the past 20 years. They're not even running the national blood bank anymore. They were found guilty of criminal neglet.

Then you have the American Red Cross that makes 10 times more money than it spends because they don't actually rescue people, provide direct medical care, or rebuild anyting. They just promise money that they rarely pay out and put up crazy barriers and red tape for those that actually need the money to wade through. Some chick during 9/11 testified in thier special hearing that she had a 33 page spreadsheet at home just to keep track of all the Red Cross red tape.

They made over 1 billion dollars from donations during 9/11 and they paid out about 150 million. I believe that president was asked to step down after the hearing was over. Big deal.

The Red Cross has fallen victim to all the same things that drag most corporations down. The root of all their troubles is greed. It also has a history of making fucking stupid decisions like segregating blood during WW2 and refusing to screen blood for AIDS in the early 80's. These trends add up.

Is giving blood bad? Not at all. However, I think people should take off thier rose colored glasses. They should also donate thier charitable contributions elsewhere.

I give blood every 3 months, thats how often youre allowed to do it here in Denmark. They just call me up when its 3 months since last time, and we set a date for it.
Work at a hospital, take me around 3 minutes to walk down for my appointment, 15-20 min to get tapped (including questionaire thingy), and spend like 10 min relaxing afterwards, just in case. AND i can do it during work hours

We dont get paid for blood here like you do some places, all we get are a drink, some cookies, and that warm fuzzy feeling of helping others

I have AB- blood too. It usually isn't wanted so I stopped trying. Giving plasma takes too long and I don't need the money that bad. I have friends that go twice a week though and they get about $50 for the week.

I also don't give to charities any more. The Red Cross is just one of the bigger scams out there. They claim to not make a profit but they just give out higher salries to their executives to avoid it.

I take that back, I do give out to charities in an indirect way. The federal government steals half my check every month and gives it out. When I can start doing what I want with my own taxes then I will donate to charities again. For now I will donate my time to the local football team and attend local events. At least then I know I am giving to the community here and the money isn't going to a big wig in Washington to waste.

The red cross recently changed their rules concerning blood donation and I find that after giving blood 3x a year or more for 20+ years my blood is no longer good enough.

Apparently being stationed in Europe during the mid to late 80's is enough.

It's unfortunate that they cut you off, Neost, but they're worried that living in Europe you might have contracted an incurable, fatal brain disease that there is no test to screen you for if you are in the latent phase.

While rare, I guess it's nice that they learned their lesson with AIDS and are trying to eliminate the possibility giving out tainted blood. Hopefully they'll come up with a cure/screening process for CJD sometime soon.

I also have O-. Have given blood once, passed out, and felt like ass for the rest of the day. Almost puked even. So fuck that, I'll never give blood again. Never been bothered by the Red Cross to donate, though they don't have my number I dont believe. Just my old landline that has long since been turned off.

Juice and a cracker is the Red Cross response to anything that goes wrong.

"I see stars and the world is spinning"

Red Cross: have some juice and a cracker.

"hey, blood is shooting out of my arm 10 feet in the air"

Red Cross: have some juice and a cracker.

"the needle is sticking out the back of my arm!"

Red Cross: have some juice and a cracker.

I would donate, but can't. Figured after I got diabetes that I could not, but no, that doesn't (automatically) disqualify you. Living in Europe for more than 24 months in the 80s does.

Fyndina wrote:I would donate, but can't. Figured after I got diabetes that I could not, but no, that doesn't (automatically) disqualify you. Living in Europe for more than 24 months in the 80s does.

So no European's older than 17ish can donate blood in Europe or do they figure they're already fucked there and let them?

Dunno, I emigrated when I was 20 and havent looked back

Winnow wrote:

Fyndina wrote:I would donate, but can't. Figured after I got diabetes that I could not, but no, that doesn't (automatically) disqualify you. Living in Europe for more than 24 months in the 80s does.

So no European's older than 17ish can donate blood in Europe or do they figure they're already fucked there and let them?

That depend on where in europe you have been, and for how long. In denmark, we cant become donors, if we have been in Great Britain (england, Wales, Scotland, North Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Gibraltar and the Falkland Isles) for more than one year total, between january first, 1980 to 31th december 1996.

And the following countries will make problems too. Travelling to these areas give 6 months quarantine, birth or grown up in these areas give 3 years quarantine:
Turkey (apart from Istanbul and a few other areas)
Middle east (apart from Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Quatar)
Asia (Apart from russia, KAsakhstan, Mongolia, Taiwan an dJapan)
India
South east Asia
Africa (apart from Tunesia and Morocco)
Middle and South America (apart from Argentina and Chile)

So for us, its not only europe making trouble, but a lot of the world. AND just for fun, travelling to North America (yes, thats the US and Canada for the geographically challenged ), between 1th june to 30th november will give a 28 day quarantine due to risk of something called "western nile fever" (and yes, no clue why thts in the US:)

So the country restrictions kinda depend on whats acceptable in the part of the world you live i guess.

I thought there were also restrictions within the US as well. Particularly the state of New Mexico. That might have had to do with moving abroad rather than giving blood though.

Today was another blood donation day for me. I'm not sure if the numbers that I saw for Southeastern Michigan are isolated to this area, or if it's a nationwide problem, but their levels were dangerously low. Go donate if you can!

Blood Inventory April 25, 2007:

Today our overall blood inventory is Below the three day base!

The following 7 blood types are below the required three day base.

0 Supply( Critical)
O Negative- We have 0 units and we should have 369.

16 Hour Supply
B Negative- We have 21 unit and we should have 108.

18 hour Supply
O Positive - We have 330 units and we should have 1392.

31 Hour Supply
A Positive- We have 399 units and we should have 993.

33 Hour Supply
A Negative- We have 101 units and we should have 237.

43 Hour Supply
B Positive - We have 237 units and we should have 369.

64 Hour Supply
AB Negative- We have 27 units and we should have 30.


Today our overall platelet inventory is BELOW the one day base!

7.8 Hour Supply
We have 162 units and we should have 499

The whole Europe thing for donating blood is kinda odd. Pops was stationed in Scotland in the mid 80s so I guess that rules me out =/

Hesten wrote:

Winnow wrote:

Fyndina wrote:I would donate, but can't. Figured after I got diabetes that I could not, but no, that doesn't (automatically) disqualify you. Living in Europe for more than 24 months in the 80s does.

So no European's older than 17ish can donate blood in Europe or do they figure they're already fucked there and let them?

That depend on where in europe you have been, and for how long. In denmark, we cant become donors, if we have been in Great Britain (england, Wales, Scotland, North Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Gibraltar and the Falkland Isles) for more than one year total, between january first, 1980 to 31th december 1996.

And the following countries will make problems too. Travelling to these areas give 6 months quarantine, birth or grown up in these areas give 3 years quarantine:
Turkey (apart from Istanbul and a few other areas)
Middle east (apart from Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Quatar)
Asia (Apart from russia, KAsakhstan, Mongolia, Taiwan an dJapan)
India
South east Asia
Africa (apart from Tunesia and Morocco)
Middle and South America (apart from Argentina and Chile)

So for us, its not only europe making trouble, but a lot of the world. AND just for fun, travelling to North America (yes, thats the US and Canada for the geographically challenged ), between 1th june to 30th november will give a 28 day quarantine due to risk of something called "western nile fever" (and yes, no clue why thts in the US:)

So the country restrictions kinda depend on whats acceptable in the part of the world you live i guess.

They won't take mine because I was in Germany from 80-84 and UK sold the military bases there meat. Or some such.

I used to give before they came up with that new rule. I'm a wicked fast bleeder.

No, who wants fat blood, am i rite?

Winnow wrote:

Al wrote:I think it's a good idea to have a couple of pints of my own blood hanging out somewhere, just in case. Although I know the donor system is anonymous, I'm B-, and there's only 1 type more rare than that, so the more I put into the system, the better off I am (theoretically).

I'm B- as well Al. Thanks!

I knew a guy in college that would donate blood before going out drinking. His rational was that he'd catch a quicker buzz and save money on alcohol. Than again, this is the same guy who's biggest concern if he was about to throw up from drinking was losing the food he just paid for and ate so be your own judge.

B- here too!

Never donated before but I have thought about it for the same reason as you stated Al.

The blood donation debate consistently comes up on my campus every year when the red cross comes to town. A few years ago an outspoken, for the most part universally hated member of the LGBT community here actually forced the university to ban the Red Cross from any campus buildings or streets. Thankfully, the Red Cross enlisted a giant van that year and parked on an off campus road. Since that moronic student graduated the university has revoked the ban but the debate still comes up.

The debate I am speaking about of course is that no man who has had sex with another man (protected or not) nor any woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man can give blood. Obviously scores of people on this campus lied to the Red Cross about that in order to donate but I find that to be pretty terrible. As far as I know, all the blood (these days) goes under some form of AIDS testing now does it not? I'm not 100% on that, but I vaguely remember hearing that. If that's true then they're going to throw away any AIDS infected blood anyway so by banning people who - in their 1985 minds - are at risk is plain and simple discrimination. I have never given blood because I don't want to have to lie about my sexuality in order to save someone's life. However I and a few others on campus in the LGBT community recently came up with a "Give Blood Because I Can't" campaign which has thus far worked quite well. Lots of people on campus are being taught about the discriminatory policies of the federal government (who is the actual group responsible for the policy, not the red cross) and lots of them are giving blood instead of those of us who can't.

I think it's a good debate but one where those who are right and those who are wrong is pretty obvious

Around a two years ago, I never really gave blood. I have AB-, so I assumed it wouldn't do anyone a lot of good even if I did donate. I had an accident a little over 1 year ago in which I had to have blood. It changed the way I think about blood donations (selfish, eh?). So I ended up volunteering at a blood drive center last summer- it's such a great program and saves so many lives.

On the one hand, buttsex is like 100 times more likey to spread the HIV than hetro intercourse.

OTOH, I know plenty of hetero guys who have given it to a girl up the bum, so it seems like a pretty stupid rule.

Fesuni Chopsui wrote:The blood donation debate consistently comes up on my campus every year when the red cross comes to town. A few years ago an outspoken, for the most part universally hated member of the LGBT community here actually forced the university to ban the Red Cross from any campus buildings or streets. Thankfully, the Red Cross enlisted a giant van that year and parked on an off campus road. Since that moronic student graduated the university has revoked the ban but the debate still comes up.

The debate I am speaking about of course is that no man who has had sex with another man (protected or not) nor any woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man can give blood. Obviously scores of people on this campus lied to the Red Cross about that in order to donate but I find that to be pretty terrible. As far as I know, all the blood (these days) goes under some form of AIDS testing now does it not? I'm not 100% on that, but I vaguely remember hearing that. If that's true then they're going to throw away any AIDS infected blood anyway so by banning people who - in their 1985 minds - are at risk is plain and simple discrimination. I have never given blood because I don't want to have to lie about my sexuality in order to save someone's life. However I and a few others on campus in the LGBT community recently came up with a "Give Blood Because I Can't" campaign which has thus far worked quite well. Lots of people on campus are being taught about the discriminatory policies of the federal government (who is the actual group responsible for the policy, not the red cross) and lots of them are giving blood instead of those of us who can't.

I think it's a good debate but one where those who are right and those who are wrong is pretty obvious

We got part of the rule here too (never heard the female having sex with a man who had gay sex before), but males who had sex with another male, protected or not also get blacklisted here.
I actually had a discussion about it with the head of the blood tapping facility at the hospital i work at, he himself think its a stupid rule by now, but noone seem inclined to change it, so its still in effect.

The red cross or any institution that receives blood from people donating have no say in the policy - my understanding is that the FDA is responsible for the rule as well as for the continued use of the rule as standard practice for anyone on the receiving end of blood donations. However I should clarify that it isn't like "omgz you're gay, gtfo" kind of situation (although I have heard of some homophobic red cross staff kicking out a couple of gay kids pretty rudely in the boston area a couple of years ago). It's more of a "fill this survey out and be as honest as possible"...with questions including: have you ever had sex with another man if you yourself are a man or a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man.

The policy is pretty dumb but ultimately it is a reflection of conservative minded policies of a conservative government. Only thing we LGBT folks can do, imo, constructively is encourage everyone who aren't being discriminated against to give blood...because we can't.

masteen wrote:On the one hand, buttsex is like 100 times more likey to spread the HIV than hetro intercourse.

OTOH, I know plenty of hetero guys who have given it to a girl up the bum, so it seems like a pretty stupid rule.

I'll just assume that is witty sarcasm heh

The problem i have with it in my highschool is that we do it for free, and we get jack shit. Somewhere down the line, people are making a bunch of money off of it. BLOOD AINT FREE!

I get a sinking feeling while anything more than a blood test happens so I can't give w/out passing out for whatever reason. I can sit in and watch most any kind of procedure(except facelifts) but I am the worst fucking patient.

kyoukan wrote:I'm O Negative and I gave blood once at my old work like 7 years ago and now I have to go 7 times a year or the red cross phones me and harrasses me every day to the point where they once drove a fucking bloodmobile to my house.

My wife refers to them as "the bloodsuckers". She gives when she can and when her blood pressure isn't running too low. However,
they are just flat out pricks when fending off their repeated calls.

Fesuni Chopsui wrote:

masteen wrote:On the one hand, buttsex is like 100 times more likey to spread the HIV than hetro intercourse.

I'll just assume that is witty sarcasm heh

That part isn't, there's a much higher probability of blood being exchanged during anal sex than vaginal for a number of reasons.

The environment inside if the vag is hostile to many pathogens as well, your pooper wasn't meant to deal with that sort of thing.

Simply A+ here -

And I only give after I see the spread in the recoup area -

Anythiing less than Little Debbies and I'm bolting -

You show up with a three reem vanilla oreo-type cookies - and my blood goes back to my desk.

You bring Star Crunch? Leech away baby -