Why DON'T you give blood?

[no1_vern]

The red cross needs it, they are even starting to play a bit dirty to get the blood:

They called me 2 weeks ago and told me that my blood had saved the lives of 3 infants. ಠ_ಠ

Here in SOWEGA(South West Georgia), about a week before the day I am able to donate, I start receiving calls from the Red Cross asking me to schedule an appointment. They are always begging people to donate and save a persons' life.

It has gotten me to wondering, why are so many people scared to donate? Why DON'T you give blood?

[The Real Bingo]

Pretty sure I can't due to medical reasons. A perfectly valid reason you left out of the poll.

[Theophylact]

I've given 119 pints so far. I'm barred temporarily from donating because I volunteered for a drug trial of a treatment for Clostridium difficile, but when I give again in September it'll be my 15th gallon.

[Mikev2.0]

I do donate blood.

[paul9]

Unfortunately, since an operation, I am now not allowed to give blood.
I need to check up to see if the situation has changed.
Thanks for the reminder.

[Bizkitkid2001]

The medication I take does not allow me to donate blood.

On a related note, the blood bank here in SA has decided to bring the bus around for night classes. They took a survey and found out that there are a lot of students attending SAC at night that want to donate blood.

[Taxmancometh]

I don't think I can give blood due to the meds I'm on.

[no1_vern]

Pretty sure I can't due to medical reasons. A perfectly valid reason you left out of the poll.

Sorry TRB, I meant that "ineligible" to mean for medical(or other) reasons, I guess I should have been clearer in the poll.

[The Real Bingo]

My apologies...I read over 'em too quickly! Bad habit I'm getting into.

[Bizkitkid2001]

I don't think I can give blood due to the meds I'm on.

You would be surprised at how short the list is for medications that are ineligible, and many of them have a wait period of a few days after the last dose to be allowed to donate blood.

Each chapter of the Red Cross has different specifications so the quickest way is to ask your local blood bank directly. You may be eligible.


More often it is the reason why you are on the medication that makes you ineligible and not the medication itself.

In my case however it is both my disease and my medication that make me ineligible.

[SoloCamo]

I've donated blood before, never really had a problem with it. Then again, never really went out my way to do it, either.

They never did end up sending me my blood type, though. Still annoyed at that, but hey whatever.

[howste]

I haven't donated blood since yesterday. I'm ineligible to donate today.

[howste]

The red cross needs it, they are even starting to play a bit dirty to get the blood:

Maybe they're short on supply because of this: I want your childrens blood!

[paul9]

It seems like those reluctant to donate are reluctant to vote and discuss the subject.

[sharder8]

It seems like those reluctant to donate are reluctant to vote and discuss the subject.

Don't look at me . . . I'm about to hit the 10 gallon club.


Harder

[Steve R Jones]

Eligibility Criteria by Topic


CANCER
Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s Disease and other cancers of the blood, you are not eligible to donate. Other types of cancer are acceptable if the cancer has been treated successfully and it has been more than 12 months since treatment was completed and there has been no cancer recurrence in this time. Lower risk in-situ cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin that have been completely removed do not require a 12 month waiting period.

Short version... is that two local blood places had five year restrictions...The Red Cross had less restrictions... I did a ton of emails with all three and the two local places were very happy about Red Cross since they apparently set the standard...

Anyway, I'm now able to give to Carter Blood Care and have done so...

[Taxmancometh]

The thing that gets me about donating blood is that they ask you if you have HIV/AIDS. I wanted to have a HIV test and thought a blood donation would check for that and they don't they just go by what you put on the form. Needless to say I still got my HIV test and was happy as a singing bird with the results.

[Steve R Jones]

What Happens to Donated Blood?

Step 3: Testing

Steps 2 and 3 take place in parallel

The test tubes are received in one of five Red Cross National Testing Laboratories

A dozen tests are performed on each unit of donated blood – to establish the blood type and test for infectious diseases

Test results are transferred electronically to the manufacturing facility within 24 hours

If a test result is positive, the unit is discarded and the donor is notified. Test results are confidential and are only shared with the donor, except as may be required by law

[PoonDoggy]

Mobile Blood Bank comes around every 3 - 6 months and parks at our shop parking lot. Most everyone will donate so that they can go home for the rest of the day.

I am inelgible

[GroundZero3]

I tried to donate when I was in basic training and I was ineligible since I lived in Germany when I was younger.

Never really thought about the Red Cross, I should look into doing it.