It’s that time again!

Photo Egg

Donate Blood if you’re able.
Thank you

CTMike

I agree - my son and his son both had brain tumors, so I donate platelets as they are used to help cancer patients, among other uses. Platelets can be donated weekly, up to 24 times/year, but unfortunately the nearest platelet center to me is an hour away, so I don’t make it near as often as I’d like. Needle in both arms, immobile for 2 hours, and you get cold as your blood cools down as they process the platelets out before putting the remainder back in the other arm. 

They also take plasma as evidently type AB is a universal plasma donor.  

lousubcap

I am currently in a bit of an admin dustup with the local chapter (and perhaps nationally) of the Red Cross.  The last two times I donated I gave a Power Red donation.  That takes you off line for 16 weeks.  I have A+ blood.

So I make an on-line appointment at a Red Cross donation center for the day my 16 week hold clears for Power Red.  I show up and am told they don't take A+ blood in the Power Red program.  I explain my history.  I said, the Power Red recovery time is shorter, the needle smaller and only take around 35-40 minutes.  No joy.

So, I email Red Cross and explain my situation.  I was told their website specifies the blood types that qualify for Power Red.  I linked them to the entrance site for scheduling a donation and there is no mention of any limits.

I am not sure how this is gonna end but unless the hide-bound admin people come to their senses, I am done.

BTW-for you youngsters, in the nearly 25 years living here I have cleared 13+ gallons of whole blood donations.  Off soap-box. 

CTMike

lousubcap said:

I am currently in a bit of an admin dustup with the local chapter (and perhaps nationally) of the Red Cross.  The last two times I donated I gave a Power Red donation.  That takes you off line for 16 weeks.  I have A+ blood.

So I make an on-line appointment at a Red Cross donation center for the day my 16 week hold clears for Power Red.  I show up and am told they don't take A+ blood in the Power Red program.  I explain my history.  I said, the Power Red recovery time is shorter, the needle smaller and only take around 35-40 minutes.  No joy.

So, I email Red Cross and explain my situation.  I was told their website specifies the blood types that qualify for Power Red.  I linked them to the entrance site for scheduling a donation and there is no mention of any limits.

I am not sure how this is gonna end but unless the hide-bound admin people come to their senses, I am done.

BTW-for you youngsters, in the nearly 25 years living here I have cleared 13+ gallons of whole blood donations.  Off soap-box. 

I feel your pain. I have had similar issues, and due to the rarity of my blood type I get calls at least 3x/week to schedule. I have answered and told them repeatedly that I will schedule an appt via the app when I am ready, but they still continue to call.

When my son was going through his treatments at the Jimmy Fund in Boston, I would donate weekly, and every time we went back for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual check ups. All told I think I was credited for over 100 units, but since it was directly to Children’s Hospital, I don’t get credit through Red Cross. The trade off was I got a free t-shirt every time and free parking (that adds up in a major metro city).

kl8ton

lousubcap said:

I am currently in a bit of an admin dustup with the local chapter (and perhaps nationally) of the Red Cross.  The last two times I donated I gave a Power Red donation.  That takes you off line for 16 weeks.  I have A+ blood.

So I make an on-line appointment at a Red Cross donation center for the day my 16 week hold clears for Power Red.  I show up and am told they don't take A+ blood in the Power Red program.  I explain my history.  I said, the Power Red recovery time is shorter, the needle smaller and only take around 35-40 minutes.  No joy.

So, I email Red Cross and explain my situation.  I was told their website specifies the blood types that qualify for Power Red.  I linked them to the entrance site for scheduling a donation and there is no mention of any limits.

I am not sure how this is gonna end but unless the hide-bound admin people come to their senses, I am done.

BTW-for you youngsters, in the nearly 25 years living here I have cleared 13+ gallons of whole blood donations.  Off soap-box. 

If you make any headway with them please have them turn the mobile version of the egghead form back on.

Photo Egg

CTMike said:

I agree - my son and his son both had brain tumors, so I donate platelets as they are used to help cancer patients, among other uses. Platelets can be donated weekly, up to 24 times/year, but unfortunately the nearest platelet center to me is an hour away, so I don’t make it near as often as I’d like. Needle in both arms, immobile for 2 hours, and you get cold as your blood cools down as they process the platelets out before putting the remainder back in the other arm. 

They also take plasma as evidently type AB is a universal plasma donor.  

I did platelets on my last donation. Took about 90 minutes, but it was only 1 needle in 1 arm. Pulled and cycled back through same IV needle. It wasn’t bad. Time before I had trouble with making it through the process with severe restless muscle type symptoms. I wanted to jump out of the chair. They said it happens, but it’s rare. I was happy it was pretty smooth the next time. But just whole blood this time as it was the only slot open.
Cheers to all that are able to donate!