# Blood Donors: Where Are You? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 26, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970 "2004-07-26T19:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/81 "2004-07-27T13:22:31Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > (Sorry, **Ethilrist** , if there are other mitigating factors. I’m not calling you out or anything. Just spreading the word.) Not a problem. Thanks, in fact! I was told that, since I’m on Humalog, which stops acting within 2 hours after I take it, my blood would be effectively inert as far as glucose transfer was concerned. Wouldn’t be the first time I was led astray by doctors. Probably won’t be the last. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/82 "2004-07-27T13:53:18Z")
> [@Grasshopper](#): > > I’m right here, being turned down by the Red Cross for low iron. I’ve heard that if you pass out enough times from giving blood, the Red Cross will request that you stop donating. Does anybody know if the same thing is true about being deferred for low iron? After each time I get turned down, I feel like I’m going to get a letter in the mail saying “Thanks for trying, but stop wasting our time” - I’ve been turned down more times than I’ve been able to give. As **amarinth** said, and I said above we’ve both been deferred lots of times for low iron. I assume they don’t track that particular deferral since it is so common among women. Some places even phrase the question “Have you been deferred for any reason _other than low iron_?” Like I said above, if you fail, they make you wait a couple weeks between attempts, but let you try as many times as you want. I too feel guilty about “wasting their time” when I fail, but I figure they’d rather have me try and fail than give up completely. Also, I take it as a sign that maybe I should start eating a little more healthy. > [@Miller](#): > > ``` > I do it, but I've got a tattoo. > > ``` The tattoo only defers you for a couple of months, maybe a year, not permanently. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/83 "2004-07-27T15:05:59Z")
> [@Big\_Norse](#): > > The tattoo only defers you for a couple of months, maybe a year, not permanently. It’s a year. From [here](http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html#tattoo): > [@](#): > > Wait 12 months after a tattoo. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/84 "2004-07-27T15:22:34Z")
Sitting at my desk looking at the faint track marks in my arms from regular donations. But man, those cookies are good. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/85 "2004-07-27T16:16:36Z")
I’m O+ and I tried to start donating regularly after I recovered from my stroke. When I tried to donate, the hassle they put me through and the fact that I had to fucking BEG them to take my blood really pissed me off. I don’t have a clotting problem, I’m not on blood thinners or any other medication, and I am 99% recovered. Yeah, the 99% recovery is what gave the nurse pause. That’s when I started crying. Because no one 100% recovers from a stroke - part of your brain dies! You know how I’m getting back at them? I’m organizing a Blood Drive at my university. The need is greater than grudges. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/86 "2004-07-27T16:42:30Z")
BTW, AmericanMaid, that’s a good point about grudges. When the Queer group at my university tables against Hema-Quebec’s policies, we actually encourage people to donate, since we can’t. Along with the petitions, we have buttons that say “I gave blood for my gay friend who can’t,” and we put up pink triangles on a bulletin board representing each unit of blood that Hema-Quebec is missing out on. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/87 "2004-07-27T16:55:02Z")
That was me. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![paperclip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cdc98d/32.png) [@paperclip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperclip)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/88 "2004-07-27T17:00:54Z")
:eek: I had no idea I couldn’t give blood because of the gay. I always knew I was automatically disqualified since i’m a potential mad cow carrier, so I never bothered looking into other disqualifiers. It’s a shame too, I’m O-. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/89 "2004-07-27T17:02:11Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > “I gave blood for my gay friend who can’t,” This is _awesome_. You have great friends. ---
**Author:** ![toftdahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@toftdahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toftdahl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/90 "2004-07-27T17:54:39Z")
I used to donate about every 60 days, but then I tested positive for HTLV and they won’t take my blood anymore. What I don’t get is the idea of people not donating because a certain blood collection organization did this or didn’t do that or because you think their rules are stupid. Serious question: Is the Red Cross (or other blood collection organization) _making_ money from blood donations? If not, your decision really isn’t going to affect the BCO one way or another. This isn’t like boycotting a store that has crappy customer service. ---
**Author:** ![Stephi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stephi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephi)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/91 "2004-07-27T18:36:54Z")
I can’t donate, I don’t weigh enough. And it’s too bad, I have a relatively rare blood type too, (either AB+ or AB- I can’t remember which.) When I was a few pounds heavier I even tried filling up with a BIG meal beforehand, as a friend of mine suggested; but nope, I was just shy of 110 pounds. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/92 "2004-07-27T18:46:54Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > The other irritating thing is they never say what they mean by “sex.” Does a blowjob count as sex? A handjob? Or is it just anal? Hey, if the POTUS can’t answer that question, why would you think the Red Cross can? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/93 "2004-07-27T18:50:32Z")
Where are the blood donors? Exactly where they’ve always been. Blood shortages are a chronic problem. I’m not exactly sure why you think 9/11 would/should have changed that. 9/11 was a one-shot in getting people to turn out. Some of them may have learned that it isn’t as scary or painful as their imaginations had led them to believe and become repeat donors, but for most of them the donation was for a specific purpose. That purpose was timebound and that timeframe has passed. Now we’re back to the same old same old. Enjoy, Steven 2 Gallons and counting. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/94 "2004-07-27T18:53:47Z")
And the reason I do not donate is because I get at least one tattoo a year. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/95 "2004-07-27T19:35:08Z")
Back when I was 17, I donated for the first time. Shortly after that, I received a card from the Red Cross. It basically told me that my blood type is pretty much useless. But, it did say that AB+ is a good type for Platelets. As soon as I turned 18, I started donating Platelets. I have a very high count (over 365) so I do double donations in less time than it usually takes to do singles. I’ve never seen more than the first hour of the movie. I went every two weeks. Anyway, my last time was just over a year ago. It was the first and only bad experience I had while donating (lets just say the nurse smelled like scotch and leave it at that). I couldn’t force myself to go back after that. So, I got a tattoo to prove to myself that it wasn’t the needle I was afraid of. Now, it’s been just over a year and I’m ready to go back. However, once I get under 150 lbs., the Red Cross wont want my platelets any more. I don’t know what I’ll do then. I don’t know if this rule is worldwide but in Massachusetts, you have to weigh over 150. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life overweight, even if it means someone else will be helped out. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/96 "2004-07-27T19:48:45Z")
Not sure as to how true this is, but I have heard that in Ireland a pint of Guinness is offered instead of crackers and cookies to blood donors, due to the iron content. Also, they used to encourage expectant mothers to drink Guinness for the same reason (doubt that is still the case). ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/97 "2004-07-27T21:25:32Z")
What’s the dope on payment for blood giving that I’ve heard about in the US - it’s not something we have here (just a cookie and a cup of tea), but those posters from the US, don’t mention payment at all - seems that you also only get a cookie and a drink? ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/98 "2004-07-27T21:38:02Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > What’s the dope on payment for blood giving that I’ve heard about in the US - it’s not something we have here (just a cookie and a cup of tea), but those posters from the US, don’t mention payment at all - seems that you also only get a cookie and a drink? The largest and most well-respected agencies (such as the Red Cross) do not pay donors for blood. Some companies/communities/whatever who sponsor blood drives may give away t-shirts and whatnot, but no direct payments. This is done to discourage those who shouldn’t donate from donating simply to receive money. Some community blood banks, however, do (or did) pay donors. When I worked for the Red Cross, there was a community blood bank that paid $25 for each successful donation. It was just down the street from a mission (a place for homeless folks – at the time, usually hard drinkers or drug users – to sleep at night). Guess who made up the core group of donors to the community blood bank? That was almost 20 years ago, though. I have no idea if this practice is still in effect. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/99 "2004-07-27T22:15:52Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > What’s the dope on payment for blood giving that I’ve heard about in the US - it’s not something we have here (just a cookie and a cup of tea), but those posters from the US, don’t mention payment at all - seems that you also only get a cookie and a drink? About six years back I sold platelets to a private group in Texas for $25 a shot. I checked lately, and it doesn’t look like they still give money. I think it’s fairly rare anymore. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970/100 "2004-07-27T22:24:03Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > What’s the dope on payment for blood giving that I’ve heard about in the US - it’s not something we have here (just a cookie and a cup of tea), but those posters from the US, don’t mention payment at all - seems that you also only get a cookie and a drink? My blood center gives several options for drinks and they have pretzels as well as cookies. But, mostly, yeah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-donors-where-are-you/256970.md?page=6)