Blood Donation Restrictions

[cassi9879 20]

The Red Cross website list restrictions for people living in Mad Cow Disease countries. I read it to mean pretty much that anyone from Europe can't donate blood in the US. I can also see where it would refer to living in 2 countries, not just one. Has anyone experienced this or work in this area that could clarify this?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah I tried to donate blood last year and was told that people who were born in UK before a certain date are ineligible to donate.

Gays can't donate blood either.

[justashooter 430]

People who've contracted malaria can't, either. Gives me an out.

[Amby 490]

did you get malaria from drinking warm cobra blood?

[Marina-Del 10]

I can't exactly answer your question, but I do have SOME insight!

I am a USC and I lived in London for 3 years. They asked if I had spent more than 5 years in the UK before 2001 (which the answer was no, I didn't even go to the UK for the first time until 2004). So, they let me give blood.

I also lived for 6 months in Italy in 2008 and they let me give blood in Jan 2009. I also go a tattoo while I was living in London, but they let me give blood because I got that tattoo more than 12 months ago.

Sorry I couldn't be more help! It does have something to do with how much time you have spent in a certain place and before what year. I was completly unaware that someone from Germany would be barred though!? I know about people from the UK, but I had no idea about Germany too!

I'm sorry you cannot give blood, if that is the case. It is so sad that there are tons of people willing to give blood that are not allowed to (but then again, those rules are there for a reason I suppose). I tried to give blood about 6 months ago and they wouldn't let me because I had stitches. I had 3 stitches in my arm from a cut that was a bit too deep. Obviously, I was going to give blood from the other arm! But, they wouldn't let me because they said that the stitches needed to come out and my arm to completly heal before I was allowed to give blood. I thought that was kinda ridiculous (as did the nurse that wanted to take my blood). The nurses at the center that I went to didn't know if I was allowed to give blood or not because of the stitches and they had to call the national center to ask -where they said no.

Just some facts for those that never give blood:

EVERY 2 SECONDS SOMEONE IN THE US NEEDS BLOOD

ONLY 5% OF THE ADULT ELIGIBLE POPULATION IN THE US GIVE BLOOD

EVERY TIME YOU GIVE BLOOD YOU CAN SAVE UP TO 3 LIVES

IN MOST LOCATIONS, THE BLOOD YOU DONATE IS USED UP WITHIN 4 DAYS (including the 2 days it takes to test your blood for problems)!

USUALLY IT TAKES LESS THAN 20 MINUTES TO GIVE BLOOD (NOT 20 minutes with the needle in your arm!! 20 minutes from walking in the door and walking out again!)

AFTER YOU DONATE A GALLON OF BLOOD (they take a pint each time, and you can donate once every 54 days) YOU GET A GALLON FREE IF YOU EVER NEED IT (God forbid)

Edited March 20, 2009 by Marina-Del

[almaty 19]

lol...

more like

[Amby 490]

lol...

more like

I have a friend from Thailand and he got malaria and almost died from drinking warm cobra blood.

[almaty 19]

yikes..and he deserved it..poor cobra

[cassi9879 20]

My husband had mentioned he wanted to donate blood to have some money. I looked on the Red Cross website since I was thinking that he couldn't because of his high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Instead of significant restrictions for that I saw the Mad Cow thing. The last time I donated I don't remember seeing these restrictions, only for malaria and AIDS countries.

[Marina-Del 10]

My husband had mentioned he wanted to donate blood to have some money.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how would donating blood save money? I'd love to get paid every time I give blood, but last I heard, they didn't do that?

Edited March 20, 2009 by Marina-Del

[cassi9879 20]

My husband had mentioned he wanted to donate blood to have some money.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how would donating blood save money? I'd love to get paid every time I give blood, but last I heard, they didn't do that?

He said he saw an ad in the paper where they were going to pay $80 for donating blood. I've only been paid for donating plasma.

Edited March 20, 2009 by cassi9879

[almaty 19]

yes, you can be paid to donate blood in some areas

[Marina-Del 10]

My husband had mentioned he wanted to donate blood to have some money.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how would donating blood save money? I'd love to get paid every time I give blood, but last I heard, they didn't do that?

He said he saw an ad in the paper where they were going to pay $80 for donating blood.

Well that's good! Personally, I think people should give blood without having money to bribe them into doing it...but since most people don't do that, I think it's great if a PRIVATE organisation is going to pay people to give blood!

And please don't take that comment as an offense to your husband! Lots of my friends and family have never given blood no matter how many times I ask them too! Some people are scared of needles

I asked my brother recently why they don't offer payment for blood and he said he thought it was because it is only safe for a persons veins to give blood once every 54 days. And, if they offered money, people would try to find a way around only doing it once every 54 days. Which made sense to me!

[MissStacey 1]

Blood really should be a gift- but if organizations are wanting to pay for it- I guess that ain't so terrible.

[cassi9879 20]

They're probably starting to pay because the supply is so low. I'm a universal donor but am afraid to donate anymore since the last two times I turned green.