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136 Comments
- had3l, on 01/02/2009, -1/+26As a vampire myself, I can say that blood banks do indeed save lives. Ever since I started using their services, I haven't killed anyone in 14 years.
- caffeineme, on 01/02/2009, -0/+17It's ironic...I DONATE my blood to the local hospital. Yet, if I go back and need that blood, they'll charge me for it. Sure, it saves lives and there's no substitute, but what I'm really doing is allowing them to take from me, and sell back for a profit.
Cynical, yes, a little. - belcorriko, on 01/01/2009, -3/+20While I desperately would like to donate my precious, much needed, O-Negative, universal donor blood, I can't. They won't let me, and that is very sad. So for those of you who are eligible to donate blood, please do so.
http://chapters.redcross.org/ca/norcal/donor/faq.h ... - xmzx, on 01/02/2009, -0/+16Once the Red Cross stops paying their board exec's $500,000 a year and selling my blood for almost $1,000 a pint, I'll think about donating to them.
- Akairenn, on 01/02/2009, -0/+14*****, I'm wondering, is there some way I can cut out the middleman?
Any hospitals out there want some cheap blood? Discount rates! $500/pint!
(I'll negotiate lower; but you need to provide *good* cookies and orange juice.) - batmanz, on 01/02/2009, -0/+14I dunno. My mom always was donating her blood, seriously every opportunity she could. Then one day she was rushed to the hospital, her blood count was way under normal, they had to do transfusions over an entire day. Then the bill came. It was something like $3000 per blood container, and she had had four. They used to give huge discounts to people who donated, what's the deal?
- Virrow, on 01/01/2009, -4/+18Everyone who can give blood please do so! It saves lives and you might feel a little better knowing you helped save a life! :)
- inactive, on 01/02/2009, -1/+14O negative here, representing.
or something. - Rikkochet, on 01/02/2009, -1/+13Well, you donate blood.. That's all you do.
Then the blood bank has to take over and:
1) Arrange transport
2) Centrifuge the blood to separate out the platelets and plasma
3) Perform tests for a variety of blood borne diseases on EVERY donation
4) Manage the logistics of all this plus their blood inventory
5) Pay staff to do all the above things
Steps 1-5 cost money. A LOT of money, so yes, someone has to pay for that.
Since the US has no socialized healthcare, that means it gets passed down to the person requiring the transfusion. - haentz, on 01/02/2009, -0/+12Oh my... You are one unpleasant person, sir...
- socalvillaguy, on 01/02/2009, -1/+13I was one of those guys who used to give blood all the time from the earliest age I could, but thanks to an illness I developed later on in life, I can no longer donate. The ironic part is my illness requires I receive regular infusions from blood components (called IVIG). Frankly, it's the only thing that has really helped me regain and retain my health. Therefore, I have a very personal reason for supporting the blood drives that are routinely held by the ARC and other organizations.
The cost to you to donate blood is free except for your time and a little discomfort. The cost to process blood products from blood, including all the testing needed to verify blood is safe to donate, elevates the cost of what you donate to the medical community. Don't let your distrust of big organizations dissuade you from giving the gift of life - and for me, that's exactly what it is. - inactive, on 01/02/2009, -1/+12You have the intelligence of a field mouse.
and the compassion of a religion teacher. - Blinker1315, on 01/02/2009, -1/+11Now this is legitimate story that, no matter how often it's printed, is important to the public. As opposed to dumb stories about how trash was left over at Times Square after New Year's Eve.
- bluthng, on 01/02/2009, -2/+12I did not make the choice to be gay.
However, I did make the choice to not be a whore and only have safe sex. I would love to help safe lives, but unfortunately I can't.
And you know what, the rate of HIV infections are growing in women. Why don't be just ban all of them too while we're at it. - cadmiumpaint, on 01/02/2009, -0/+10to be fair, it does cost a lot of money to run a bloodbank.
employees don't work for free. buildings don't lease for free. medical supplies aren't free. Who do you think pays for all those blood drive mobiles that go around and collect donations? - upsidedork, on 01/02/2009, -0/+9I would be pleased to donate -- but in the US, gays are forbidden from giving blood.
It is dumb. - _skin_, on 01/02/2009, -1/+10We don't want your blood.
- _skin_, on 01/02/2009, -0/+9I just gave blood on wednesday and got my 1 gallon pin. I got drunk pretty fast after that, and had one hell of a hangover the next day.
- DamnMan, on 01/02/2009, -9/+18Not until they stop with the the antiquated and discriminatory screening questions like recent tattoos, piercings etc. They even refuse gay men(but not gay women) by the same general logic of "at risk" behavior. They are going to test the blood anyway so why does it matter?
***** my local tattoo parlor is cleaner than the local ER for what its worth. Go American Health care! - corysfo, on 01/02/2009, -1/+10you're not understanding belcorriko, nintendesert. did you even read what the redcross itself said on the issue (the link to which he posted)?
having sex with other men is not considered a legit risk anymore, not for a long time. it's an outdated law that even the red cross wants to see changed. in this modern society there are ways to screen blood for hiv whether it's coming from a gay person or a straight one. the fact that someone's gay should no longer prevent them from donating precious blood. - Hosalabad, on 01/02/2009, -1/+10I just got my new card, 11 pints!
- hostpure, on 01/02/2009, -1/+9Here In New Zealand they have some silly law that prohibits anybody who lived in England during the time of that 'Mad Cow Disease' outbreak over a decade ago. I would happily go donate blood but unfortunately due to a 1 in a [insert very big number here] chance that I may have mad cow disease I get turned around at the door and sent packing.
- inactive, on 01/02/2009, -2/+10I can't donate my blood because they will find out i have unique blood. In fact, i am a Alien from outer space.
- JustJoe4Life, on 01/02/2009, -0/+8Quick get a cup!
- had3l, on 01/02/2009, -1/+8Excellent...
Mankind should give up their blood willingly or suffer the consequences.
/signed Dracula - Rikkochet, on 01/02/2009, -0/+7Typical "me me me" selfish response. What would you like? What exactly are the terms you're setting out that will permit you to save lives? This is the same attitude as "***** the poor, it's their fault they're poor".
If we really do have blood shortages, instead of these huge PR campaigns, I vote for a hierarchical recipient system. If you're a blood donor, you can receive transfusion blood as a priority. If someone needs blood and has never donated in their life, bottom of the pile. The constant excuses I hear, from "I'm afraid of needles" to "I'm too busy" to whatever the ***** jefree thinks the world owes him, are sickening.
Help out or don't expect any help. - davidg11, on 01/02/2009, -0/+6That's gay.
- Eagle193, on 01/02/2009, -0/+6donated today! :-)
- SilverBack101, on 01/02/2009, -0/+6Seriously?
- glasnostic, on 01/02/2009, -1/+7are they expecting a particularly nasty February?
- Stormwern, on 01/02/2009, -0/+6Can't give blood, too much drugs :(
(prescription) - MicroMan79, on 01/02/2009, -0/+6Don't forget the HUGE profit margin. Items 1-5 are not nearly as costly as one would think.
As for passing on the cost, yes it trickles down to the consumer, but healthcare providers eat the cost on Medicare/Medicaid patients due to poor reimbursement. This of course assumes that the facility is using a blood bank (such as ARC) as a provider opposed to trying to support their own. - inactive, on 01/02/2009, -1/+6But I need my blood for bleeding!
Really though, go donate. - 13thfloor, on 01/02/2009, -0/+5Um, yeah... sorry about that... the internet said you would like it.
- inactive, on 01/02/2009, -1/+6That's *****, gay men are not the only group that engage in unsafe sex.
I'm sure there's more unsafe sex goes on by drunken college kids than by the average gay couple. - jonstewart24, on 01/02/2009, -0/+5It's because of the higher risk of HIV spreading.
When better testing equipment is universal the ban will be lifted.
It's kinda dumb because now the highest risk for HIV is white straight women.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18827137/ - inactive, on 01/02/2009, -2/+7Please, please donate your blood, its so critical and everyone is in short supply, donating blood saves lives, please please please donate...... UNLESS!
1) You have had sex with a man once since.
2) Paid for sex or sold sexual services once since 1977.
3) Lived, Born or had a sexual relationship with anyone from Africa (well specific countries).
4) Have lived in Western Europe since 1980.
5) Have had a tatoo done once in the past 16 months.
6) Use any recreational drugs.
7) Have been arrested and spent more than 72 hours in jail in the past 12 months.
8) Are under 110 lbs.
Full List, http://www.bloodbook.com/donr-requir.html
Honor system is in place because screening the blood can be a very expensive process. - PsychoBrat, on 01/03/2009, -0/+4You're allowed to donate with any amount of alcohol in your blood, as long as you're neither unruly, nor too dehydrated.
I asked. - IceSabre, on 01/02/2009, -1/+5Yeah the first time I ran across this was right after I got my ear pierced professionally with a surgical needle, sterile environment etc. They said that if I had it done with one of the cheapy guns it would be ok but a needle was off limits. That is just plain stupid.
They can't take people by their word or they will risk everybody... so why bother eliminating possible donors who in all likelyhood are as clean as anybody else. - davidg11, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4Can't give blood, too much drugs :(
(illegal) - PsychoBrat, on 01/03/2009, -0/+4What are you suggesting? Punch donors in the kidneys and let them pee it out?
- briarmoss, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4So you're just gonna be kind of dick to people until they're nice to you? Good luck with that.
- daviddiaz, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4Here in America is the same. In fact, if you've ever been in England, since 1980 for a total time of 3 months or greater you can't donate.
- terriblelie, on 01/02/2009, -1/+51) You have had sex with a man once since. - Check
2) Paid for sex or sold sexual services once since 1977. - Check
3) Lived, Born or had a sexual relationship with anyone from Africa (well specific countries). - Nope
4) Have lived in Western Europe since 1980. - Nope
5) Have had a tatoo done once in the past 16 months. - Check
6) Use any recreational drugs. - Check
7) Have been arrested and spent more than 72 hours in jail in the past 12 months. - Check
8) Are under 110 lbs. - Nope
5 out of 8.... Looks like they dont want my blood :'( - jhourcle, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4During the time of the outbreak? It goes _much_ further back than that for giving in the US:
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/blood/supp ...
As I was a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent more than 6 months associated with a military base in in the 1980s in the Netherlands, I'm not elligible. Anyone who's spent more than 5 years in Europe since 1980 is disqualified, too. (as they want anyone who as potentially exposed to the problem _before_ it was noticed in the outbreak) - Ymeg, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4shoo troll
- borez, on 01/02/2009, -1/+5You wouldn't want my blood...seriously.
- stonebear, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4Or at least cut us in.
- IceSabre, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4Actually I just read the other article that quoted from the American Red Cross... and we should be able to donate as long as the needle was known to be sterile. So my blood bank lied to me they said I couldn't no matter what.
Maybe take a copy of the red cross guidelines to the bank and point that out. - SilverBack101, on 01/02/2009, -0/+4Must be like a potluck dinner for you vampires this month!
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