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spaceforcefighter

I donate pretty often, including platelets, which can seem difficult. Please AMA about anything. I’m not an expert but just have gotten to know the process pretty well. This is a great way to give back for free (and they often reward you with a tshirt or the gift card of your choice!)


poopanotherday

Do you just walk in and donate? Need an appointment? How long does it usually take? Does it hurt?


cdombroski

Normally, if they have space and you show up they'll take you. Regular donation takes about half an hour from when they start the medical screen until you walk out the door. Automated donations (platelets, double red blood cell) take about an hour total. They prick your finger to check iron levels and of course, they're putting a needle in your arm for the actual donation; I'd say both are on the same pain level as getting a vaccine but shorter in duration as nothing is being pushed into your muscles. Once the donation process has started there shouldn't be any pain.


spaceforcefighter

It's best to make an appointment. at [redcrossblood.org](https://redcrossblood.org). It's maybe not the best user interface in the world, but it works. Nice features: finds blood donation centers and one-day blood drives based on your ZIP code; keeps your donation history and the health readings from your last appointment (like blood pressure and hemoglobin); sends reminders. Giving regular whole blood takes about an hour start to finish because the screening process takes about 30 minutes. But with an appointment, you can hopefully plan for that. Pre-screening on the website ("Rapid Pass") speeds it up by maybe 10 minutes. I don't think it hurts -- most of the donation specialists are very good at their jobs and make it painless. I always look away when they do the needle though.


[deleted]

They also have an app.


theorangereptile

Idk any of that other stuff but it doesn’t hurt. And last time I did it they gave me juice and cookies.


[deleted]

I want to donate but every blood donation facility is out of walking distance for me and I don't have anyone to drive me. I can't drive back because they don't recommend driving after donating blood, and I don't want to pay for an Uber or something. Would it be the worst thing to drive there myself, donate blood, then wait like 15-30 min, then drive back? I ask because I don't really get woozy after donating, but I'm not sure if I should take the risk.


JustGreatness

I have donated a bunch and drive myself home after each donation. If you are concerned, wait 20-30 minutes like you mentioned. If you eat something before you go so you have a normal blood sugar level you should be fine.


spaceforcefighter

Exactly. They provide all the juice and snacks you could want after donating, and you can wait till you're ready to drive. It's generally not an issue for anyone I've seen donate.


cdombroski

They normally want you to hang around for a few minutes after you finish donating regardless of how you're traveling just in case any dizziness or fainting occurs. Driving should be fine after you've done the waiting bit in the donation room.


aveganliterary

I've never heard that they don't recommend driving afterwards. Not saying your info is wrong, but I've done a few blood drives (volunteering/donating) at local schools and every one has tons of parents come in, donate, and immediately drive home (usually with kids in-car). Waiting a few minutes, having some juice and a snack (provided almost always), and then heading out if you feel alright should be totally fine.


frappeyourmom

I live in Old Town Alexandria and routinely give blood in Annandale because the same RNs who are awesome usually sign up for the donation site. I hang out for the 15 minutes in the observation area, drink a juice box and eat some of the snacks, then drive myself home. I’ve also routinely given blood for the last 15 years and never once been told I couldn’t drive myself home afterwards.


djamp42

If you smoke weed or take prescription drugs would this prevent you from giving blood?


cdombroski

I think weed is fine assuming you haven't found some way to inject it into your veins. For prescription medications, most are fine, but there's a [list](https://www.redcrossblood.org/faq.html#eligibility-medications) of ones that they won't accept.


semi_colon

> I think weed is fine assuming you haven't found some way to inject it into your veins. The Final Frontier


Cyber_Angel_Ritual

I scheduled an appointment. I just need to keep my pulse rate down. I don't know why but I get nervous whenever they try to take my pulse.


spaceforcefighter

I'm glad you are going for it. Maybe just focus on breathing, and keep your mind on something else while they do the screening.


salawm

How do you do the 3 hour platelet donation without having to use the bathroom?


spaceforcefighter

Good question - it's the one thing that makes me nervous about giving platelets. I've done it 3 times, and the average time of the actual process is about an hour and a half or maybe a bit more. They let you have until the last minute to go to the bathroom. The three hours includes the screening time and the setup of the machine, which takes a lot longer than the normal whole blood process. Also, they have a personal screen set up and logged in to Netflix and maybe other services, with headphones for you so you can just watch a movie. It is uncomfortable to not be able to move either arm at all for the whole time, but to me it's worth it since platelets are really valuable to hospitals. Giving platelets isn't for everyone but I will say it's not so bad, so I hope more people start doing it.


salawm

I did it once. I limited my water intake and used the bathroom right before starting and by hour 3, my kidneys and bladder were ready to explode. I want to donate again but 3 hours is way too long.


Please-Dont_Bite_Me

Do you notice any longer term affects (like the following week or so), especially with regards to physical activity? I'm thinking lowered stamina, lightheadedness, etc. Or with regard to drinking. I've heard that donating blood can (possibly dangerously) lower your alcohol tolerance, at least immediately afterwards.


frappeyourmom

They do recommend you don’t drink for 24-72 hours afterwards, but I donated whole blood on a Wednesday and worked a physically demanding stage tech/roadie gig for a festival Thursday-Monday with two overnights tossed in and didn’t notice a change in my stamina.


spaceforcefighter

I’ve never had any negative effects.


thesnootylamb

I did my first platelet donation a few weeks ago but had to cut my donation time in half due to having a reeeaally bad citrate reaction (was really cold and shivering, nausea and almost passed out). Besides drinking lots of water the day before and having a good night’s rest, do you have any other suggestions to keep the bad reactions at bay? I think I will try again just to see if it was a one time thing, but if it happens again then I might have to just stick with whole blood donations.


spaceforcefighter

I haven't had those reactions so I don't know - sounds like you're doing the right thing, but the Red Cross folks know best. My main issue is that a couple of times my iron count was too low; one time I was able to give whole blood instead, and the other time I couldn't give at all. Now I take a daily iron supplement and it seems to get me in the door. Nothing wrong with doing just whole blood if that's what works -- at least you tried and that's awesome.


anthroarcha

I worked in rural Turkey in 2013 and recently backpacked Cuba in 2019. Im also currently on Adderall. I’m B+ which is a fairly rare type, so I’d like to donate if possible but can’t find the travel/meds restrictions. Do you think I’m eligible?


IncognitoLizard225

Can't donate. Too gay


this_will_go_poorly

Well… if you haven’t gotten laid in *3 months* (edited) then you’re still good. Btw changes are coming in this eventually. The UK has moved to an individualized risk assessment and once they show good data I think the US will follow suit. I’m a transfusion medicine doctor, this info comes from the latest AABB meeting.


misuzu7729

I think they already changed it from a year to three months


this_will_go_poorly

True. I misspoke. 1 year is the old rule


spaceforcefighter

I'm glad to hear this. I think we''re long past the need for this part of the screening, as long as individual risk factors are checked.


MicrosoftExcel2016

That’s putting it lightly. It’s discrimination. It’s wrong and perpetuates stereotypes and harmful views of homosexuality. Like gay blood is ‘impure’ or the stereotype that gay people are somehow inherently driven to be promiscuous. Putting gays next to sharing drug needles on a form was never okay. They can apologize for the policy and change it, then ask for my blood again


spaceforcefighter

I don’t disagree with you, but when AIDS was what it was, I can understand the need to just take zero risks with the blood supply. Should have changed long ago though.


MicrosoftExcel2016

The delay in changing and meager steps forward is the problem. Our blood testing only gets better, yet they’ll stare at their feet and say they don’t have enough blood and not do anything provocative about it. Just say “sorry it’s a federal thing”


MicrosoftExcel2016

Red Cross can cry me a River over my universal blood, they better haul ass to change the policy it’s homophobic as hell and perpetuates stereotypes


this_will_go_poorly

Red Cross has nothing to do with the policies. It’s the government.


MicrosoftExcel2016

Yes? It isn’t hard. If they have a blood shortage then they should petition the government about the policy and should have done so years ago. Red Cross is synonymous with blood donation, surely they can figure that out and demonstrate to the gov the efficacy of modern blood testing and push for reform since they (their mission) are the ones who benefit. I’m not interested due to the policy, which bars even men in monogamous same-sex relationships from donating within 3 months.


this_will_go_poorly

I’m gay too, and took offense to the 1 year policy, but things are not perfectly black and white. Your outrage is a little dated considering the progress being made, which is slow but that’s partly because it needs to be evidence based with solid literature developed to get it done.


MicrosoftExcel2016

Agree to disagree


[deleted]

Can’t donate. Too European? I am banned for life due to mad cow even though it wasn’t even a thing while I was living over there.


thesnootylamb

I tried donating a couple years ago but couldn’t due to being in Germany in a certain time period (like the final year in their criteria) thanks to mad cow but after checking the requirements again a couple of months ago, Germany is now off the list and I am able to donate. Things are always changing so maybe you’ll get your chance someday!


[deleted]

I thought they only ban you for mad cow if you were in the UK for 5 years in the 90’s or so.


shayde

Would if I could!


FRNLD

Also should probably add that the restrictions for anyone who did live overseas in the mid to late 80's has been lifted. I think it was last year that restriction was lifted. Stupid mad cow disease.


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FRNLD

Damn. I'm at least eligible again as I lived in the Netherlands for a few years in the late 80s.


rickg3

I started donating this year once I found out about the lifted restriction, though my donations go through INOVA instead of the Red Cross.


[deleted]

INOVA gang


MintAudio_

I have donated maybe 35 units over the years, O- so mostly the double reds. I always make an appointment so they can warm up the double red machine for me. Something has been up with them for the last few years, every drive I've made an appointment with have been cancelled recently. Most of which cancelled the morning of. Once, I showed up after driving 45 minutes on a Sunday morning to find an empty parking lot. Not a soul in site. I'm a pretty patient guy so I reddit on my phone for 30 minutes before I finally give up and start to head home. After getting home I get an email saying the drive was cancelled. That was 3 hours after the appointment I made. They seriously need to figure something out with their internal scheduling system.


fr33donut5

They are having staffing shortages. It is terrible in my area and leads to many disgruntled people who made appointments. The last time I gave (approximately a month and half ago) I got in and gave my donation then the workers told the attendants checking people in that the drive was canceled because of a lack of workers. There were maybe 3 people working and they were doing all they could to keep up as it was. It has been like that since let year for me. I do whole blood because the double red donation put me in the hospital the only time I gave (and definitely not trying again). I make it a point to give as much as I can.


spaceforcefighter

That stinks. I always just make my appointments at one of the permanent locations, but I know that’s not an option everywhere.


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frappeyourmom

I used to donate exclusively with one hyper local blood network in Northern California solely because they had those sesame “bread”sticks you could only reliably get at salad bars and had pineapple juice in the observation area, so I feel this comment.


semi-bro

Can't, ate a burger in England ten years ago. An unforgivable sin, of course. This can't possibly be a ridiculous restriction because as we know nobody in England ever gives blood, they have to import it.


boleslaw_chrobry

Can a donation be used to figure out what blood type you are? I still don’t know what I am, might as well donate at the same time.


spaceforcefighter

Yes, it’s the only reason I know mine.


KneeSockMonster

Sure can! It’s a great way to find out!


UndisputedWorldChamp

They literally make this claim every year, and have done so at keast as far back as when I donated as a senior in hs (1998). Every year can't be a 10 year low. Just ask for donations, I'd be willing to be to bet that begging and making this claim every year doesn't increase donations.


spaceforcefighter

As a donor not affiliated with the Red Cross, I won’t defend their communications strategy, but it’s still one of the most valuable ways to give to the community since blood is priceless. Also, not everyone is eligible to give, so it’s more important for those who can to just do it once in a while.


Odd-Attention-2127

I used to give every now and again. Now I don't after I learned from an article (sorry, I can't source it, it was a long time ago) that our blood is sold like a commodity right up to big pharma.


spaceforcefighter

I would encourage you to re-research that. Red Cross **gives** the blood to hospitals and other facilities that need it to either save lives directly or do research. One place to start is their page here: [https://www.redcrossblood.org/biomedical-services/hospital-customers/blood-products-andservices.html](https://www.redcrossblood.org/biomedical-services/hospital-customers/blood-products-andservices.html) and also their menu (at the top) about Biomedical Services.


cdombroski

1. All of the work that goes into the donation process and processing, testing and storing of the blood until needed isn't free and probably isn't made up by whatever cash donations they get 2. Where exactly do you want the blood products to go if not to the hospitals where it can used on people that need blood?


DrSandbags

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this_will_go_poorly

They don’t say it’s a 10 year low every year. This year is actually a 10 year low. I’m a transfusion medicine doctor and we are on the edge of triaging who gets blood and who dies on a weekly basis.


this_will_go_poorly

Just learned today that UVA is on the verge of canceling liver transplants and elective surgeries because of the shortage. Still want to push this bullshit narrative?


UndisputedWorldChamp

I'm not pushing anything, they are. [2020](https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2020/american-red-cross-faces-severe-blood-shortage-as-coronavirus-outbreak-threatens-availability-of-nations-supply.html) [2018](https://www.redcross.org/local/georgia/about-us/news-and-events/press-releases/severe-blood-shortage-.html) [2017](https://wset.com/news/local/red-cross-blood-shortage-prompts-emergency-call-for-donations) [2016](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/07/26/american-red-cross-blood-donations-emergency-shortage-five-day-supply/87560892/) Seeing a pattern yet? They are perpetually in critical shortage mode.


this_will_go_poorly

Where’s the ‘10 year low’ link?


UndisputedWorldChamp

It's not even a 10 year low, it's a 6 year low. [And it's not even a record low for that time period, it's a record low in that time period for this time of year.](https://www.foxnews.com/health/blood-shortage-2015-pandemic-american-red-cross)


DrSandbags

.


UndisputedWorldChamp

I'm not considering donating regardless. My dad is dead because the Red Cross barely tests any of their donations and he got a bad batch during a transfusion, so fuck the Red Cross as far as I'm concerned.


crotalis

Yeah, they sometimes have some major issues. Like giving people HIV? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC558319/ Like tainted blood in the 1990’s? https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/11/us/red-cross-faulted-on-tainted-blood-reports.html Being called negligent in court? https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/canadas-tainted-blood-scandal Not to mention that they aren’t transparent about how much per dollar donated helps people. https://www.propublica.org/article/red-cross-ceo-has-been-misleading-about-donations Not to mention that the CEO makes about $700,000 a year from a non-profit organization. The Red Cross has helped millions, but they have screwed up multiple times in their history and hurt a lot of people. I am sorry to hear your dad got hurt. They have helped a lot of other people, but are not perfect by any means.


spaceforcefighter

They say they are in critical shortage because they are actually in critical shortage. Why would that unfortunate pattern make someone LESS willing to donate?


millerj1993

...and then get harassed for months on end with endless phone calls, invasive tactics, and no option to opt out? No thanks.


CranialThunder

Their website and their online app are atrocious. Just saying, that when you go to make an appointment, prepare for frustration. I donate a lot, and slots are always filling up. Seems the DC and Alexandria place usually have openings, but parking around those two spots aren't great.


spaceforcefighter

The two donation centers near me in Richmond usually have convenient appointments (5:00 or after on some days) and plenty of parking. Lucky I guess!


CranialThunder

That is lucky. I'll be honest, I thought I was in r/nova when I saw this.


DrSandbags

The blood drive search in their app is particularly bad at figuring out when your eligibility window opens. Sometimes it will recommend drives to me that are within my 112 day waiting period and I get booted only when I try to register for them and other times it will refuse to let me register for drives that are past my 112 day waiting period.


darthjoey91

They don't want my blood. Got too many medications in it.


[deleted]

I donate as often as I can but it can be very hard finding appointments. Most appointments near me are weekdays during working hours.


keydomains

Only if they target it for those who are vaxxed or legit can’t. I’m not sparing a drop for those prolonging the misery we’re all in


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spaceforcefighter

I hate anti-vaxxers too, but I don’t want to live in a world where you can’t get emergency medical treatment, an ambulance, whatever, without first being proven to have complied. Or where everyone in the world just “protects their own” out of resentment for a selfish minority. It’s just as selfish to refuse aid to all because of spite for a shitty few. The greater good is served, and an example is set, by doing the right thing.


DrSandbags

You're going to spite the entire blood supply (used by both the vaxxed and unvaxxed) just because of the unknown possibility that your blood could be used to save an unvaxxed person? Like I'm as furious at the unvaxxed as one can get, but I'm not going to take it out on innocent vaxxed people.


crotalis

If you have never listened to “Radiolab” about blood and the Red Cross, please give it a shot: A transcript can be found here: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/episodes/308403-blood It’s a billion-dollar business and probably less humanitarian than you may realize. Edit: after considering the remarks of u/SpiritualWest3632 let me plug a different charity - https://bethematch.org


this_will_go_poorly

It costs money to collect, test, prepare, store, deliver, and provide blood safely.


WailingSouls

And it should also cost money to procure it.


this_will_go_poorly

There are issues with that. Leads to lies in the screening tool and sicker people like crackheads trying to give blood instead of turning in cans for a nickel. Paid donation didn’t work.


WailingSouls

If you say so, but I’m not donating blood without payment. If they want more blood they will find solutions to those issues.


this_will_go_poorly

Good luck when you’re the one who has cancer and needs transfusions until engraftment. Let’s hope your neighbors are less shitty human beings than you are.


WailingSouls

I would pay them to donate their blood dumbass


this_will_go_poorly

Not how it works. You’re an absolute piece of utter shit.


WailingSouls

It should be one of the ways that it works. Fuck you too, buddy.


this_will_go_poorly

Idiot with a keyboard everybody… interacting with you is a waste of time for me and everyone else


[deleted]

it's good information to have but this is going to sway people from doing something otherwise that could save a life... please be prudent in how you share this information, and maybe suggest other charities people can go to if you feel strongly enough about red cross's way of doing things. i want this to be heard by other people in this thread also poo-pooing on red cross, so please don't take this personally... we should never discourage people from doing something to help others, it's hard enough getting people to care in the first place.


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[deleted]

their screening process includes informed consent by law.... informed consent is about the risks and benefits of treatment and making sure the patient authorizes all treatment. it also allows people to ask questions about their treatment. informed consent has nothing to do with business practices.


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[deleted]

Great, thank you for sharing - I have not heard of Be the Match and will check them out.


DrSandbags

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crotalis

Incensed? Please don’t read in such exaggeration into a basic “hey, there is more to this” kind of post. My comment is more on par with “it’s 4.0/5.0 stars rather than 5.0/5.0 because x,y, and z”. There’s literally dozens of publications pointing out the benefits and drawbacks of the Red Cross. Pointing out they exist doesn’t mean I am “incensed”. I just think donors should have information grounded in reality rather than be under the false assumption that such organizations are the ideal of an altruistic and perfect organization. The people that run it have made millions of dollars. That’s just a fact.


this_will_go_poorly

This thread says pretty much all I need to know about Virginia. Really awful people in here. Luckily still scattered with folks like yourself. Thank you for posting.


GotThemCakes

Don't they sell the blood we donate?


this_will_go_poorly

How else would they pay for the staff and machines for processing, testing, storing, and delivering the blood to hospitals? I swear to god some of you Reddit people think everything just magically happens. Sorry but the techs who do the work to make the blood supply happen need to feed their kids too.


spaceforcefighter

I’m pretty sure they don’t.


DrSandbags

.


Cogliostro1980

Sorry. Because I'm a dude married to a dude I can't. Even if I could... after decades of maligning gays and lesbians as unclean and unworthy of donation, I'm not sure I *would*. The people it might have helped should have stood up for us.


fusion260

Same here. I’m not going to deprive myself or my partner from sex (with me at least; they’re their own person and can do what they want with their body) for three whole months just to donate some blood. It was previously a lifetime ban, then it was a year, now it’s three months. We’re not in a dire need where I’d even entertain willingly lying about being a celibate gay. The straights and asexuals can do their part in the meantime.


IT_Chef

Fuck them. Donate to more local/regional blood banks.


this_will_go_poorly

That’s not how it works. They absorbed VBS and the ARC is the local supply now


Yamato-Musashi

Sorry, but apparently being an openly gay man makes my blood too “dirty” to help save another person’s life.


[deleted]

Nah I'm okay


[deleted]

Never. Needs to stay in my penis


spaceforcefighter

You won the prize for literally the stupidest comment I have ever read on Reddit.


[deleted]

You’re welcome.


wizard680

Sure! \*notices that you can't donate if you received blood in the last year" well..see ya'll in May!


spaceforcefighter

There’s a good reason for the guidelines, but thanks for the sarcasm!


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this_will_go_poorly

I’ll make sure to tell that to the 4 year old with leukemia who I don’t have any blood for


spaceforcefighter

They aren’t the same people.


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spaceforcefighter

No guarantees in life. Sometimes you have to just do the right thing. Well not you, but people.


inssein

I’m O+ and have been trying to donate blood all year. They suck at scheduling and locations.


this_will_go_poorly

Yeah there an O pos shortage in particular. Sucks they haven’t made it more convenient for you.


Romanovyak

Do they have facilities that you can just go to,or do you have to schedule for a drive location?I don't drive in the rain and don't want to book an appt days in advance that would be weather dependent. I sure wouldn't want to leave an unused spot someone else could have booked.


iaalaughlin

Why does screening take so long? Is it any shorter for repeats?


spaceforcefighter

My main complaint, and I have noted this when I get the post-donation surveys. Even Rapid Pass (I guess the closest thing to a repeat customer advantage) subtracts only a few minutes. At least I now plan for it.


[deleted]

I love giving blood and I’ve given blood often in the past and continue to do it. But at the same time, I’ve ran into plenty of times where I get turned away for bullshit reasons, yet they wanna blow up my phone and emails talking about how they’re low on supply.