Once again, I went to my local blood bank and did my civic duty and donated my blood. They terk mah bloord~!

Basically the past 2 years have been extremely challenging in my area, as the pandemic seems to have caused many regular donors to stop going. The desperation level has increased, with the phone calls requesting an appointment to be made, ads on the radio, billboards. 

They released an app that makes it super easy to book. It tracks my donations, my hemoglobin levels, how long it takes me to bleed. Can schedule and reschedule appointments in about 10 seconds. Good on them. 

I always donate when I'm working downtown. Usually takes about 30 mins, in and out. And the snacks they give you...that's the best part. Pop and juice. Chips, pretzels, cookies. Great stuff. 

Do you Americanos get paid to donate blood? Or is that just the misconception between getting paid to donate plasma? Currently my Province is only taking AB+ plasma donors, so I'm out of luck. 

Added a poll - what's your blood type? I'll use the Canadian numbers - 

39% O+
36% A+
7.6% B+
7% O-
6% A-
2.5% AB+
1.4% B-
0.5% AB-


Do I have any fellow blood donors here? I go about once every 8 weeks, which is the recommended time between donations. What about plasma or platelets? 

If you don't donate, why not? 

What's your blood type? Mine is O+. Most common. Yay. Should be fine if I need a donation. 


BLOOD FUN FACTS

* O- is the universal donor! If this is your blood type, plllleeeeeeaaaaassseee consider donation. You're so in demand. 
* AB is the universal recipient. You're good if you ever need any blood transfusions
* Blood has four main components - plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets
* One pint of blood can save up to 7 lives
* Both Vampires and mosquitoes are more attracted to type O blood. 

B+ blood type blood and platelet donor IN THE HOUSE. Still carry both cards in my wallet for show and tell. I used to donate more back when I was unemployed since I had the free time, we're talking maybe twice a year. Tougher now being on a coffee spree given my work hours, last time I did a blood donation around work, I got super pale and felt super tired....that was a blood donation mind you.

I recently found out I got COVID positive antibodies as of a couple of days ago upon my weekly testing which they encourage you to donate plasma if you got it, thought went to my head about donating just a matter of finding time away from work since weekends are precious to me now.

I am not sure if it still happens but we used to get reward points for donating blood and more so platelets. I bought 1-2 games via Target giftcards for doing it, again unemployed me needed those couple of games a year so if your telling me I can get a 30-40 dollar giftcard from Target for participating 2-3 times, you damn right I'd do it. I feast on those snacks, the cookies hit the spot. I try not to be a super pig but still.

I have no idea what my blood type is, I really should know considering I had multiple blood tests after the vaccine messed me up.

I’m not good with getting blood taken and a lot of the time I’ve got a tattoo too recently to donate anyway.

My mother and two of my sisters donate a lot, I think one of my sisters had to stop due to low iron or something though.

My O Pos mixed with Wife's B Neg to make son B Pos.

Or, as I like to say, son is his mom but with my positivity.

Used to donate all the time because I liked the freebies and feeling like a hero. Then I started to faint on occasion and switched to double red cell or plasma donation because they pressured me to do that and said I wouldn't faint anymore because fluid would be injected back in. But then one time I got a bad needle stick and my injection site swelled up like a tennis ball under my skin. Not so fun.

Haven't donated in years. Done more than my part. Bled gallons since high school. Some of these other lazy do-nothings need to step up now. Plus, it's off-putting that blood banks are pushier than debt collectors.

I'm A+. Funny story, last time my mom and I went in and we both took 4 times longer to collect from than a 'usual' blood giver. We also both fainted. I assume this has something to do with our low blood pressure. They didn't say 'don't come back', but they didn't really cheer us on to come back either.  I think we messed up their day.  Came out of there feeling rather deflated.   I should try again here soon.  

I'm O- previously I was a frequent donor, I used to pass a collection centre on my way home from work, now it's a 15min trip and with Covid etc I just haven't made the time.

I'm hanging my head in shame.

Feb 1, 2022 3:47:51 GMT 🤯 said:

My O Pos mixed with Wife 's B Neg to make son B Pos.

Or, as I like to say, son is his mom but with my positivity.

Used to donate all the time because I liked the freebies and feeling like a hero. Then I started to faint on occasion and switched to double red cell or plasma donation because they pressured me to do that and said I wouldn't faint anymore because fluid would be injected back in. But then one time I got a bad needle stick and my injection site swelled up like a tennis ball under my skin. Not so fun.

Haven't donated in years. Done more than my part. Bled gallons since high school. Some of these other lazy do-nothings need to step up now. Plus, it's off-putting that blood banks are pushier than debt collectors.

+1

It took a long long time for me to convince the local blood bank that I'd make appointments when I can (variable work schedule), not when they want. Don't get paid but I do have a truckload of free T-shirts which I wear to the gym which is nice.

Frequent platelet donor, which somehow wipes me out way more than a regular blood donation even though it's supposed to be the opposite.

Covid has hit bad and oddly, as donations are down but paradoxically it's harder to make an appointment since their capacity is halved for social distancing type reasons.

A+ type, which I am sure makes my Asian parents proud.

Feb 1, 2022 3:47:51 GMT 🤯 said:

My O Pos mixed with Wife 's B Neg to make son B Pos.

Or, as I like to say, son is his mom but with my positivity.

O+ blood brothers! NICE PIEMAN! Yeah...having my arm swollen up like a tennis ball would definitely turn me off for quite a while. 

Feb 1, 2022 4:46:43 GMT iron maiden said:

I'm A+. Funny story, last time my mom and I went in and we both took 4 times longer to collect from than a 'usual' blood giver. We also both fainted. I assume this has something to do with our low blood pressure. They didn't say 'don't come back', but they didn't really cheer us on to come back either.  I think we messed up their day.  Came out of there feeling rather deflated.   I should try again here soon.  

Use the Canadian Blood Services app Maiden. It's called GiveBlood. It also tracks your bleed time. I'm pretty consistent around 8  minutes but apparently in October 2020 I had a 20 minute session. Must have been dehydrated or something. Put it on your eventual to-do list, maybe in April or May once your insane work life has calmed down and the snow has melted. 

Feb 1, 2022 7:38:13 GMT iNCY said:

I'm O- previously I was a frequent donor, I used to pass a collection centre on my way home from work, now it's a 15min trip and with Covid etc I just haven't made the time.

I'm hanging my head in shame.

Mmm they must have loved you being a consistent O- donor. Incy in demand! Don't hang your head in shame, you've had a crazy past few years from all accounts. 

Feb 2, 2022 1:08:00 GMT Michinokudriver said:

It took a long long time for me to convince the local blood bank that I'd make appointments when I can (variable work schedule), not when they want. Don't get paid but I do have a truckload of free T-shirts which I wear to the gym which is nice.

Frequent platelet donor, which somehow wipes me out way more than a regular blood donation even though it's supposed to be the opposite.

Covid has hit bad and oddly, as donations are down but paradoxically it's harder to make an appointment since their capacity is halved for social distancing type reasons.

A+ type, which I am sure makes my Asian parents proud.

That last line is an underrated comment, love it Michi! 

The trick that's worked for me is that when I check in for my donation, the program asks if it can schedule me immediately for the next appointment I'm eligible for. I always click yes, and take whatever they schedule me for. I eventually go on the app and switch it to a day and time that actually works for me. As long as I have a scheduled appointment in the system, they leave me alone, other than one automated reminder call. But if I don't have a scheduled appointment? ...yeah...on my case. But it's been years since that's happened because of my system!

I want free tshirts  

Foos great gift giver and blood donor, are you hiding a dark secret?

Do you cut in line or clap when your plane lands?

Seriously though you’re a legend, well done.

Setup for a whole blood donation this Sunday near my church, haven't done this in like 2-3 years(Def before pandemic), so it was about time, especially with the blood shortage in New York and all. Probably wipes out my weekly workout sess on Sundays(Just means gotta rotate it to Saturday) and probably no BBQ on Saturday for preparation but here we go.

O positive. I frequently donate my blood to quest diagnostics for my seemingly endless testing that never finds anything <.<

Donating blood in the US is kind of a scam though. You freely give away blood, then the blood collection place sells the blood to hospitals, with the going rate of about $150 for a unit of blood. They claim they are selling the blood at a tiny loss too after you factor in their labor. Now the hospital has the bag, they charge the patient $300 for that unit of blood, which they claim is due to the cost of storing the blood. Setting up the infusion in the US is about $1000.

Should not be shocking though since they buy saline as $5 a unit and charge $100 for it before the costs of starting the drip are added.

What gets real interesting to start a saline drip they charge 150 on average. For blood it is 1000 on average. The process of starting the drip is the same for each however with the only difference in application being needle gauge.

Merica baby.

Edit:  Should note some places do freely donate the blood to the hospital.  The hospital will treat the blood as if they paid standard rate though when they mark it up for the consumer.

Donations, charities... everything is all about 💲💲💲

In Australia, we don't get paid for blood donations, it is done purely by community minded individuals.
This thread has inspired me to get back on the donation bandwagon.
I donated for years, because I used to drive past a collection centre on my way home from work.

I have booked in for next Monday.

Finished it up yesterday, man I used to be a warrior when it came to this stuff like 7-10 years ago. Now, I can really feel the toll after giving even just whole blood. :lol: Took it real easy on Sunday.

Jun 7, 2022 4:45:53 GMT iNCY said:

I have booked in for next Monday.

I bumped mine to tomorrow morning because of today being a holiday.

I actually don't remember. I'm not the biggest fan of needles (it's not quite as bad as my fear of heights). Last time I got my blood drawn I fainted, but that was mostly because I was a dumbass and didn't eat something beforehand. I usually just look away and I'm fine. Syringes just weird me out.

Donated once at my high school. I assume that's probably a thing of the past now post-Covid. If I ever found out I was O- though I'd probably bite the bullet and take one for the team.

I do at least balance it out by being a registered organ donor.

Mission accomplished.
They were pretty desperate, it is flu season here and it is ripping through the community and having a big impact on blood supplies.

I haven’t actually donated blood before, and weirdly if you get a standard blood test they don’t check your blood type even if you ask they aren’t allowed to check? Maybe it’s a way to convince people to go donate. Or maybe my doctor was bullshitting me. Everything is possible.

Originally I had low iron and other health issues so I was reluctant to donate, then I always had a tattoo too recent to donate but they’ve dramatically changed the rules on that. I believe it’s now 3 months instead of 12 months. I’m hoping to see my doctor soon and request a blood test to actually see where my levels are for a lot of things and if it’s all gucci I’m hoping to donate blood this year. Just trying to get an appointment with my doctor lately is a mission and a half.

Nice to see Blindy and iNCY step up with some donations! I donated again yesterday for the fourth time this year. I got a sprite, little chocolate chip cookies, and cheezies for post donation snack from the blood centre. Place was hopping. Was very happy to see that!

My blood donation app now has a fancy set of selfie templates that it STRONGLY encourages you to use. So let's do it!

Donate blood, do your civic duty. Get some snacks. Today was shortbread cookies, chips, and mango juice.

I’m not as diligent as you. I donate about once a year sometimes twice. They come to my job with the big bus. I give if I’m there that day.

Jr donates a little more often than me. About 3 times a year.


Wife is a universal donor so she donates whenever she can. Which is about every 8 weeks.


My sister in law in Japan has a blood type only she and her sister share. Their grandfather was exposed to the Nagasaki A bomb. And it mutated his blood. He had to donate his entire life for himself. Like they bank blood because until he had offspring no one could donate to him. Even now it’s like 3 people in the family left with this blood type. So she too has to bank her own blood in case something happens in the future.

Setup for 5/28 8:15AM to give blood at my local church. Lets do it.

EDIT: Almost 1 year to the date.

Feel like the turnout needs to be solid if not good for NY Blood Center to showup nearby so from a convenience standpoint, gotta support the drive for that alone. 

Feel like I drank too much coffee the day before and morning of which really made the blood transfer sucky. Going to eat good on the weekend and avoid decent amount of caffeine. 

May 17, 2023 18:49:44 GMT All34LOL said:

My sister in law in Japan has a blood type only she and her sister share. Their grandfather was exposed to the Nagasaki A bomb. And it mutated his blood. He had to donate his entire life for himself. Like they bank blood because until he had offspring no one could donate to him. Even now it’s like 3 people in the family left with this blood type. So she too has to bank her own blood in case something happens in the future.

That is crazy

Thanks for doing your part. We need more people like you.

Way to go Foos and everyone else who donates!


Mom and I take too long to donate blood (collection wise) so we donate plasma.

May 17, 2023 19:41:13 GMT Gyro LC said:

May 17, 2023 18:49:44 GMT All34LOL said:

My sister in law in Japan has a blood type only she and her sister share. Their grandfather was exposed to the Nagasaki A bomb. And it mutated his blood. He had to donate his entire life for himself. Like they bank blood because until he had offspring no one could donate to him. Even now it’s like 3 people in the family left with this blood type. So she too has to bank her own blood in case something happens in the future.

That is crazy

Ditto All34LOL. That's such a wild story. 

This was only my second donation this year. I had to postpone a bunch earlier in the year due to surgery recovery and being sick a few times. Hopefully I can get three more in, I usually aim for 5 per year. 

I coached my son's soccer game tonight. It's 5/6 year olds, so 30 minutes of practicing, skills, and fun activities, and then 30 minutes "game" against a different team. I'm bagged. Still working on my conditioning period, combined with blood donation has left me very tired. 

Also no nerds commented on my shirt! Gyro LC , All34LOL , Michinokudriver , c , @ness , iron maiden 

May 18, 2023 2:16:25 GMT Foos said:

Also no nerds commented on my shirt! Gyro LC , All34LOL , Michinokudriver , c , @ness , iron maiden  

I noticed it but I was busy trying to think why there isn't an element that is just R.

I didn't pay attention to it until you pointed it out. I'm ashamed. I know you always wear nerd shirts.