Do you Give???

Jennifer put a post up HERE about giving blood… And AGirl had one up HERE.

I used to give blood all the time, and thankfully never had the experience AGirl had, at least not until that night after some beers…

Back in the early mumble 70s , the Navy/Marines used to have a ‘project’ for giving blood, ‘we’ knew it affectionately as “Vampire Liberty”. The Red Cross or local hospitals used to bring in either buses to take us to give, or bring a blood van to the bases.  Now for ‘some’ reason they always seemed to do this on Thursday between paydays…  If you gave blood, you got ‘early’ liberty on Friday. I ‘think’ it was around 13-1400… AND you got paid for your blood (since I am O+ I think I got maybe $5, but some of the ‘rare’ types got a LOT more; I remember we had one guy with AB- and I think he got around $40). 

During Vietnam, there was always a need for blood, and usually when we had a ‘duty week’, we’d go give on Monday.  I seem to remember we were limited to once every three months, but that’s still a lot of blood over x years. 

Sadly, due to my travels in strange/weird places over the years, I’m no longer allowed to give blood unless it’s TEOTWAWKI…

Why am I bringing this up, well to make a long story short, there are a LOT of folks that need ‘good’ blood, with the right antigens, and it seems fewer and fewer in the newer generations are willing to give.  

Folks, there is ALWAYS a significant need for blood, especially those who are accident victims, undergoing surgery, chemo, and lots of other uses.

HERE are some statistics that may surprise you…

Bottom line, sometimes the ‘best’ donation you can give is the cheapest… A little bit of your time, and a little bit of your blood.  The life you save ‘may’ be mine, or Jennifer’s, or AGirl’s; or someone you love…

AABB has a donation locator HERE, or the Red Cross has one HERE.

Thanks!

Comments

Do you Give??? — 15 Comments

  1. I give, but I can’t schedule and now they want appointments.
    I used to drop in, but I’ve gone lately and sat there as person after person who came in after me get taken.
    So I don’t give as regularly as I used to.

  2. If had malaria. They don’t want mine.

    It’s a product of fighting for my country in distant lands…earned honestly.

  3. Well I used to, but after Chemotherapy they don’t seem to want any…

    Such a shame too, because anyone on the blunt end of the needle usually drools at the size of my veins!

  4. Back in the 60’s there were 3 blood banks in down town Long Beach. They gave $5 for a pint of blood. We (I) would go over on Friday evening and give a pint and to the other two on Saturday. Fifteen buck went a long way back then. But it was Saturday afternoon before I really felt like doing anything.

  5. I used to donate blood and plasma.
    But after having a massive and unexplained passing of blood.i had to get transfusion.The had more transfusion with a couple of surgeries I can not longer donate.

  6. Ed- I didn’t realize that… Sorry to hear it!

    LL- Yep, heard that!

    Rev- Ouch!

    WSF- Understood

    Badger- LOL, Blind man stick is what you’re saying…

    CP- LOL, yep heard that.

  7. They won’t take mine either, tis a shame since I’m AB+.

  8. NAVSUBSCHOL still does “Vampire Liberty”, but only those with the right schedule benefit, and the Red Cross only comes once a month – on Wednesdays.

  9. CinCHome has periodic appts at NH Balboa. I’ll drop her off at the door, after roaming around looking for parking, I’ll head off to the BloodMobile. We generally finish about the same time.

  10. Scotch- Ouch… Yours is REALLY needed…

    Fisher- LOL, looks like they finally smartened up… 🙂

    SoCal- Not a bad plan, thanks!

  11. I used to happily give blood. Then I went and lived in Scotland for some years, inadvertently giving myself a life-time ban. At some point, they may have to rethink some of the disqualifications; how one balances that against the genuine safety issues though?