Always Give 100% Unless You Are Donating Blood
February 2, 2024 12:45 PM Subscribe
The number of people donating blood has fallen by about 40% over the past 20 years (in the U.S.). Contributing factors? WIth climate change impacts, extreme weather cancellations are on the rise. And before the Covid-19 pandemic, almost every high school in the U.S. hosted at least one blood drive a year.
And as more people embraced remote work, employer-hosted blood drives declined. America's Blood Centers has some social media friendly statistics on blood donation.
And as more people embraced remote work, employer-hosted blood drives declined. America's Blood Centers has some social media friendly statistics on blood donation.
NB: If you touched a new butt recently, your blood is still too evil to donate.
posted by mittens at 12:55 PM on February 2 [29 favorites]
posted by mittens at 12:55 PM on February 2 [29 favorites]
My blood type is listed as critical need locally, but I'm still terrified to try donating after previous abject failure followed by ~16 months of long covid (from which I now would consider myself recovered!).
I really wish more people would donate, but it's such a hard sell...
posted by obfuscation at 12:57 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
I really wish more people would donate, but it's such a hard sell...
posted by obfuscation at 12:57 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
Great timing; I just donated a unit this morning! I generally try to save the paperwork that has my donor # on it on the off chance I will give some of my own blood to someone in the OR. But donating blood also has some health benefits for the donor. I couldn’t find a source quickly that either wasn’t full of woo or behind a paywall, but removing blood also reduces oxidative stress on the liver, another good thing.
posted by TedW at 12:58 PM on February 2 [7 favorites]
posted by TedW at 12:58 PM on February 2 [7 favorites]
Shoot, I was a platelet donor before the pandemic. I gotta get myself scheduled again.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 1:02 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 1:02 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
I'm a semiregular donor and I've been trying to sign up lately, only for the Red Cross website to revert to an entirely blank page once I click on the login. I've reported it to them, along with my iOS version + browser type, and I got back an email *shrug*. So I guess I *shrug* in return. I'll give you my blood but yes you have to make it possible for me to sign up. *Shrug*.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:02 PM on February 2
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:02 PM on February 2
obfuscation, thank you for trying even after one difficult experience. That's already going above and beyond. As the last link says, only 3 percent of eligible people donate, so the problem is not that people who face health or logistical barriers to donating aren't working hard enough to overcome those barriers. It's that among people for whom it's easy, few are donating.
The Red Cross is not the only organization that collects donations. I had problems with my local Red Cross center and now donate at a local hospital. Look here to find a list of all centers (Red Cross and others). I love donating because it's my only excuse to lie down and do nothing for 20 minutes during a workday.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:08 PM on February 2 [8 favorites]
The Red Cross is not the only organization that collects donations. I had problems with my local Red Cross center and now donate at a local hospital. Look here to find a list of all centers (Red Cross and others). I love donating because it's my only excuse to lie down and do nothing for 20 minutes during a workday.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:08 PM on February 2 [8 favorites]
I'm still terrified to try donating after previous abject failure
Don't feel bad about it, and don't push yourself. You can still encourage others!
(I can't donate either)
posted by aramaic at 1:13 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Don't feel bad about it, and don't push yourself. You can still encourage others!
(I can't donate either)
posted by aramaic at 1:13 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Personally, I struggle with the non-profit & for profit nature of the Red Cross' blood business. They have built a formidable, fundraising via blood model. I am glad that they do this work but wish that the sum result of individual's blood donation was obvious to them. Feels like a donor transparency issue to me. As in, we are going to process and then ship your blood to a hospital for a fee that allow us to continue this work, should be a headline. Again, glad they do this work as no one is jumping in the fray to host blood drives at scale.
The video below is a little bit SCARE and GOTCHA but holds some data that is very interesting.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/26/why-the-american-red-cross-makes-money-from-donated-blood-.html
posted by zerobyproxy at 1:19 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
The video below is a little bit SCARE and GOTCHA but holds some data that is very interesting.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/26/why-the-american-red-cross-makes-money-from-donated-blood-.html
posted by zerobyproxy at 1:19 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
NB: If you touched a new butt recently, your blood is still too evil to donate.
People should check all the rules; I'm also banned (almost) for life too (unless they change the rules) -- and not for anything I've done, but because I "touch butt" with somebody who also breaks the rules.
(but I'm guessing that most people don't read or care about all the rules and donate anyway; I made the mistake of reading all the rules once upon a time and asking a question about it and now I am partly just maliciously compliant because it's a stupid rule, but there's probably a reason for the rule)
posted by AzraelBrown at 1:20 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
People should check all the rules; I'm also banned (almost) for life too (unless they change the rules) -- and not for anything I've done, but because I "touch butt" with somebody who also breaks the rules.
(but I'm guessing that most people don't read or care about all the rules and donate anyway; I made the mistake of reading all the rules once upon a time and asking a question about it and now I am partly just maliciously compliant because it's a stupid rule, but there's probably a reason for the rule)
posted by AzraelBrown at 1:20 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
As someone who has impossible veins to find, and also a tendency to get a little woozy after even the most routine blood test, I salute and support blood donors. You and your capable veins rock!
posted by SaharaRose at 1:27 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
posted by SaharaRose at 1:27 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
I'm O- and I used to be a regular donor. I enjoyed donating, even double-red apheresis.
Lately my interactions with blood banks have gone like this:
ARC: "We have a dire emergency! We need your donation!"
Me: "Gotcha! I can come in tonight."
ARC: "Sorry! Our next opening is next Thursday at 10:30am, and we close at 4."
So, yeah. It's not a hard sell for donors like me but, man, do they make it hard. Versiti, you're even worse.
My idea, which would never get past the FDA or IRS or whatever, is that any donation of anything out of my veins should be a federal tax credit. Maybe you'd see more people show up then.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:44 PM on February 2 [30 favorites]
Lately my interactions with blood banks have gone like this:
ARC: "We have a dire emergency! We need your donation!"
Me: "Gotcha! I can come in tonight."
ARC: "Sorry! Our next opening is next Thursday at 10:30am, and we close at 4."
So, yeah. It's not a hard sell for donors like me but, man, do they make it hard. Versiti, you're even worse.
My idea, which would never get past the FDA or IRS or whatever, is that any donation of anything out of my veins should be a federal tax credit. Maybe you'd see more people show up then.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:44 PM on February 2 [30 favorites]
On the occasions that I haven't touched butts in long enough to give blood[0] I've been looking for what the Red Cross is calling Power Red -- a donation via an apheresis machine which separates blood components and allows plasma to be put back into you after. It has a few benefits:
[0]: If you haven't checked lately, the previous "OMG I might catch the gay" restrictions have been somewhat lessened. It's possible (though far from certain) that if you were not able to give blood under the previous rules, you might be able to under the current ones.
posted by fader at 2:01 PM on February 2 [6 favorites]
- You can donate twice as many units of blood at once
- You can't actually do this as frequently as standard donation, so scheduling becomes slightly less of a hassle
- You don't end up losing as much fluid, so at least according to the nurses in Boston you can just go straight to the bar after with no worries
- But most importantly, the anticoagulant that is added to the plasma that's pumped back into your body has weird effects. Some people get incredibly nauseated (sorry!) but I end up having my entire face start tingling from the inside for about two minutes. It's worth the price of admission to get to feel what it's like for my lips to go numb while feeling the inside of my jawbones for a few minutes.
[0]: If you haven't checked lately, the previous "OMG I might catch the gay" restrictions have been somewhat lessened. It's possible (though far from certain) that if you were not able to give blood under the previous rules, you might be able to under the current ones.
posted by fader at 2:01 PM on February 2 [6 favorites]
I work for a hospital, and would regularly donate in the before times, because it just meant taking a break and going downstairs for a bit. Since I've been WFH, I've only done it twice, because while we have blood drives at the satellite campus near us, it's almost impossible to find out when they are for some reason.
I've been hit or miss, when it comes to blood draws and IVs. (Worst was 14 sticks in a week, because 3 different groups wanted my blood.) I've found that making myself really well hydrated beforehand helps. Also, some places use some sort of red light thing which makes veins really visible makes things a lot easier.
posted by Spike Glee at 2:01 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
I've been hit or miss, when it comes to blood draws and IVs. (Worst was 14 sticks in a week, because 3 different groups wanted my blood.) I've found that making myself really well hydrated beforehand helps. Also, some places use some sort of red light thing which makes veins really visible makes things a lot easier.
posted by Spike Glee at 2:01 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
Some people get incredibly nauseated (sorry!) but I end up having my entire face start tingling from the inside for about two minutes
Are they giving you Tums (calcium pills) to eat? You're supposed to spike your calcium input to minimize the effects of that tingling. Just FYI.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:03 PM on February 2 [10 favorites]
Are they giving you Tums (calcium pills) to eat? You're supposed to spike your calcium input to minimize the effects of that tingling. Just FYI.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:03 PM on February 2 [10 favorites]
(Oh yeah, they always offer me the Tums, but I turn them down. I'll take my cheap thrills where I can get them.)
posted by fader at 2:04 PM on February 2 [11 favorites]
posted by fader at 2:04 PM on February 2 [11 favorites]
Same! I am a platelets donor, but you have to
1) call someone to donate because I can't schedule platelets online for some reason and
2) argue with the appointments person about giving them my real phone number because every single time I do that, they promise they won't sell it, and then I start immediately getting calls from related charities 5-7 times a day, so they're getting 867-5309 and that's final and
3) they are only open on week days, so I have to call on my lunch break and
4) if I give up and donate whole blood, which I can schedule online, they will pester me about donating platelets instead and
5) since I work almost exactly the same hours as the blood center, I only have a window on Monday mornings which is often full.
I would donate the max for platelets probably if they were ever open after 5 and let me schedule online. I like being fussed over, having a reason to sit in one place and not do anything for a couple hours, and eating free cookies. I like helping people. The free jacket they gave me once is way nicer than it has any reason to be. But there are major logistical hassles and it's always been like this.
posted by blnkfrnk at 2:05 PM on February 2 [7 favorites]
1) call someone to donate because I can't schedule platelets online for some reason and
2) argue with the appointments person about giving them my real phone number because every single time I do that, they promise they won't sell it, and then I start immediately getting calls from related charities 5-7 times a day, so they're getting 867-5309 and that's final and
3) they are only open on week days, so I have to call on my lunch break and
4) if I give up and donate whole blood, which I can schedule online, they will pester me about donating platelets instead and
5) since I work almost exactly the same hours as the blood center, I only have a window on Monday mornings which is often full.
I would donate the max for platelets probably if they were ever open after 5 and let me schedule online. I like being fussed over, having a reason to sit in one place and not do anything for a couple hours, and eating free cookies. I like helping people. The free jacket they gave me once is way nicer than it has any reason to be. But there are major logistical hassles and it's always been like this.
posted by blnkfrnk at 2:05 PM on February 2 [7 favorites]
The Red Cross will not stop calling (and texting and emailing) me several times a week (sometimes several times a day) about blood donation even though I have repeatedly explained to them that the past two times I have made the attempt I have been turned away because my blood pressure is too high.
Back when I was allowed to donate blood I gave Power Red (O+, CMV-) every chance I got and I would do so again if my blood pressure dropped to allowable levels, but I wish they'd leave me alone in the meantime.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:06 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
Back when I was allowed to donate blood I gave Power Red (O+, CMV-) every chance I got and I would do so again if my blood pressure dropped to allowable levels, but I wish they'd leave me alone in the meantime.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:06 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
I am O- so donate regularly. Because I was having trouble scheduling ad-hoc, now I schedule way in advance so I get the time I want. Especially since I do the Power Red using the Apheresis machine which has fewer slots available to begin with.
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:06 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:06 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
My local Canadian Blood Services location has worse-than-banker’s hours. I’d love to donate more often but they don’t offer evening or weekend times, making it a challenge for working people in my area to visit. And this is the location that serves one of the most densely populated areas in the country, downtown Vancouver.
Why aren’t more people donating? It’s truly a mystery.
posted by good in a vacuum at 2:06 PM on February 2 [13 favorites]
Why aren’t more people donating? It’s truly a mystery.
posted by good in a vacuum at 2:06 PM on February 2 [13 favorites]
I have a real fear of needles. Despite that, I have twice waited and sweated in line to donate blood. And my attempts at donation were denied, both times, because my blood "doesn't have enough iron." I will not make a third attempt. Sorry.
posted by SPrintF at 2:10 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 2:10 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
And yes I have provided this feedback directly to Canadian Blood Services, not just whined about it online forums like Mefi. I’m sure it’s a result of resource constraints and CBS would love to offer more availability for donors. It’s just frustrating when I see the ads that are meant to guilt us into donating.
posted by good in a vacuum at 2:10 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
posted by good in a vacuum at 2:10 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
I'm an O- who tries to donate a few times a year. I say "try" because:
1) Even with the rapid pass pre-donation questionnaire, it still takes more than an hour to get in and get out, which knocks out the ability of me to get it done during my (very flexible) lunch period.
2) The blood drives around me all end at 4 or 5pm, which makes it difficult for me to go after work. The last time I booked the last appointment of the day and left work early, they ended my donation before I filled my bag, saying they would put me down as a "smaller" size donation. I could have filled the bag within the usual time, but they were packing up already. It made me feel bad and you if someone's taking time to do this, don't rush them or make them feel bad!
3) if I want to be spontaneous and respond to the "we need your blood NOW" pleas, the only spontaneous appointments available are Power Red which takes longer. I've never given double-red, I have no idea how I'd feel afterward, and the thought of faceplanting on a VFW floor at age 51 doesn't appeal. They also try to "upsell" me to Power Red when I go for my regular donations and it makes me feel bad to say no. Don't make your donors feel bad!
I love saving lives while lying down! I love trading my blood for toast-chee crackers and apple juice! They are making it more and more difficult though and that's why.
posted by kimberussell at 2:13 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
1) Even with the rapid pass pre-donation questionnaire, it still takes more than an hour to get in and get out, which knocks out the ability of me to get it done during my (very flexible) lunch period.
2) The blood drives around me all end at 4 or 5pm, which makes it difficult for me to go after work. The last time I booked the last appointment of the day and left work early, they ended my donation before I filled my bag, saying they would put me down as a "smaller" size donation. I could have filled the bag within the usual time, but they were packing up already. It made me feel bad and you if someone's taking time to do this, don't rush them or make them feel bad!
3) if I want to be spontaneous and respond to the "we need your blood NOW" pleas, the only spontaneous appointments available are Power Red which takes longer. I've never given double-red, I have no idea how I'd feel afterward, and the thought of faceplanting on a VFW floor at age 51 doesn't appeal. They also try to "upsell" me to Power Red when I go for my regular donations and it makes me feel bad to say no. Don't make your donors feel bad!
I love saving lives while lying down! I love trading my blood for toast-chee crackers and apple juice! They are making it more and more difficult though and that's why.
posted by kimberussell at 2:13 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
Hey, great post! I just got off my duff, and made an appt to donate. Been meaning to donate, and well, put it off and put it off. Okay, going now. :-)
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 2:52 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 2:52 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
I donated a triple bag of platelets last week. A good man I know was having surgery, and it felt a lot better than "thoughts & prayers" even if he wouldn't get to use them.
posted by wenestvedt at 2:59 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 2:59 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Regular blood donation is a great way to get PFAS and other forever chemicals out of your bloodstream. For men it also helps reduce excess iron.
posted by leotrotsky at 3:08 PM on February 2
posted by leotrotsky at 3:08 PM on February 2
Does the article discuss how the worsening economy means more people are selling plasma to survive and thus not donating blood?
posted by corb at 3:08 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
posted by corb at 3:08 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
Just a side note, if you're on blood thinners like Plavix, you can donate whole blood, but not platelets.
posted by Spike Glee at 3:11 PM on February 2
posted by Spike Glee at 3:11 PM on February 2
Donating blood is also linked to lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart attacks, lowers viscosity of blood reducing clotting risks and stroke, and reduced risk of a number of cancers.
posted by leotrotsky at 3:11 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 3:11 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
Also, while you're giving blood, get registered in the bone marrow database. Ask your phlebotomist.
posted by leonard horner at 3:18 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
posted by leonard horner at 3:18 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Donating blood is also linked to lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart attacks, lowers viscosity of blood reducing clotting risks and stroke, and reduced risk of a number of cancers.
Is that actually from donating blood, though,
or is it because people with chronic illnesses/long term health conditions/long term medication
are excluded from being donors, and therefore the donor pool is healthier to begin with?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 3:48 PM on February 2 [8 favorites]
Is that actually from donating blood, though,
or is it because people with chronic illnesses/long term health conditions/long term medication
are excluded from being donors, and therefore the donor pool is healthier to begin with?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 3:48 PM on February 2 [8 favorites]
But most importantly, the anticoagulant that is added to the plasma that's pumped back into your body has weird effects. Some people get incredibly nauseated (sorry!) but I end up having my entire face start tingling from the inside for about two minutes. It's worth the price of admission to get to feel what it's like for my lips to go numb while feeling the inside of my jawbones for a few minutes.
That's pretty interesting! I've done Power Red two or three times over the last year or so and it feel no different than the normal donation for me, which is effectively nothing.
They say to rest a bit after, eat something, and I do. I snag some trail mix and go sit in my car (won't eat in the donation area because NO ONE wears a a mask and I'm not lowering mine to chew). But I've always just felt fine. I wait just in case, but so far so good.
It also goes much faster than they say it should, too, so I guess I'm a good candidate for this.
posted by Ayn Marx at 3:52 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
That's pretty interesting! I've done Power Red two or three times over the last year or so and it feel no different than the normal donation for me, which is effectively nothing.
They say to rest a bit after, eat something, and I do. I snag some trail mix and go sit in my car (won't eat in the donation area because NO ONE wears a a mask and I'm not lowering mine to chew). But I've always just felt fine. I wait just in case, but so far so good.
It also goes much faster than they say it should, too, so I guess I'm a good candidate for this.
posted by Ayn Marx at 3:52 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
Is that actually from donating blood, though,
or is it because people with chronic illnesses/long term health conditions/long term medication
are excluded from being donors, and therefore the donor pool is healthier to begin with?
I mean, I used to just waste the bloodletting of bad humours. Into a pan and then out the window. Now I get to maybe probably help people while also torturing the trainee, supervisor, and phlebotomist with my terrible, terrible veins!
I kid, they escalated me straight to the phlebotomist today and it only required two mid-draw manipulations of the needle.
(They really want me to do platelet apheresis every time I go in I have to remind the nice lady that I have maybe one good vein out of both arms.)
posted by Slackermagee at 3:58 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
or is it because people with chronic illnesses/long term health conditions/long term medication
are excluded from being donors, and therefore the donor pool is healthier to begin with?
I mean, I used to just waste the bloodletting of bad humours. Into a pan and then out the window. Now I get to maybe probably help people while also torturing the trainee, supervisor, and phlebotomist with my terrible, terrible veins!
I kid, they escalated me straight to the phlebotomist today and it only required two mid-draw manipulations of the needle.
(They really want me to do platelet apheresis every time I go in I have to remind the nice lady that I have maybe one good vein out of both arms.)
posted by Slackermagee at 3:58 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
They really do need to change their policies regarding sexual activity and donating blood. It's archaic at this point, and I've finally, after a few years of medical problems that have involved having huge numbers of vials of blood drawn at EVERY doctor's visit even though it's all mostly in my head... I've finally gotten over my fear of needles and could possibly donate.
Except I can't.
posted by hippybear at 3:59 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Except I can't.
posted by hippybear at 3:59 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
I gave on Monday!
Also, shout out to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for sending me a text yesterday telling me the facility where my blood was sent so I know that it was used. That to me is worth it (and the Lorna Doone cookies I snagged).
posted by tafetta, darling! at 4:27 PM on February 2 [9 favorites]
Also, shout out to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for sending me a text yesterday telling me the facility where my blood was sent so I know that it was used. That to me is worth it (and the Lorna Doone cookies I snagged).
posted by tafetta, darling! at 4:27 PM on February 2 [9 favorites]
I used to give at an annual work drive, and before that regular college drives. During Covid I gave once at a donation center they asked if I could give platelets. I have never had any issue with giving blood before but nearly passed out during that donation.
I haven’t given since, I am part time back in an office with no regular blood drive. The doner center isn’t close but maybe I will look up upcoming events. Sometime local breweries host them or I have seen some local sports teams offer free tickets. Not the free cookies and juice boxes aren’t enough.
posted by CostcoCultist at 4:41 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
I haven’t given since, I am part time back in an office with no regular blood drive. The doner center isn’t close but maybe I will look up upcoming events. Sometime local breweries host them or I have seen some local sports teams offer free tickets. Not the free cookies and juice boxes aren’t enough.
posted by CostcoCultist at 4:41 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
[0]: If you haven't checked lately, the previous "OMG I might catch the gay" restrictions have been somewhat lessened. It's possible (though far from certain) that if you were not able to give blood under the previous rules, you might be able to under the current ones.
Apparently the rules banning people with potential mad cow exposure were also reversed, which I hadn't realized until I was reading through the "no secondhand gay exposure" rule changes and then looked at the rest of the rules. I've been prohibited from donating blood my entire adult life due to combos of having lived in a mad cow exposure areas, exposure to malaria while traveling, tattoos, and so on. So I've just never really thought about it since I was on the bad list; now that I'm apparently eligible I'll have to actually consider it.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:03 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
Apparently the rules banning people with potential mad cow exposure were also reversed, which I hadn't realized until I was reading through the "no secondhand gay exposure" rule changes and then looked at the rest of the rules. I've been prohibited from donating blood my entire adult life due to combos of having lived in a mad cow exposure areas, exposure to malaria while traveling, tattoos, and so on. So I've just never really thought about it since I was on the bad list; now that I'm apparently eligible I'll have to actually consider it.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:03 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
Shout out to my former employer the City of New York for not only organizing regular during-work-hours donation drives which we were encouraged to participate in, but also rewarding donors with a half day off of comp time per donation. They do a whole fucking lot wrong but this was dope.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 5:20 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 5:20 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
I'm doing my first platelet donation next week! The children's hospital finally updated their blood donor process to make it easier to sign up for times online instead of calling them, which was enough of a hurdle that I waited until they got low enough on blood supply that they sent emails that contained a link to uh, schedule a time.
I donated pretty regularly in 2020, since I was going in to work much of that year and on a medical campus. My hemoglobin is often low and takes longer than usually to recover back, so they suggested platelet donation as an alternative. Going to see if I can find a way to at least read some things for work while I do that, and hoping that I'll not feel wiped out for days like I did after my last donation.
Which reminds me I should probably get my ferritin checked.
posted by deludingmyself at 5:42 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
I donated pretty regularly in 2020, since I was going in to work much of that year and on a medical campus. My hemoglobin is often low and takes longer than usually to recover back, so they suggested platelet donation as an alternative. Going to see if I can find a way to at least read some things for work while I do that, and hoping that I'll not feel wiped out for days like I did after my last donation.
Which reminds me I should probably get my ferritin checked.
posted by deludingmyself at 5:42 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
Apparently the rules banning people with potential mad cow exposure were also reversed
Yeah, the mad cow thing is obsolete; nowadays if we want to spread prions we have a whole new way to do it.
posted by mittens at 5:55 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
Yeah, the mad cow thing is obsolete; nowadays if we want to spread prions we have a whole new way to do it.
posted by mittens at 5:55 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
I donated blood once right before once in about 2020, got my donor card to make it easier, and then by the time I could again I had moved out here to Kelowna where there is no where to do whole blood donation, and the idea of putting blood back INTO me afterwards freaks me out to much to do anything but whole blood. Last time I tried in Vancouver, every location was booked up for something like six weeks. So if they need blood, they need more collection sites and more slots open. I mean, I'm on a university campus, you think they could have a blood drive here, you know?
posted by Canageek at 6:04 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
posted by Canageek at 6:04 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
Also if you donate blood in Canada, don't decide to eat one of each type of cookie they offer you. I got a tummy ache that was way more unpleasant then any part of donating as a result.
posted by Canageek at 6:05 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
posted by Canageek at 6:05 PM on February 2 [4 favorites]
Ok, so this is ridiculous, but. My father in law opposed my marriage to his daughter on racist grounds (me, dirty foreigner ruining the bloodline), and since then I have donated blood at every possible opportunity in the hopes that some bigot (father in law or other) will get a blood transfusion from my donation. Not that I or the bigot will ever know, but it pleases me to imagine. And on the plus side, I'm helping other people who need it too! Actually I just got a big plaque celebrating my 50th donation, and that's pretty cool too.
posted by Literaryhero at 6:12 PM on February 2 [30 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 6:12 PM on February 2 [30 favorites]
I made an appointment for tomorrow. I last tried in the mid 90s in college, but my iron was too low. I'm currently taking supplements, so hopefully it'll be good.
posted by kathrynm at 6:13 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
posted by kathrynm at 6:13 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
I have a blood type where they prefer I not donate whole blood but platelets and plasma. I was going pretty regularly to the local cancer center to donate, even during the covid lockdown. And then a year ago they decided not to require masking at the donation center, and I noped out. Their target audience is immune-compromised, for crying out loud.
posted by Runes at 6:45 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
posted by Runes at 6:45 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]
Yeah, the mad cow thing is obsolete; nowadays if we want to spread prions we have a whole new way to do it.
Hah, mittens, I wondered while reading your comment if that was a link to that Alzheimers story! Wild.
posted by eirias at 6:45 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
Hah, mittens, I wondered while reading your comment if that was a link to that Alzheimers story! Wild.
posted by eirias at 6:45 PM on February 2 [2 favorites]
I was on the lifetime ban list for mad cow reasons. I'm also phobic of needles (diagnosed & treated, probably more properly labeled in this day and age as medical PTSD, but they didn't diagnose kids with PTSD in the late 1970s) so I'm not a great candidate even before you get to autoimmune illness/cancer/etc.
That said, I really do appreciate folks who can and do donate. I don't think I needed any during my recent surgery but they did ask me if I'd take any if I needed it. Yes please and thanks!
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:59 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
That said, I really do appreciate folks who can and do donate. I don't think I needed any during my recent surgery but they did ask me if I'd take any if I needed it. Yes please and thanks!
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:59 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
I'm also phobic of needles (diagnosed & treated, probably more properly labeled in this day and age as medical PTSD, but they didn't diagnose kids with PTSD in the late 1970s)
I had no problems with shots as a young kid, but around the age of 10 or so, I went to a doctor's visit and I had to get a shot of some sort, no clue what kind, and they left me sitting in the examination room for nearly an hour, with someone coming in every 5-10 minutes saying "someone will be in with your shot soon".
Like, maybe they had to send a courier out to fetch the vaccine from someplace? I have no idea why they kept me in there that long. They could have moved me out into the waiting room where there were books and a fishtanks and I think even a television, even that long ago. But sitting a kid in a room and telling him every few minutes for an HOUR that "your shot will be here soon"...
That fucked me up, like seriously. I avoided shots for over a decade, and when I finally had one I went down, hard onto the floor. After that I started getting any needles administered lying down.
At this point, I'm beyond all that, don't even feel a tiny bit of wooze with the needles. But this is 46 years later we're talking about.
Yeah, childhood medical PTSD is a real thing.
posted by hippybear at 7:06 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
I had no problems with shots as a young kid, but around the age of 10 or so, I went to a doctor's visit and I had to get a shot of some sort, no clue what kind, and they left me sitting in the examination room for nearly an hour, with someone coming in every 5-10 minutes saying "someone will be in with your shot soon".
Like, maybe they had to send a courier out to fetch the vaccine from someplace? I have no idea why they kept me in there that long. They could have moved me out into the waiting room where there were books and a fishtanks and I think even a television, even that long ago. But sitting a kid in a room and telling him every few minutes for an HOUR that "your shot will be here soon"...
That fucked me up, like seriously. I avoided shots for over a decade, and when I finally had one I went down, hard onto the floor. After that I started getting any needles administered lying down.
At this point, I'm beyond all that, don't even feel a tiny bit of wooze with the needles. But this is 46 years later we're talking about.
Yeah, childhood medical PTSD is a real thing.
posted by hippybear at 7:06 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
i did 6 times in 2023, i think i'm somewhere around 20ish total. i'm a desired blood type so i decided it was a personal way to combat depression and low self-worth, like i'm generally an overall life fuckup reject but there's this one thing i can do to help people and i'm pretty good at it. i think my fastest time on a full unit was like 4m15s. only one time was i denied due to low hemoglobin or whatever and i came back 3 days later and was accepted.
my insignificant pet peeve is that by now i have all the t-shirts and umbrellas i could ever want, but they always pressure me into taking another. i don't even wear cotton t-shirts but they seem so deflated when i don't accept the swag
posted by glonous keming at 7:18 PM on February 2 [6 favorites]
my insignificant pet peeve is that by now i have all the t-shirts and umbrellas i could ever want, but they always pressure me into taking another. i don't even wear cotton t-shirts but they seem so deflated when i don't accept the swag
posted by glonous keming at 7:18 PM on February 2 [6 favorites]
Create a punch card for yourself, glonous keming, and let them fill in the next square in some way. They will see why you don't want more swag.
posted by hippybear at 7:26 PM on February 2
posted by hippybear at 7:26 PM on February 2
I hadn't donated in years but apparently NIH needs my very boring blood type to construct their upcoming zombie horde.
So I've started biking down there every 8 weeks to do my part. Sometimes the bike ride back gets a bit interesting.
posted by art.bikes at 9:25 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
So I've started biking down there every 8 weeks to do my part. Sometimes the bike ride back gets a bit interesting.
posted by art.bikes at 9:25 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
m generally an overall life fuckup reject
Me too, high five! Regarding the swag (not in the US), I can get convenience store gift cards, which I use to buy booze (an overall life fuckup reject move for sure) so everybody wins. I'm helping people, fucking with racists, and getting drunk. It might be the single best thing I have done with my life.
posted by Literaryhero at 12:39 AM on February 3 [7 favorites]
Me too, high five! Regarding the swag (not in the US), I can get convenience store gift cards, which I use to buy booze (an overall life fuckup reject move for sure) so everybody wins. I'm helping people, fucking with racists, and getting drunk. It might be the single best thing I have done with my life.
posted by Literaryhero at 12:39 AM on February 3 [7 favorites]
Over here (UK), you have to tell them your sex assigned at birth to donate blood. They realise this is stressful and off-putting for trans people, so their solution is to instead plan to make a fucking registry of trans people who donate and their sex assigned at birth because that's way less off-putting of course.
posted by Dysk at 1:03 AM on February 3 [5 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 1:03 AM on February 3 [5 favorites]
Over here (Aus) I can’t give blood because I was over there (UK).
Cow 1: Aren’t you worried about this Mad Cow Disease?
Cow 2: What? No. Absolutely not.
Cow 1: Really? Why not?
Cow 2: I’m a penguin.
posted by pompomtom at 1:27 AM on February 3 [5 favorites]
Cow 1: Aren’t you worried about this Mad Cow Disease?
Cow 2: What? No. Absolutely not.
Cow 1: Really? Why not?
Cow 2: I’m a penguin.
posted by pompomtom at 1:27 AM on February 3 [5 favorites]
I donated blood once in my life, back in 2003 or so - I ended up with a massive bruise on my inner arm the size of TWO handprints that took WEEKS to fade, and I felt so unwell the next day that I had to call in sick to work. (Yes, I drank lots of fluids immediately after donating.)
Nowadays, they wouldn't want me anyway, because I have Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, which is an automatic permanent ban just in case it is transmissible by blood donations (no one knows.) Which is completely reasonable.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 2:09 AM on February 3
Nowadays, they wouldn't want me anyway, because I have Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, which is an automatic permanent ban just in case it is transmissible by blood donations (no one knows.) Which is completely reasonable.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 2:09 AM on February 3
I've found a mobile organization that does weekends and is sponsored by local groups so it's become convenient for me to donate. Otherwise the Red Cross drives always conflicted with my work schedule.
Yet, the last time my hemoglobin was too low which was a shocking first for me. I no longer eat processed foods that are iron fortified and don't eat animals so now I'll need to manage that. But the nice thing is that I found out about it for free while trying to do something good.
There does seem to be a profit-driven motive behind many of these organizations but, at least it's for someone's better outcome eventually.
posted by mightshould at 3:00 AM on February 3
Yet, the last time my hemoglobin was too low which was a shocking first for me. I no longer eat processed foods that are iron fortified and don't eat animals so now I'll need to manage that. But the nice thing is that I found out about it for free while trying to do something good.
There does seem to be a profit-driven motive behind many of these organizations but, at least it's for someone's better outcome eventually.
posted by mightshould at 3:00 AM on February 3
I send my thanks to everyone who donates.
My wife needed a few units of blood during her surgery six years ago, and I'm forever grateful to that anonymous donor somewhere on the East Coast who took some time to sit down in a chair and let a nurse stick them in the arm. They didn't know it at the time, they had no way of knowing what would happen to that plump little maroon plastic bag on the side of the chair after they walked away to get their cookies and juice, but that little maroon bag somehow made its way to the hospital a week or two later where my wife was on the table, bleeding out.
They saved her life. Last night my wife made me chicken tacos and watched "This Is Us" with me, and this morning her snoring woke me up, it was so loud. And six years ago, some anonymous donor saved her life.
Since then I've been a pretty regular donor myself, mostly of platelets because they have a shelf life of only five days and so the Red Cross needs a continuous supply.
Here in the US, the Red Cross has an app for your phone which lets you schedule your appointments and fill out the pre-check and so on. Another nice feature is the "where is it now" link (I think it's called "Blood Journey") which will tell you where your donation ended up. My list has hospitals spread across three states. I hope that it's useful. I know that sometimes, due to logistics and demand, the blood doesn't get used at all. I know that the Red Cross has its own issues and is certainly not very friendly to our friends who touch butts (to borrow the lovely phrase from above).
But it's still true that this can save a life, and that has a deep resonance with me. I sit with Literaryhero and glonous keming above who say that donating blood is something glorious that they can do, no matter if they might be a glorious fuckup reject. And it's humbling to think about how this is the great equalizer across humanity. It doesn't matter how many times you've done wonderful things or how many times I've disappointed my family and myself, it only matters that the same crimson blood that runs through my veins is warp and weft of the great fabric of humanity.
I generally suck at helping people. I'm no good at it. I get impatient and I give terrible advice and I get really frustrated. I get jealous too, and I don't even like people, most of the time, especially people who don't fit my carefully defined list of political and social attributes. And so there's a lot of good things that I just can't do. But I can do this. I can do this.
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 5:01 AM on February 3 [19 favorites]
My wife needed a few units of blood during her surgery six years ago, and I'm forever grateful to that anonymous donor somewhere on the East Coast who took some time to sit down in a chair and let a nurse stick them in the arm. They didn't know it at the time, they had no way of knowing what would happen to that plump little maroon plastic bag on the side of the chair after they walked away to get their cookies and juice, but that little maroon bag somehow made its way to the hospital a week or two later where my wife was on the table, bleeding out.
They saved her life. Last night my wife made me chicken tacos and watched "This Is Us" with me, and this morning her snoring woke me up, it was so loud. And six years ago, some anonymous donor saved her life.
Since then I've been a pretty regular donor myself, mostly of platelets because they have a shelf life of only five days and so the Red Cross needs a continuous supply.
Here in the US, the Red Cross has an app for your phone which lets you schedule your appointments and fill out the pre-check and so on. Another nice feature is the "where is it now" link (I think it's called "Blood Journey") which will tell you where your donation ended up. My list has hospitals spread across three states. I hope that it's useful. I know that sometimes, due to logistics and demand, the blood doesn't get used at all. I know that the Red Cross has its own issues and is certainly not very friendly to our friends who touch butts (to borrow the lovely phrase from above).
But it's still true that this can save a life, and that has a deep resonance with me. I sit with Literaryhero and glonous keming above who say that donating blood is something glorious that they can do, no matter if they might be a glorious fuckup reject. And it's humbling to think about how this is the great equalizer across humanity. It doesn't matter how many times you've done wonderful things or how many times I've disappointed my family and myself, it only matters that the same crimson blood that runs through my veins is warp and weft of the great fabric of humanity.
I generally suck at helping people. I'm no good at it. I get impatient and I give terrible advice and I get really frustrated. I get jealous too, and I don't even like people, most of the time, especially people who don't fit my carefully defined list of political and social attributes. And so there's a lot of good things that I just can't do. But I can do this. I can do this.
posted by fuzzy.little.sock at 5:01 AM on February 3 [19 favorites]
I used to donate first whole blood and then platelets regularly, then got hit by gnarly iron deficiency symptoms in late 2019 (including being turned away from blood donation) and haven't been back since.
With no help at all from the GP who insisted my haemoglobin numbers were too good to even continue prescribing me elemental iron supplements, despite me still feeling awful and my ferritin numbers being in the toilet (the same one who implied there was nothing else to do and I might just have to accept I had ME/CFS, framed as a threat rather than a diagnosis, even though I didn't have hallmark diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS like post-exertional malaise), I managed to start treating it based on my own diagnosis, at my own expense (including the expense of my vegan ethics) using a heme iron supplement, and now I'm "magically" recovered from the thing the doctor insisted wasn't even wrong with me. This is how almost every single medical complaint I've ever had has ever gone, and somehow people are still surprised when I'm averse to seeing a doctor about a medical problem.
This has been the first winter in a good few years when it hasn't felt like the cold was eating directly through my bones. It's so nice to remember how the cold used to feel: invigorating, against a body that was capable of holding on to enough of its own heat to endure. The last few winters, indoor temperatures of 21°C/70°F felt intolerably cold, whereas this year there have been plenty of days when I've looked at the thermostat and gone, "huh, it's 18.5°C/65°F in here" but it's not chilly enough to bother me.
Which is to say, it might just about be the right time to try blood donation again. At least while I'm waiting for an HRT referral, as apparently the UK blood service considers trans people "complex" and requires us to call a donor helpline to find out about our eligibility to donate :/
posted by terretu at 5:27 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
With no help at all from the GP who insisted my haemoglobin numbers were too good to even continue prescribing me elemental iron supplements, despite me still feeling awful and my ferritin numbers being in the toilet (the same one who implied there was nothing else to do and I might just have to accept I had ME/CFS, framed as a threat rather than a diagnosis, even though I didn't have hallmark diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS like post-exertional malaise), I managed to start treating it based on my own diagnosis, at my own expense (including the expense of my vegan ethics) using a heme iron supplement, and now I'm "magically" recovered from the thing the doctor insisted wasn't even wrong with me. This is how almost every single medical complaint I've ever had has ever gone, and somehow people are still surprised when I'm averse to seeing a doctor about a medical problem.
This has been the first winter in a good few years when it hasn't felt like the cold was eating directly through my bones. It's so nice to remember how the cold used to feel: invigorating, against a body that was capable of holding on to enough of its own heat to endure. The last few winters, indoor temperatures of 21°C/70°F felt intolerably cold, whereas this year there have been plenty of days when I've looked at the thermostat and gone, "huh, it's 18.5°C/65°F in here" but it's not chilly enough to bother me.
Which is to say, it might just about be the right time to try blood donation again. At least while I'm waiting for an HRT referral, as apparently the UK blood service considers trans people "complex" and requires us to call a donor helpline to find out about our eligibility to donate :/
posted by terretu at 5:27 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
In Australia, if you're any kind of trans person, and you sleep with anyone but cis women, you're just not allowed to donate.
posted by Audreynachrome at 6:20 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
posted by Audreynachrome at 6:20 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
Much to my surprise, Canada Blood Services might want my Scottish blood after decades of being feart of it. So I've got an appointment on Tuesday at the local centre: it'll be my first donation in 22 years. I'm excited at the potential biscuit choice.
I guess I did accidentally donate a surprising amount of blood to the floor of St Mike's ER once when someone installed an IV line without checking it was closed first ... Whoa, that totally went everywhere!
posted by scruss at 9:40 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
I guess I did accidentally donate a surprising amount of blood to the floor of St Mike's ER once when someone installed an IV line without checking it was closed first ... Whoa, that totally went everywhere!
posted by scruss at 9:40 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
I tried. Surprisingly my hemoglobin was high enough, but I have a tiny bruise in the crook of my left arm and I can't be stuck in the right (lymph node removal) so they turned me away. I'll try again once whatever I did to myself disappears.
posted by kathrynm at 10:37 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
posted by kathrynm at 10:37 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
I can only give whole blood (the veins in my right arm are too close to the nerves), and every time I try to schedule an appointment on the website, there are no appointments for whole blood available.
And yet they still keep sending me email begging me to donate!
posted by suelac at 11:41 AM on February 3
And yet they still keep sending me email begging me to donate!
posted by suelac at 11:41 AM on February 3
I'm another one who tried to donate, took forever to get approved because of a family member's scant possibility of a Bad Health Thing that doesn't affect me. No one was able to get a needle in to my veins, though several tried hard. They kindly suggested I not try again. Would if I could. I've gained weight since then, maybe I'll try again.
posted by theora55 at 12:27 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 12:27 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
After that I started getting any needles administered lying down.
I also do this even 40 years after therapy. I've fainted a couple of times so I'm at risk. But before the hypnotherapy I had as a tween, I used to panic and attack the nurses. Since I was skinny but adult height at 11, I was bigger than some of the nurses. So when I needed "elective" surgery (had to get a bit of broken bone that wouldn't resorb out of my ankle), I had to be treated for it before the hospital would admit me. I felt this was quite fair on the part of the hospital. Most nurses/phlebotomists are pretty good about taking my advice about how to stick me once I've given them my history.
Before she died, my mom IDed the likely culprit in my trauma/phobia as the ENT specialist she used when I was a kid. She described the doctor as having the bedside manner of a goat, and he gave toddler me a bunch of gamma globulin shots.
All of that was non-conducive to actually giving blood. It was a lot easier when I got to say "Sorry, I'm on the ban list" and now "sorry, not sure I can because of my meds" which has also been an issue with immunosuppressants. I think since I'm not doing chemo/radiation I'm ok on the cancer stuff, though.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 2:39 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
I also do this even 40 years after therapy. I've fainted a couple of times so I'm at risk. But before the hypnotherapy I had as a tween, I used to panic and attack the nurses. Since I was skinny but adult height at 11, I was bigger than some of the nurses. So when I needed "elective" surgery (had to get a bit of broken bone that wouldn't resorb out of my ankle), I had to be treated for it before the hospital would admit me. I felt this was quite fair on the part of the hospital. Most nurses/phlebotomists are pretty good about taking my advice about how to stick me once I've given them my history.
Before she died, my mom IDed the likely culprit in my trauma/phobia as the ENT specialist she used when I was a kid. She described the doctor as having the bedside manner of a goat, and he gave toddler me a bunch of gamma globulin shots.
All of that was non-conducive to actually giving blood. It was a lot easier when I got to say "Sorry, I'm on the ban list" and now "sorry, not sure I can because of my meds" which has also been an issue with immunosuppressants. I think since I'm not doing chemo/radiation I'm ok on the cancer stuff, though.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 2:39 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
My mother is B-negative, and gave blood from her 20s until her early 80s. At one point, she'd given ten gallons and they took her photo, framed it, and put it on a wall of similarly giving folks at the Red Cross.
Initially, when she turned 70, they told her she couldn't give blood anymore, but with a doctor's note showing she was in good health, she continued to regularly give blood until she was 81 (so, almost 7 years ago). She's really pissed that she can't continue to do it now, and it's one of the non-parenting things in her life of which she's most proud. She always had difficult veins to tap, but the right person getting it started meant that she could do it easily and well, with no side effects. I don't know whether it was the fact that they were always in particular need of her blood type, or because they knew her well, but if she got a call, she'd say, "I'm available to come this day at this time, or that day at that time" and they'd make room for her.
I'm O+, but have never been able to give blood because anemia (and some other medical reasons they don't want my blood). However, I received two transfusions in 2009, and I am thankful for all of you who make the effort to schedule when it is inconvenient and give blood even though it's not the most fun thing. You are heroes. Here's a cookie...and some juice.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 3:06 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
Initially, when she turned 70, they told her she couldn't give blood anymore, but with a doctor's note showing she was in good health, she continued to regularly give blood until she was 81 (so, almost 7 years ago). She's really pissed that she can't continue to do it now, and it's one of the non-parenting things in her life of which she's most proud. She always had difficult veins to tap, but the right person getting it started meant that she could do it easily and well, with no side effects. I don't know whether it was the fact that they were always in particular need of her blood type, or because they knew her well, but if she got a call, she'd say, "I'm available to come this day at this time, or that day at that time" and they'd make room for her.
I'm O+, but have never been able to give blood because anemia (and some other medical reasons they don't want my blood). However, I received two transfusions in 2009, and I am thankful for all of you who make the effort to schedule when it is inconvenient and give blood even though it's not the most fun thing. You are heroes. Here's a cookie...and some juice.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 3:06 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
I am O- and would happily donate blood, but I had lymphoma nearly two decades ago, but banned for life from donating.
posted by toddforbid at 6:35 AM on February 4
posted by toddforbid at 6:35 AM on February 4
I gave up giving blood when they sent both me and my flatmate a letter after we'd donated, to tell us we had hepatitis B.
We went straight back and got re-tested, and were both clear. They'd mixed up our samples. I've just never felt confident going back.
posted by Cardinal Fang at 1:41 PM on February 4
We went straight back and got re-tested, and were both clear. They'd mixed up our samples. I've just never felt confident going back.
posted by Cardinal Fang at 1:41 PM on February 4
I am really proud of all the people here who had bad experiences, and yet who still (want to) try to donate again.
Y'all have big hearts!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:29 AM on February 5
Y'all have big hearts!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:29 AM on February 5
In the US, the Red Cross does many sweet things to make donors feel special and appreciated but often falls down on the basics. For the longest time the website would let you make same-day appointments if there was an open spot, but that information never made it to the donation site so people who had made the trip would be turned away. The staff told me that if you have had an issue, the best way to give feedback is on the phone at 1-800-733-2767.
In the US, if you don't like the donor rules, the best place to complain is your congressperson; the Red Cross doesn't make them, the FDA does. I am sympathetic to those who are low risk but not permitted.
As far as donating for bad reasons, I started because a friend of mine whom I admired was a longtime donor. I thought to myself, "If that schmuck can donate, why can't I?!?" That was 9 gallons (34 liters) ago. Next year, god willing, I'll have donated twice the amount in my own body.
posted by wnissen at 10:32 AM on February 5 [2 favorites]
In the US, if you don't like the donor rules, the best place to complain is your congressperson; the Red Cross doesn't make them, the FDA does. I am sympathetic to those who are low risk but not permitted.
As far as donating for bad reasons, I started because a friend of mine whom I admired was a longtime donor. I thought to myself, "If that schmuck can donate, why can't I?!?" That was 9 gallons (34 liters) ago. Next year, god willing, I'll have donated twice the amount in my own body.
posted by wnissen at 10:32 AM on February 5 [2 favorites]
To add to my donation story, it was actually helpful to me in other ways too. Twice a year I get a free physical. And because I am a vegetarian my iron was low when I started out, so the Nurse suggested I start taking a multivitamin+multimineral on a daily basis. That has helped my maintain my Vitamin D and B12 at decent levels along with my iron in the bargain.
posted by indianbadger1 at 1:15 PM on February 5 [1 favorite]
posted by indianbadger1 at 1:15 PM on February 5 [1 favorite]
I am really proud of all the people here who had bad experiences, and yet who still (want to) try to donate again.
Plusone lots.
I did not mention earlier that I am a disappointment to my family for my lack of blood donations. It’s A Thing with us, due to early-life requirements for blood for a sibling of mine. Mum argues with them when they try to turn her away, and has for decades.
posted by pompomtom at 4:52 AM on February 6
Plus
I did not mention earlier that I am a disappointment to my family for my lack of blood donations. It’s A Thing with us, due to early-life requirements for blood for a sibling of mine. Mum argues with them when they try to turn her away, and has for decades.
posted by pompomtom at 4:52 AM on February 6
That was 9 gallons (34 liters) ago. Next year, god willing, I'll have donated twice the amount in my own body.
The average person has about 5 liters, so you're at 7 times the amount in your own body.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:19 AM on February 6
The average person has about 5 liters, so you're at 7 times the amount in your own body.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:19 AM on February 6
Mr.Know-it-some, dang customary units versus metric strikes again! I am a bigger person so it might be as low as 5x, but still, that's a much bigger multiple. Thank you.
posted by wnissen at 10:26 AM on February 7
posted by wnissen at 10:26 AM on February 7
→
I went yesterday afternoon, and they were glad to see me. Got my First Time badge even though I'd been a Bronze donor (25+ donations) in Scotland years ago. They have so many snacks, but a weird selection because apparently the regulars (plasma donors) keep snaffling the best ones.
Three stars, would donate again. I could've done without the 'star' plasma donor (406 donations, as he kept telling me) getting in my face about how important plasma donations were over whole blood. What made up for it was the volunteer in charge was from my hometown in Scotland, and used to work at the curling rink where I played when I was a teen.
posted by scruss at 2:02 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]
Canada Blood Services might want my Scottish blood
I went yesterday afternoon, and they were glad to see me. Got my First Time badge even though I'd been a Bronze donor (25+ donations) in Scotland years ago. They have so many snacks, but a weird selection because apparently the regulars (plasma donors) keep snaffling the best ones.
Three stars, would donate again. I could've done without the 'star' plasma donor (406 donations, as he kept telling me) getting in my face about how important plasma donations were over whole blood. What made up for it was the volunteer in charge was from my hometown in Scotland, and used to work at the curling rink where I played when I was a teen.
posted by scruss at 2:02 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]
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posted by wenestvedt at 12:51 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]