Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:43     Subject: Re:Please consider donating blood
Try using the app to schedule
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:40     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)


https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

If it's not covered there, then just make an appointment.


I'm not sure you read my post. I don't want to waste time, gas money, and risk exposure by making an appointment just to find out I'm ineligible due to travel. Why waste everyone's time instead of just saying, "if you went to the following places, you're ineligible" and then a list of the countries?




Oh Jesus. Fine then don't even try since this clearly is not something you want to help with.


Well, it's obviously not my problem or loss then. Just trying to explain why they have this shortage--they refuse to even let people know if they are eligible.


Understood. Clearly thinking beyond yourself isn't your thing. See this thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/866016.page
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:33     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)


https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

If it's not covered there, then just make an appointment.


I'm not sure you read my post. I don't want to waste time, gas money, and risk exposure by making an appointment just to find out I'm ineligible due to travel. Why waste everyone's time instead of just saying, "if you went to the following places, you're ineligible" and then a list of the countries?



Oh Jesus. Fine then don't even try since this clearly is not something you want to help with.


Well, it's obviously not my problem or loss then. Just trying to explain why they have this shortage--they refuse to even let people know if they are eligible.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:27     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)


https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

If it's not covered there, then just make an appointment.


I'm not sure you read my post. I don't want to waste time, gas money, and risk exposure by making an appointment just to find out I'm ineligible due to travel. Why waste everyone's time instead of just saying, "if you went to the following places, you're ineligible" and then a list of the countries?



Oh Jesus. Fine then don't even try since this clearly is not something you want to help with.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:25     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)


https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

If it's not covered there, then just make an appointment.


I'm not sure you read my post. I don't want to waste time, gas money, and risk exposure by making an appointment just to find out I'm ineligible due to travel. Why waste everyone's time instead of just saying, "if you went to the following places, you're ineligible" and then a list of the countries?

Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:16     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)


https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

If it's not covered there, then just make an appointment.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:15     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Universal receiver. My blood gets thrown away.


That's not how it works. If you are AB, they can still give your blood to other ABs. Also, AB is the universal donor for plasma so they can separate out the components.

Blood that isn't needed for transfusion before it expires can still be used for research.

If you're in the ~3% of Americans who are AB, call your local blood donation location and tell them you're AB and see if they still want your blood now. I bet they will.

Correct
There is a blood shortage
Ab people will be given an blood
You are given your blood type most of the time anyway
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:13     Subject: Re:Please consider donating blood
I’d give but I have terrible, tiny veins. I have a hard time giving two vials for medical tests.


Anyone deal with this successfully? Phlebotomists have told me to drink water, which I do for a couple days beforehand, but it helps very little.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:12     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Why can't I find a concrete list of places where if you traveled, you can't give blood? Every time I look, all it says is to be prepared to state where you traveled--but I don't want to waste time, gas money, and unnecessary exposure if they are just going to deny my blood. Why can't they just list the countries/areas on a website?

FWIW at this time I am specifically concerned about my recent travel to Kenya and Colombia (both within the last six months.)
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:11     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:INOVA has none for a month, and none in Maryland anyway. I am willing to donate blood if anyone has a way to tell me where to go!


My wife went to Children's National Medical Center today to donate (I gave a few weeks ago so can't go back for a while). There were plenty of appointments.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:09     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:Universal receiver. My blood gets thrown away.


That's not how it works. If you are AB, they can still give your blood to other ABs. Also, AB is the universal donor for plasma so they can separate out the components.

Blood that isn't needed for transfusion before it expires can still be used for research.

If you're in the ~3% of Americans who are AB, call your local blood donation location and tell them you're AB and see if they still want your blood now. I bet they will.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:03     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Sadly, I can't because of Mad Cow disease. Yes, from the 1990s, and no I've never had any issues. (Basically there is a huge number of people that spent time in Europe in early 1990s that can't give blood.)
It's super frustrating. Needles don't bug me, and I'd happily be a regular donor. Wish they could figure out ways to address this.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 12:00     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at Inova Blood: https://www.inovabloodsaves.org/

Also search at the Red Cross - there are lots of locations taking blood.


The link was to the Red Cross - but when you try to choose an event, they are all cancelled. And when I called the 1 800 number suggested by the Red Cross website, there were nearly 100 people ahead of me in the queue, so that will take forever.


Not sure how you're searching, but try this: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

Lots of stuff shows up when I search by zip code.


Yes, they show up. But if you click to sign up, it says they are cancelled and you are sent to the overwhelmed 1 800 number.


Ah, I see.

I actually think it's bad for everyone to donate right now. Blood has an expiration date and you have to wait at least 2 months between donations. So they're actually probably receiving a sudden influx and it may be better for people to try and donate in a month or two.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 11:58     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at Inova Blood: https://www.inovabloodsaves.org/

Also search at the Red Cross - there are lots of locations taking blood.


The link was to the Red Cross - but when you try to choose an event, they are all cancelled. And when I called the 1 800 number suggested by the Red Cross website, there were nearly 100 people ahead of me in the queue, so that will take forever.


Not sure how you're searching, but try this: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

Lots of stuff shows up when I search by zip code.


Yes, they show up. But if you click to sign up, it says they are cancelled and you are sent to the overwhelmed 1 800 number.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2020 11:58     Subject: Please consider donating blood
Anonymous wrote:INOVA has none for a month, and none in Maryland anyway. I am willing to donate blood if anyone has a way to tell me where to go!


Um I just signed up at Inova this morning.