Do you donate blood regularly?

[LeeH]

MadMike's post suggesting a virtual blood drive on the 25th got me wondering how many Pelicans give blood on a regular basis.

[A930Rocket]

Until about a year ago, it was every six months or so.

[12own911]

I donate atleast once a quarter... next donation on the 25th for Spencer.

[Tobra]

Up until I moved back to Cali in 2002 I did. Before moving to Texas in '93, I donated like every 4-5 months on average. When I moved down there I donated 6 times a year, it was very convenient, they had a place right in the hospital and i could go in at lunch. Did a donation once when my wife was having surgery, as we are the same type, they did not use it, and gave it to someone else.

Then I moved back to Cali. Donated a few times, then my wife was going to have surgery again, and when I tried to do a directed donation, they said I had to go to the main Blood Source office to do the donation, and had to take a cashier's check for $400 to do a directed donation. This shocked me. I asked how they justified this, and they claimed it was to "cover expenses" I was rather dubious of this, and asked, "So you are going to charge me $400 for something, that if you don't use it, you are going to sell it to somebody else?" To which they replied, "No, if a directed donation is not used, it is destroyed." This surprised me, and I asked when they got a big enough surplus of blood that they could dispose of blood like that. The reason that they gave for destroying the blood was that they were concerned about contamination, which is nonsense, because you still do all the testing for Hepatitis and HIV, even on a directed donation.

I tried to get the name of the medical director of the Blood Source, they gave me the name of the guy who was the director like 10 years ago, and I never could determine who was currently their director. In Texas, there was no charge on the directed donations, and they used them for someone else if the person who it was donated to did not use it.


I was so offended by the Blood Source in California's unscrupulous profiteering off people wanting to do directed donations, that I will never donate blood in this state again. Too bad, I have given about 20 gallons of blood before this happened. I still donate when i go to Texas.

Looks like Mad Mike is using a facility other than the Blood Source, so maybe I will make a run over to the Bay Area and do the donation there

[pwd72s]

This california blood center? Red Cross or other??? I've never heard of this!

[Tobra]

Blood Source, I looked it up, fuch those people.

I will drive to Fairfield to donate at the place Mike named on the 24th if I am able.

[drew1]

I do 3 or 4 times a year, most of the time at work. I wonder if the blood supply is getting low. It seems like the blood bank, Blood Connection, here in upstate SC, is always hounding wiyh telephone calls. It's like you're behind on a delivery or owe them money.

[red-beard]

I donate to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center: http://www.giveblood.org/

Every 4 months, since I do a double red cell.

[Porsche_monkey]

Red Cross won't accept my blood. I lived in England too long during the 'mad cow years'.

[legion]

I don't donate blood.

Needles leave me very sore for an extended period. I can't use my left arm for much more than a paper weight for 1-2 weeks because of the pain and soreness. I'm cringing with phantom pain as I type this.

It's worse when I've had anesthesia or blood work that required a catheter. I have thick skin (literally) and it typically takes a nurse about a half-dozen broken catheters to break my skin. They can see the veins fine, but can't get to them. Recovery time has been as bad as 3-4 weeks for this.

[old man neri]

Don't give blood. Lived in Europe when I was a kid and the flight surgeon would not like it if I were to give blood.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by legion

I don't donate blood.

Needles leave me very sore for an extended period. I can't use my left arm for much more than a paper weight for 1-2 weeks because of the pain and soreness. I'm cringing with phantom pain as I type this.

It's worse when I've had anesthesia or blood work that required a catheter. I have thick skin (literally) and it typically takes a nurse about a half-dozen broken catheters to break my skin. They can see the veins fine, but can't get to them. Recovery time has been as bad as 3-4 weeks for this.

Sounds like they need to get a Makita drill

[legion]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Sounds like they need to get a Makita drill

Judging by the perfectly round scar on my left thumb, I'd say you are right.

[vash]

i went to southeast asia a few years ago, and found myself not eligible for donation. i just fell out of the routine.

i went back to travel again, so i guess i am not allow, yet again. maybe in one year, when i pass quarantee.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Used to do it all the time whenever I could. Haven't in quite a few years (probably should/would again though).

I'm A- which is a pretty rare type, so I want to be helpful if I can...

[MT930]

Yea I go pretty often when I am eligible to donate. The Red Cross calls my office to schedule a week in advance. I started it as a habit the afternoon of 911.

It's a habit now. I have gotten a free pint of Ben & Jerry's IC afterwords what a deal!

[cgarr]

Hemorrhoids count?

This is something I really have to start doing, they say its good for the body?

[Arizona_928]

my step mom schedules most of the blood drives in SoCal for the redcross. I tried to donate, but the bumb nurse rolled the vein, and got messy. needless to say i'll get a different nurse next time.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I was so offended by the Blood Source in California's unscrupulous profiteering off people wanting to do directed donations, that I will never donate blood in this state again. Too bad, I have given about 20 gallons of blood before this happened. I still donate when i go to Texas.

have you tried the Redcross?

[syncroid]

I donate to the Stanford Blood Center every six to eight weeks. (or as soon as they call me) I started doing this after the first time my dad underwent open heart surgery. I am also a premie donor. They can give my blood to anyone.
I did have to take a year off for quarantine after getting back from a vacation trip to Mexico.