# If I were to drive to Las Vegas to donate blood, would that be more helpful than to donate locally? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826 "2017-10-02T21:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/1 "2017-10-02T21:04:29Z")
In GQ in hopes that people who know the logistics can give an informed response. If I were to drive to Las Vegas to donate blood, would that be measurably more helpful than if I were to donate locally in Southern California? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/2 "2017-10-02T21:23:28Z")
Probably not. The need for blood after an emergency is mainly to replenish supplies used in the immediate aftermath. The testing process normally takes several days to complete so your blood, wherever donated, would probably be used for that purpose. I donate a double red cell unit several times a year. The last time was on August 25th. I received a message from the American Red Cross on September 19th stating: > [@American Red Cross](#): > > Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on 8/25/2017. After first ensuring local needs were met, your double red cell donation was sent to Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, SC and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC to help patients in need. Your donation is on its way to change lives! That three week period between donation and use is pretty typical in normal circumstances. The previous one was on 6/30/2017 and it was used on 7/25/2017. That was a single unit. You can give a double unit every 112 days but only three times a calendar year, so once in a while I do a single. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/3 "2017-10-02T21:25:26Z")
Thanks, **Bill**. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/4 "2017-10-02T22:01:51Z")
I am glad to know that. My cousin donates platelets. Do you know what that means? I have always wanted to know. I would ask my cousin , but we ain’t talking. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/5 "2017-10-02T22:32:46Z")
Platelets are a type of cell in the blood that assist in clotting. To donate platlets the donation center extracts whole blood and separates the platelets from the red blood cells. They then return the red blood cells to the donor. There are commercial companies that pay people to donate platelets. You can donate platelets far more frequently than you can donate whole blood. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/6 "2017-10-02T22:32:46Z")
That is interesting Bill. I donate blood to the San Diego blood bank and I have not received any emails about how my blood was used. But their literature stresses the local uses of the blood. Platelets > [@](#): > > Platelets are blood cells that help control bleeding. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation or organ transplants often need platelets to survive. Platelets from all donor types are needed. > > Platelets have a very limited shelf life of five days and are delivered quickly to patients that need them. You can Make the Most of Your Donation by becoming a platelet donor. When you give platelets, you have the satisfaction of knowing your donation will make a difference in someone’s life immediately. > > Platelet donors are eligible every two weeks. The collection process is longer than whole blood so you should be prepared to spend an average of 70+ minutes in the donor chair with reading materials, TV or DVD player available to help pass the time. Your gift of platelets is worth the wait! > **[Platelet Donation - San Diego Blood Bank](https://sandiegobloodbank.org/donors/platelet-donation/)** > > Donating PlateletsPlatelets are blood cells that help control bleeding. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, or organ transplants often need platelets to survive. Platelets from all blood donor types are... ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/7 "2017-10-02T22:38:22Z")
Platelet donation is an apheresis donation. Whole blood is removed from the donor, a device is used to separate the platelets from the red blood cells and plasma, and the red cells and most of the plasma are returned back to the donor. Because platelets regenerate very quickly you can donate platelets every seven days up to 24 times a year. The double red is also an apheresis donation, except in that case the red blood cells and platelets are kept and only the plasma is returned. They keep the red blood cells from two pints of blood. Because red blood cell regeneration is slower than platelets regeneration they only allow double red donation every 112 days. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/8 "2017-10-02T23:06:22Z")
Another point in favor of donating where you are is that there are 8 hour lines reported to donate in Las Vegas right now. If you are moved to donate blood, best to donate where you are. It will be put to good use. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/9 "2017-10-02T23:20:57Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > That is interesting Bill. I donate blood to the San Diego blood bank and I have not received any emails about how my blood was used. But their literature stresses the local uses of the blood.(snip) They started sending emails about the destination of the blood almost four years ago. The first one I have was in January of 2014. > [@American Red Cross](#): > > Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on 1/22/2014. After first ensuring that local needs were met, your blood donation was sent to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA to help a patient in need. Your donation is on its way to changing lives! That may coincide with my starting to use the Red Cross Blood app on my phone to set up appointments. I think the donation that was used the furthest distance from the donation site went to Birmingham, AL. That was close to 600 miles from here. All of them stress that all local needs are met before the blood is shipped to sites that are further away. Most of the time they’re used within 100 miles or so. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/10 "2017-10-03T03:02:03Z")
Just donate locally. It can probably be used where you are, and if it can’t, they’ll ship it to wherever it needs to go. I was told not to donate after I blacked out on the table, so I don’t. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/11 "2017-10-03T03:39:28Z")
The latest news conference (7pm PT) by the local authorities said they have all the blood they need for right now. They suggested anyone in the Las Vegas area wait until tomorrow to donate; whether that’s for further use by the victims or for general community needs, they didn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![sbunny8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/12 "2017-10-03T23:05:43Z")
A much more helpful strategy is to set yourself a reminder to donate blood six months from now. During a crisis, so many people step up to donate blood that some of it ends up being thrown away because they have more than they need. But then everything quiets down and six months later there’s a shortage, especially of certain blood types. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/13 "2017-10-04T01:07:25Z")
I would donate as often as I could but they won’t let me. Because of the Mad Cow. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/14 "2017-10-04T01:50:51Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > The latest news conference (7pm PT) by the local authorities said they have all the blood they need for right now. They suggested anyone in the Las Vegas area wait until tomorrow to donate; whether that’s for further use by the victims or for general community needs, they didn’t say. Don’t have a link, but I heard that they simply ran out of equipment. :eek: There are some situations where whole blood cannot be used by the deadline, but certain blood products can. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-drive-to-las-vegas-to-donate-blood-would-that-be-more-helpful-than-to-donate-locally/797826/15 "2017-10-04T01:58:16Z")
> [@sbunny8](#): > > A much more helpful strategy is to set yourself a reminder to donate blood six months from now. During a crisis, so many people step up to donate blood that some of it ends up being thrown away because they have more than they need. But then everything quiets down and six months later there’s a shortage, especially of certain blood types. In six months you could have donated twice. Go in two weeks to a month when the surge is over and those that gave early would normally have given. That is when another shortage develops. Also, many shortages during the upcoming holiday season starting in 10 weeks.