How exotic. And you may want to check with your local blood bank. It's been over a year since I donated , but they used to just ask about the UK -- not all of Europe -- at the hospital where I donate.
Individual blood banks will have guidelines similar to the Red Cross', but they may not be the same.
And I agree with dkw -- the Jewish one is one of a number of viewpoints. Although admittedly fairly middle-of-the road.
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Nick, sounds like you'd do well donating, but then everyone reacts a bit differently. I've known folks who were just over the 110 threshold and been just fine, and folks who were quite a bit larger who just passed out almost immediately.
Obviously there are other reasons you might not be able to donate, if you get plenty of iron then you're probably okay in that regard. There are also a lot of sex questions, and disease questions, in addition to travel related questions. I went to China a few years back and they had to spend half an hour all 6 times (a year afterward) looking up all the places I'd been in China as I guess there's malaria risk in certain regions.
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How long were you there? I think there's a minimum time -- I know that my 7-week stay gets ok'd.
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Someone asked about medication restrictions on the first page. I know for a fact you cannot donate while you are taking Accutane, or one month afterward.
Europeans cannot donate because we all know that they are Communist, and we do not want Communists to sap our precious bodily fluids!
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Yup, ten years is surely over any limit. Oh, well. You'll just have to get your cookie fix somewhere else! Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I've not had the chance to give blood yet... I was sick the last few times it came through my school..
I wonder about their testing of the criteria, though. I knew someone at my High School who quite obviously did not fit the criteria for weight... And she got into the blood drive, gave blood, and passed out later that day. (she hadn't had breakfast... )
I recently found out that she did it AGAIN at the local community college... Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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The UMC one doesn't even quite sound like it is addressing the question. Maybe someone should e-mail them and tell them they have it messed up? I would think someplace like the Red Cross would be highly sensitive to issues like that.
I really should give blood, I have B+ which while not the most rare is more rare. I guess I'll do it next time our company has a blood drive. Unlike Happy Camper though I don't get a half day off work for it!
Random comment: Bizzarely enough Behr paints makes a foresty shade of green called Happy Camper. I ran across it on www.behr.com the other day when I was playing with their online tool for lightening and darkening paint shades. Made me wonder what would happen if I searched for a shade called Hobbes or Mackillian!
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Well, they don't actually weigh you, so they basically have to take your word for it, and I'm sure some people lie through their teeth, though those are more likely the higher weight people than the lower ones.
And AJ That's just a bonus these days. Not an unwelcome one, I'll admit.
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Apparently I have very good veins and, despite moderately low blood pressure, I fill up the baggie very fast. I also seem to recover very very quickly.
Some years ago I had major surgery on my back (spinal fusion for scoliosis) and was asked to try and donate five pints of blood--one per week! So I dutifully took my iron pills and ate my chicken livers and at the end of the five weeks my iron level was higher than at the beginning. The only problem I had was that the fourth week I suddenly had to go to the restroom immediately afterward, which involved a lot of staggering. No passing out, though. The doctor was startled--he had only really hoped for three.
After that I began giving blood fairly regularly, but in the last few years since I came to Murray State it always seems that I am stuck in class/at work/sick/etc. when the blood drives come through.
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Hey all, I was just wondering how many of you have made appointments since this thread first popped up? Just curious... Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I had given blood 2 days BEFORE I read this thread, so I was already ridiculously on the ball. Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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On the Red Cross page about organ and tissue donation at the very bottom where it gives the reference to the source it says 1979. Perhaps their information is just a tad outdated! It is interesting to read viewpoints though. My very misguided younger brother is not an organ donor because he thinks that if he is a doctor won't work so hard to save him Unless I'm mistaken the doctors working to save a life have no knowledge of organ donation wishes....
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I, too, have European cooties and (according to the donor requirements Banna linked) I am ineligible to donate blood. Bummer.
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Man, I haven't donated in a long time. I used to fairly regularly, because I worked near a hospital and would go there for blood drives.
It's just been impossible lately, because I've always got kids with me.
My husband has O neg and used to be a regular donor, but since he goes to Central America every year for missions trips, he stays ineligible.
I've had good and bad experiences with the techs. Most have been excellent. One particular time I remember being very angry, because I told her that she needed to use my left arm, because my right arm had a vein with a tendency to roll. She told me she would use whichever one she thought was best.
Sure enough, she stuck me in the right arm and the vein kept rolling and she couldn't get it. I wound up with several sticks in the right arm, before she gave up and had another tech come over. I told her "Left arm has a real good vein" and she got it on first try.
I've had hundreds of sticks because of my medical problems and infertility treatment I KNOW which arm they need to use.
But I don't say this to discourage anyone. Go give blood. I find it very relaxing. I just lie back on the little couch and take a nice break. If you are eligible and have the opportunity, go do it!
As to the costs involved, and the fact that hospitals pay for the blood - that is the reason our blood supply is so safe. All the tests they perform on that blood to protect the patient who receives cost a lot of money. Blood storage is very expensive, and distribution costs, because it's not like they can put it in a box and ship it UPS.
Plus, if you go to a blood drive, you may get a t-shirt. Between my husband and myself we have so many, I'm thinking of making a quilt.
[ January 09, 2004, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Belle ]
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And you may want to check with your local blood bank. It's been over a year since I donated ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
, but they used to just ask about the UK -- not all of Europe -- at the hospital where I donate.
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That's just a bonus these days. Not an unwelcome one, I'll admit.![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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Narnia
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Unless I'm mistaken the doctors working to save a life have no knowledge of organ donation wishes....
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