# I'm pissed because I can't give blood. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099 "2001-09-12T16:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/1 "2001-09-12T16:32:48Z")
Because of my tattoo, which I got at ChiDope, I can’t give blood to assist with the treatment of the wounded from yesterday’s attacks. Which sucks, because I’m O+, which is one of the “universal” donors, IIRC. I suppose I _could_ lie about it, but that strikes me as being very unethical, even if it’s for a good cause. So, to everyone who CAN give blood, please do. For me? ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/2 "2001-09-12T16:41:03Z")
I thought about that, **Super**. I’m A+, but I’ll find my way to the Red Cross or even right across te street to Baptist East today. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/3 "2001-09-12T16:48:52Z")
Don’t worry, **Super**. They’ll be needing it for awhile to come. Make an appointment and go in as soon as you can. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/4 "2001-09-12T16:48:59Z")
Thanks, **ts**. You’re a gentleman and a scholar, no matter what **BunnyGirl** says. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/5 "2001-09-12T16:49:30Z")
I can’t give blood because I just gave blood about 3 weeks ago. You can only donate every two months. I’m O+. I’d like to ask folks who are donating for the first time to become regular donors, so that we don’t have shortages. If you can do it once for the victims of the atrocities yesterday, it would be great if you would do it again in two months for someone else who needs it. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/6 "2001-09-12T16:56:08Z")
Weird that I was planning to get initial ink done on my first tat last weekend, but time and cost prohibited it for a while. As a result, **SD** when I go down today, I’ll dedicate half of my pint to you. Fair enough? ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/7 "2001-09-12T17:10:58Z")
I can’t give either on account of too-recent surgery, so I made a cash donation. I’m encouraging everyone who can’t give to at least donate some money. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/8 "2001-09-12T17:12:15Z")
Thanks, **FallenAngel**. You’re a peach. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/9 "2001-09-12T17:15:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Superdude \* > \*\*Thanks, **ts**. You’re a gentleman and a scholar, no matter what **BunnyGirl** says. \*\* Hey, hey, hey now! /Princess Bride/ Liar! Liar! /PB/ Anyhoo, yeah, **Super** I called the Red Cross yesteray (O neg. here) and then realized that because of my piercing, I’m off the list too. It truly sucks 'cause it was the ONLY thing I felt like I could do to help. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/10 "2001-09-12T17:21:21Z")
I don’t think I’m eligible to give blood, but thanks to **Zette’s** [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86691), I’ve been able to give cash. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/11 "2001-09-12T17:29:28Z")
I am unable to give blood simply because in my rural area, there are no blood drives planned. For those of you who want to donate but are in a circumstance like mine, keep track of the next blood drive in your area. It should be coming within at least a couple of weeks. Then go donate. The need for replenishment and other ripple effects from this will affect our blood supply needs for months, a Red Cross spokesperson was saying yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/12 "2001-09-12T17:31:28Z")
I gave in early August, as seen in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=81116) thread, I had a horrible time of it a couple of days. I wish I could go again, as I am also O +, but have to wait for October ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/13 "2001-09-12T17:39:28Z")
I went to the local Red Cross chapter yesterday to donate. The wait was 90 minutes, so I agreed to make an appointment for later in the week. When they called to set the appointment, they were booking for almost a week out. I’m set to go on Friday the 21st. What a turnout! **Superdude** , you can donate in other ways. Cash is always good, but you can also ask if you can help out in other ways. They’re gonna be swamped for awhile. Don’t expect to do anything technical unless you have that background, though. But you might be freeing up someone who is capable of doing other needed tasks. Ask if you can hand out food, or empty trash, or be a walker to escort people from the donation station to the canteen. These people are there to help if the donor faints, which sometimes happens. Some of the times I’ve donated, I felt that I was going to have to support the walker, rather than the other way around. Some of them were downright ancient! **Ginger** , don’t worry - your donation is being put to good use already! ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/14 "2001-09-12T17:42:29Z")
I’m also in my 56 day window, but I’m pretty good about donating on a regular schedule. I talked my wife into going this week or next; she normally doesn’t donate blood, but she decided (with a little prompting from me) that this was important enough to overcome her fear of donating. Besides, I think it’s good for the kids to see that there are always ways to help. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/15 "2001-09-12T19:49:51Z")
I tried to give blood but they were out of donor bags! I’ll try again today or tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/16 "2001-09-12T20:04:02Z")
I wish I could give blood but I can’t because it is extremely difficult for them to find a vein, and when they _do_ the blood literally comes out a drop at a time. It’s a traumatic and long process. So, instead I’m going to look at my money situation (starving college student here) and see if I can donate. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/17 "2001-09-12T20:15:33Z")
I can’t give blood for another week or two because of narcotics in the bloodstream (I had a painkiller for some acute cramps that were keeping me from being able to move). I’m going to try to give as soon as is healthily possible. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/18 "2001-09-12T20:18:28Z")
My mom can’t either, she had a false diagnosis of some complicated blood disease. Even though she didn’t have it they’re not taking any chances. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_The\_Younger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@Paul\_The\_Younger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_The_Younger)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/19 "2001-09-12T21:03:58Z")
I’d like to give, too, but I’ve done it too recently (about three weeks ago). And my wife was [blacklisted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=1603538#post1603538). But we can get the word out – I’ve been asking coworkers, family and friends to consider donating if they don’t already. ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/20 "2001-09-12T21:05:22Z")
For New Yorkers, this is from my friend Madhavi, a doc at St. Vincent’s: Dear Friends, Unfortunately, today has been really quiet at the hospital. I was afraid the morgue at Chelsea Piers was busy but luckily, they received no one. The problem is that the fires are still happening in the downtown area around the WTC buildings (ground zero)and that about 18 buildings are destroyed and that the collapsing debris and smoke from the fires is making it very difficult to recover anyone. It looks like it is starting to clear. ## If you want to donate blood, please just wait a few days as we have no where to store the blood and currently, no patients to give them to. St. Vincent’s is set up for this. Currently, we are only taking O+. I am waiting a few days to donate in Chicago - the donation centers are completely backed up, and problem is not so much helping NYC victims right now, it’s the national depletion in the blood supply. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099.md?page=2)