Blood Donations - Go do it.

[Whitney]

Baring any medical or living situation issues that may bar you from being able to donate blood; go do it. It only takes an hour or less for most people and helps to save lives.  Be the prayer.

This Public Service Announcement has been brought to you by Whitney: the person who is afraid of needles and has a tendency to pass out due to slight loss of blood who donated blood today.

If doing good isn't enough incentive in itself; they have cookies.

[Willow]

I wholeheartedly agree.  Must kick husband about this.  I tried to donate milk but they wouldn't have that either.  I'm on drugs for my epilepsy which can interfere with the recipients' medication.

[Asmodean]

I'm AB negative, so my blood type is rare and could be life-saving to someone who can not accept different blood (there are conditions that prevent it)

However, having a few piercings through my slimey parts, like the lips, I am disqualified as a donor. Go figure.

[Tank]

I'm disqualified on medical grounds but my kids aren't and they do give blood. It is particularly appropriate for the twins as my wife needed extensive transfusions when they were born by C-section. I wish I could do it.

[Whitney]

However, having a few piercings through my slimey parts, like the lips, I am disqualified as a donor. Go figure.

that is strange...here they just make you wait a certain amount of months after having a piercing or tattoo (presumably to make sure that any potential resulting diseases have had time to manifest).

[Asmodean]

that is strange...here they just make you wait a certain amount of months after having a piercing or tattoo (presumably to make sure that any potential resulting diseases have had time to manifest).

I went to the hospital after about six months after having my lip pierced and they just said "Sorry, kid... That there disqualifies you indefinitely"

[DeterminedJuliet]

I have an intense fear of needles, but this is something that is on my must-do list.

I have to say, though, I am sad about Blood Services Canada's ban on blood donation from the gay community, and I know some people who "boycott" blood donating because of it, though I don't think I ever would. Are there blood donation bans on the gay community in the states/other countries, as well? I am not familiar with blood collection outside of Canada and am presently too lazy to Google. 

[Whitney]

Are there blood donation bans on the gay community in the states

Yes, men who have slept with other men are not allowed to donate.  I asked why and the responses from the donation tech was basically "i don't know".  I told her that I assumed they are on it because they are considered in a high risk group for aids.  She said some national board dictates what the centers have to use as questions for filtering out people.  Google is probably more informative on this than me lol.

US also doesn't allow people who lived or visited Europe for 6? months or more during a certain span of years due to a mad cow scare...

[Asmodean]

US also doesn't allow people who lived or visited Europe for 6? months or more during a certain span of years due to a mad cow scare...

About the same here, actually.

New partner means disqualification for about half a year. Africa means get-the-f***-out-of-my-hospital. Any other travel outside Scandinavia gets you a short term ban. Except perhaps Asia... Don't know how long they'd ban you for that.

[MariaEvri]

oh I would like to give blood. I am O+
The only thing stopping me is that I have a high cholesterol, and I dont know. Will that matter? anyone knows?

[Whitney]

oh I would like to give blood. I am O+
The only thing stopping me is that I have a high cholesterol, and I dont know. Will that matter? anyone knows?

It doesn't ask if you have high cholesterol on the donor exclusion questions.  You can call the center and ask them.

I also have O+ and it adds to the guilt if I don't donate regularly since they can use it for almost anyone and other O+s really need it.

[Tank]

If you live in the UK this links to the reasons why you should not give blood https://secure.blood.co.uk/c11_cant.asp

Being a type 2 diabetic the medication I take precludes me from giving blood.

[kelltrill]

Thanks for the post, Whitney. You've inspired me to go and donate blood for the first time ever. I haven't yet (so hold the applause), but I'm definitely going to make a plan to now.