I’m O neg, and will donate ASAP.
Like other people have mentioned, this will cause a serious, immediate drain on the North American blood supply, but this will also affect blood supplies for days, and even weeks to come. We don’t all have to donate today; donating to replenish what’s going to be drastically reduced will be pretty critical as well.
Acutally, if you are nearly the minimum weight, ask your blood donation center if you can give half of what they normally take. I’ve had friends who’ve done this before (espically if they have a much-needed blood type), and hopefully they’ll do this now. Even half a pint is better than none.
<< REALITY.SYS Not found. Fake it? (Y/N) >>
I tried. I’ve done that before, when I was having surgery, and donated for myself. But they said no, albeit very apologetically. I guess they don’t want to get sued or something. I’ll wait a few days and try again, maybe. And eat lots in the meantime.
I tried. I’ve done that before, when I was having surgery, and donated for myself. But they said no, albeit very apologetically. I guess they don’t want to get sued or something. I’ll wait a few days and try again, maybe. And eat lots in the meantime. 
Since I’m neither an O or some rare type like my brother who is AB, I guess they don’t want my blood all that badly.
I just got back from donating. I went to the St. Lukes Episcopal blood center. Dunno how bad the wait is now, but it wasn’t bad when I was there. They’re also encouraging people to donate platelets, which you can do 2 days after whole-blood donation. So I’m going back Thursday.
Robin
Grrr! The blood center turned me away because I have a cold.
Oh well, they say the demand will be up for weeks, so I guess I’ve got time to get over this thing and still contribute.
DC radio stations are broadcasting 5, 6 and 7 hour waits and have said that Red Cross and Hospital donation centers are currently turning away potential donors asking them to come back tomorrow or later in the week.
Our local blood center is opening early (7am) to take donations- I figure I’ll go early, since even in a crisis time, people are loathe to get out of bed that early for anything.
They are also having a drive at our local college- call your local blood center to see when their collection times are. They don’t just need blood today, they will need it for weeks to come. Our centers are shipping a lot of blood downstate, so we’re trying to replenish our own supply, too.
Zette
I don’t mean to be su damn useless, but I can’t locate a place to give blood in my area. The 800 number for the Red Cross is jammed. Their website’s location finder is broken (or also overloaded). Qwest Dex (online phone book) keeps insisting I am looking up “red c” instead of “red cross”. I don’t know what else to try.
Does anyone know of a place I could go donate in the Twin Cities, MN? Anyone?
I don’t mean to be so damn useless, but I can’t locate a place to give blood in my area. The 800 number for the Red Cross is jammed. Their website’s location finder is broken (or also overloaded). Qwest Dex (online phone book) keeps insisting I am looking up “red c” instead of “red cross”. I don’t know what else to try.
Does anyone know of a place I could go donate in the Twin Cities, MN? Anyone?
Around here the blood centers are saying the NY supply is okay for now but it’s critical that people make and keep appointments later in the week. (Mine is Thurs.)
BTW, Danimal, I’m in the same boat; just finished meds for a minor infection. They said I’d be good to go in a few days.
Great thread, Bildo. This is something concrete to do to really help people who need it.
Veb
Another “just tried” here. I got to the Red Cross a little before 7:00, knowing they had a drive going until that time. They said there was a three-hour wait, minimum.
BUT:
If there are any of you Houston Dopers out there still intending (way to go, Robin!) there will be a massive drive from 7a-7p tomorrow (9/12) at the George R. Brown convention center downtown. And I know some of the major corporations are planning on taking a day off, so take advantage of the “low” traffic and get your butts in there!
{{{All Dopers}}}
- Dave
Beadalin wrote:
I’m in St. Paul. I talked to the Red Cross earlier today. They said they are overwhelmed, and are asking people to call back later in the week. They also said to watch the news media for information about blood drives that they will be having around the metro area.
Hope this helps.
We wanted to today, but we called the local Red Cross, and they’re closed on Tuesdays. We tried calling the hospital several times to see if we could donate there, but all circuits were busy every time we tried. We’ll try again tomorrow.
First, thank you billdo for starting this thread. I saw it this morning when I was feeling helpless and scared. I had my husband call to find out where to go. They suggested that we wait a couple of days, as they are overly crowded right now, and they’ll need the blood for the next six weeks.
I am type O-neg, so I will make sure I donate within the next week. I really wish I could do more.
To the people who can’t get through to the Red Cross: I don’t know if it’s a national thing, but we have LifeSource. We couldn’t get through to RC, so we called them. The phone number for LifeCource is: (800) 486-0680
When I got through to the Red Cross, I was told that in St. Louis there’ll be a large central drive starting tomorrow, and a fellow with the calmest voice I think I’ve ever heard from a human being took my name and number down. I’ll be donating ASAP–and as often as possible over the next few weeks at least. Just how often will they take someone? I figure they can have it at the rate my body can safely spare the stuff, and just wish there was more I could do.
I’d like to donate, but I’m a little afraid to, since I’ve never done it before. Also, someone once told me that she wasn’t allowed to give blood because she lived in England for a while, due to the whole mad-cow disease thing. I lived in Germany for 3 years (90-93). Anyone know if that makes me ineligible? I suppose the red cross would know, but my phone is down at the moment, so I can’t even try to call.
I put this in the thread over in GQ, but it seems to be dying. Rather than bump that one, I’ll put it here and hope someone can help me.
I understood that, because I travel to countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica for work, I could not donate within a year of such a trip. My last overseas trip was in January 2001, to Honduras. Does anyone know if I am ok to donate? I really want to, since I’m O-.
I plan on going down to the RC tomorrow anyway(just in case I could sway them or something), but I’d like to have a clue as to whether I will be able to donate or not.
The Red Cross requires that you wait a minimum of 56 days between donations.
I’ve been donating since I was 17 (my high school had a blood drive and my parents had to give permission). I’ve donated about 58 times (a little over six gallons). Sure, it hurts a little bit (not much really), it can be uncomfortable but for the vast majority of people there is no significant problem.
Please try to give, at least this one time. Blood supplies depend on people like you.