If you can, I urge you to donate blood. We don’t need a nationwide blood shortage on top of everything else.
I want to second that. And as a little bit of encouragement: Everyone’s temperature is checked as a regular part of the procedure, and they ask specifics on any travel you’ve done lately, so you will not be sitting there surrounded by people stewing in the the virus.
Also, if you’re feeling down and need some kindliness in your life - donate blood. Everyone there is grateful you’re there and will pamper you in every way they can, you get free juice and cookies and sometimes a gift. I used to give platelets at a private facility and they gave away t-shirts and store gift cards. I now give at a Red Cross facility and I get a free candy bar each time (along with the juice, snacks and cookies).
Lately, I’ve been giving platelets. It takes about two hours each time, but you can give once a week, rather than once every eight weeks with whole blood. Platelets don’t depend on blood type, and since I have a middling common blood type platelets are more useful. As they keep telling me, cancer patients rely on platelet donations.
Don’t donate blood to get tested for the virus, because not all blood centers are testing for it. There is no evidence this virus is blood borne and there are other, more important things to test for.
Thank you. Well said.
Giving blood is ridiculously uplifting. It’s easy and gets easier the more you do it and get familiar with the process. I go to a drive every 56 days at the same place. Use the app to sign up. Drink plenty of water the day before. Do my RapidPass the day of. Take iron pills to make sure I’m never low. Free blood pressure screening. I know how to tell the phlebotomists how to hit my vein. I’m a fast bleeder. Free cookies. Cool bandage. Feel awesome for 56 days!
You probably think you can’t give blood because of whatever and you’re probably wrong (fear of needles and being gay do still preclude you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.) they want and need your blood.
Give life!
If you live outside an outbreak zone even better! For Washington State, then need blood but don’t want people filling up hospitals in the Seattle area. That said, they are eager for blood donors everywhere else.
A blood bank official here said that high school students provide 25% of our blood supply. She thinks with schools closed, that number will probably go down. Something to think about next time you may want to criticize “kids today.”
Sorry I’m banned for life.
No risk. The virus is not bloodborne and you must be healthy to donate. The blooomobiles and branches are cleaned often and the staff is highly trained.
I donate frequently. I did in January and will again next week
Giving platelets today. I used to do it regularly, but life and kids got in the way. This seems like a good time to restart the habit.
Yes, please donate blood for those of us who can’t. I have AFib and am on blood thinners now, so am banned, but I donated for 40 years.
As I’ve said before, donating blood may have saved my life, since I found out about my problem when I was rejected from giving blood due to a racy pulse.
It always made me feel good also.
Over the years I have given blood, when reminded of the need, maybe twice or three times a year. Lately, inspired by the man in the link, I’ve given regular donations every eight weeks. I don’t have special blood, like he did, but we have one thing in common, neither of us has ever looked at the needle in our arms.
Read the story: He donated blood every week for 60 years and saved the lives of 2.4 million babies | CNN
Word is getting out…we had a good turnout at our blood drive yesterday. I appreciate everyone who donates and if you can’t, please encourage your friends and family.
You can donate if you have diabetes. I had a man yesterday who didn’t donate for two years because he had heart palpitations but he was able to donate. A couple a weeks ago I had a man who had hepatitis years ago but due to the new medications on the market he was able to donate.
Studies have shown donating blood can be beneficial to those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I’ve noticed my cholesterol level has been steadily dropping since I started donating regularly again.
For men and post menopausal women, it keeps your iron levels from getting too high. High iron levels can lead to stroke. We have men doing therapeutic donations. Their iron is so high we can’t use it, so they have to PAY us to take their blood and throw it away.
Of all the medications on the market, only about 10% would defer you from donating blood. Plus the wellness check can give you a heads up on medical issues you may not know you have, like Voyager.
Donating blood itself is safe; everything that is used on the donor is sterile.
One is not typically that close to too many people in a traveling donor site, like what you’d attend at a religious institution, firehouse, school or work/office. I’m guessing they’re spreading out even more now. That being said, the whole point of distancing is to keep yourself away from other people to prevent any possible spread & attending has some elevated risk vs. staying in your house though less than being in a mosh pit.
I was supposed to donate next week. I will not be donating there as we are on total lockdown in this county for at least two weeks; all schools, religious institutions, entertainment facilities, gyms, restaurants (take-out or delivery only, no dining in), malls & other non-essential retail are supposed to be closed.
The news is getting out. We are definitely seeing an uptick in blood donations.
I’m glad to hear that. I can’t donate again until the latest eight week period is up.
I donated yesterday, and it took longer than usual because they got lots more sign ups than usual.
And they take your temperature before you are even allowed in the bloodmobile. And they swab the couches every time, along with the usual precautions. I am probably safer in there than I am at work. Plus, free cookies.
Regards,
Shodan
Me, too. I came up with Hep B antibodies. Don’t know what happened or when, but my name is on the List. Suits me.
ETA: I’ve given blood for tests many times since with no mention. I’m betting it was a false positive.
I was stationed in Europe in the 80s. I got the Mad Cow. I guess everybody from Europe in the 80s is screwed.
Those are the FDA rules.