Every once in a while an over-the-top blood donor gets featured in feel-good news. Like now: 'Babe Ruth' of blood donors saves thousands, hits 100-gallon milestone | KSDK.com Would prefer to suppose that every capable donor gives thought to this. Apparently summer 'vacation' months always pinch supplies, so you keep that in mind. Fun fact: one large Asian country has arbitrary age-55 cap on donation. Lacks any medical justification.
What, the Web site is working today.... Google -- Red Cross Bad The reason I do not donate blood to any Red Cross facility. I have donated to the Lane Community Blood Bank in Eugene, OR. Not a part of Red Cross. Again, I shun Red Cross.
Due to frequent moves, I have donated with the Red Cross in Aberdeen WA, Blood Services in Phoenix AZ, the Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle WA, The Red Cross in Toronto Ontario, InterMountain Health in Salt Lake City UT, and Blood Services in Reno NV. Since I have been in Mississippi, Mississippi Blood Services out of Flowood takes my blood, they claim I have given 10 Gallons. No one knows my real total, each time is the important time. I am eligible again in September. When I first started donating, there were 5 questions for males, now there are 54.
Red Cross@2. All ought to decide for themselves about this. But please do not suppose that ARC is your only option - that is rarely the case. List of blood donation agencies in the United States - Wikipedia It would be a deeper question, beyond my reach, whether donor screening and blood-product testing differs among these organizations. Apherisis is separating blood components other than red blood cells. This is for hard-core donors because you will be 'connected' for a longer time. Plus other topics we might not want to discuss. . Frankly I don't know if any other than ARC do that. no one knows@3. This will be an issue for lots of long-time donors, unless you keep your own tally. ARC for example does not have national data (except for deferrals) and does not keep accepted donor records for more than 10 (20?) years. Anybody who tells of their experience at the pointy end of the needle gets a 'like' from me.
Apheresis - Wikipedia That brings back nice memories. I did that (and regular blood donations) for 8 years, I worked at a large medical center during those years. Every time we donated, which was every 3 months, they'd give us an extra day off with pay. Big incentive! That, plus the nurses were very friendly (and beautiful!) and you could go in there and actually relax and have a good time. Good snacks, too. And there was a blood donator party every year, paid for by the hospital, at a local restaurant with dancing. 29 years later, now that I'm an old ugly guy, nobody will take my blood because they say my BP is too high. Well, shoot, why can't you drain some and relieve that pressure!
BP is too high@5. According to ARC (not the only game in town) hypertension deferral is 180/100. If you are up there you ought to at least be talking to medical people about lowering that for your own benefit. Quite aside from this matter of deferral. Deferral for being old or ugly is difficult to address
Donor deferral for medication list at ARC seems to be incomplete. Does not mention chloroquine. I chose to take chloroquine prior to travel to malaria-land. For this I got a (surprise) one-year donor deferral. By unusual set of circumstances during that out year, I sold my blood to a malaria researcher. After confirmation that I would not kill their experimental subjects. One reason that donor question lists have gotten much longer is that technology to detect diseases in a small amount of blood has greatly advanced. Net result is blood transfusion has become much safer.
MBS does Apherisis here, in several flavors, some require 16 weeks before giving again, some 8 weeks. I do Apherisis if I remember to bring something to distract me, I do not respond well to the recycling phase. (i would be horrible at self service blood donation) I have great iron count 16.5 is my normal, and good BP 145 85, but if my pulse gets over 95 they make me calm down.
recycling@9. TUMS (TM). One time I chose 'Kill Bill' as movie to watch on the couch. Such a poor choice...
Do not believe everything you read. If you drill into details on CN, you can make your own decision based on independent analysis of THEIR methodology. Good, bad, indifferent. As Mulder says, the truth is out there.
If charity navigator gives inaccurate rankings I'm not sure who you'd turn to for better. It is a very large 'field'. ARC gets 83.3 currently and 3 stars. It is not easy to discern how many other charities have higher rankings there, but 3144 have 4 stars. They are by no means ranked top of heap. But for blood donations, see your local options linked above. ARC handles 40 or 50% of US total (different numbers in different links). If you have the evil eye for ARC, please do not let that interfere with such charitable urges.
While "too old' or "too ugly" might not be a problem, "too British" is. As someone who lived in Britain in the 80s and early 90s, I'm not allowed to give blood in China or Australia, in case I give everyone BSE. This is a real problem in Australia: anyone who spent more than, I think, six months in Britain during that period isn't allowed to give blood. Unfortunately, a lot of people did - not just British immigrants, but Australians who went to Britain on working holidays or on expat contracts. It has a real impact on our blood supply.
Yes mad cows. Spongiform encephalopathy. We now know that you beefeaters have now mostly NOT gone spongy. Is there any talk of lifting that ?
here too, i think. was that mad cow? ah, tc confirmed. i think we can't, but not positive. my daughter was there for that, had to wash her feet or something, before getting on the plane.
