I was visiting a friend in the hospital and checked to see if they had a place to donate blood. They did, so I donated my blood. They put you through the questions, iron test, weight check, blah blah blah. If your blood is good, they put it in the hospital supply for the ER and other needs.
It’s a nice alternative so you may want to check with your local hospitals.
You obviously know little about me…Red Cross is already endangering lives by holding to outdated and homophobic practices. BY refusing blood from a large segment of the population for no good reason, when blood is desperately needed. They are showing that their irrational fears are more important than saving lives. I refuse to support an organization that does so, and still urge others to do so. In fact write them and tell them why you are not giving blood. That is a very helpful way to make a much more positive difference.
I started a Pit thread, so we won’t have to clutter this one with people’s opinions on the Red Cross.
Oldie, Diane - go for it.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=48474
Opal, I accept your challenge! I haven’t donated in far too long – let’s face it, it’s not fun, even if it’s not bad – and this is a great reminder to do so.
Thank you for starting that Pit thread, Falcon.
oldscratch, without saying you’re right or wrong (mainly because I know far too little about the American Red Cross to base any opinion on), this thread is obviously not intended to flame the Red Cross. With the aforementioned pit thread opened now, I assume you will be using that to vent your opinion.
I’ll just perpetuate the stereotype does at least strive to help people, so a thread like this can do little harm.
You wouldn’t recognize a cunning plan if it jumped up on the table and started singing “cunning plans are here again”!
My iron levels are very, very, very close to the borderline of what they will and won’t take. (My blood always has to be spun.) So, if its high enough - I’m in.
According to one website I found the Red Cross doesn’t do blood donation in western Washington, so check http://www.psbc.org/ instead.
-amarinth
For a list of blood banks, try
http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Procedures_and_Therapies/Blood_Transfusions/Blood_Banks/
I donate regularly, and I’ll try to donate again before I leave for Christmas. I’m going to be on antibiotics for the next 10 days, though. Dunno if they’ll take me or not.
I always have that problem too. In fact, my attempt to do a pre-Thanksgiving donation failed due to low iron and I’m on temporary deferment.
They gave me some helpful tips.
So some OJ and a bowl of cereal may be all you need. Or at least I hope so. I’ll find out when I try to donate next.
I’m in, if I can find a donation site in St. Paul.
Robin
Broccoli is another good source of iron 
I haven’t given blood since we moved to Virgina – I’ve been meaning to look up the local Red Cross and get the Bloodmobile schedule. Thanks to this thread (and opal’s handy links) I just printed the schedule and have it right here. Let’s see… If they fix my car early enough, I can make it tomorrow… if not, I’ll just pencil in the 7th of December, or the 11th… Yeah! The Bloodmobile’s right at K-Mart on the 11th. Anyway, I’ll register once the Mission Is Accomplished.
Does anyone know what classes of medications make you ineligible to donate?
I’m in. As soon as I’m home, I’ll see if I’m eligible again. I got my “One Gallon Keychain” after my previous donation as well as a t-shirt that read “Starve A Mosquito. Give Blood.” ¡Viva O-Positive!
I gave blood the other day. Luckily, the Red Cross isn’t a choice in Santa Barbara. I had not been able to give for about six months, because they didn’t have a Iodine substitute to use. But, now they have one again. Next time I go to give, I am going to have my blood go through the machine, the lady says that they get more stuff that way, but I don’t lose as much because they replace the red blood cells.
I wish they had better cookies, but the peanuts are good. And I got the last grape juice.
pat
I went to the CFBB ** last night for pre-screening for pheresis (now that I am eligible again, and now that I can spell it properly). I ended up giving a pint, and I can still go in for pheresis on Friday at 6:30 am.
And they have the good cookies now (the really moist ones, not the ones made out of shredded corregated cardboard) as well as raspberry lemonade.
And I got a t-shirt.
Dang, I’m in a good mood, except for this bruise.
31 more donations to go by next December.
** not part of the RC, as they informed me.
How about this? I sold 825 ml of plasma on Tuesday, and will sell 825 ml of plasma today.
–Tim
I’m in. As soon as I’m home, I’ll see if I’m eligible again. I got my “One Gallon Keychain” after my previous donation as well as a t-shirt that read “Starve A Mosquito. Give Blood.” ¡Viva O-Positive!
Went again for pheresis this morning.
Two more times and I get an umbrella. (I’m scheduled for Tuesday and Friday of next week.) Woohoo!