Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Do you donate blood?

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Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 04-12-2005, 12:51 PM:

My friend has been contemplating on it and she suggested I should probably do it as well. Not for saving lives or anything silly like that but for the $$$CASH$$$. [Big Grin]

Going through a blood transfusion would be awesome. Sitting there eating cookies for a couple of hours and feeling the life get sucked out of me then put back into me... [Cool]

Do you give blood? Also, are you an organ donor?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 04-12-2005, 01:28 PM:

I donate blood on a semi regular basis. They do not give cash here for it, but the person who may end up needing down the road could be you or a family member. And Yes I am an organ donor as well. What good are the organs gonna do me after I am dead?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 04-12-2005, 01:35 PM:

Yes, I donate blood regularly. I've never heard of anyone getting paid for it. They usually just give out free cookies and juice. On New Year's Eve, I've gotten a First Night button (which entitled me to admission to various NYE events).

It takes about half an hour (if that) and doesn't hurt any more than getting an injection at the doctor's office.

I'm not an organ donor because I have never figured out the procedure to become one. If I have some spare time, that might change someday.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-12-2005, 01:37 PM:

I'm a multiple orgasm donor, does that count?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-12-2005, 01:40 PM:

Yes, but not as much as I should. Only totaled a bit more than a gallon over my lifetime. All given freely to the Red Cross. [Smile]

My older sister has a relatively rare blood type (AB-negative), and had her first child before RH-antibodies were known. So she was asked to participate in a program to "lend" her blood on a regular basis to obtain the antibodies for other women:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/rhogam.htm

quote:
RhoGAM® and MICRhoGAM® Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) are sterile solutions containing IgG anti-D (anti-Rh) for use in preventing Rh immunization. They are manufactured from human plasma containing anti-D.

My 94-year-old father gave his body to medical research at the University of Buffalo Medical School. About a year after his death in late 1999 we received his ashes from the school. At the funeral Mass, we celebrated his life, but without his body present.

My wife has Epilepsy since she had eclamptic seizures from Toxemia after our first daughter was born 29 years ago. She hopes that giving her body to research after she dies will help gain a better understanding of the damage that had occurred in her brain. After the good experience with my Dad's memorial, we both think leaving your body to science is a good thing to do.

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 04-12-2005, 02:25 PM:

I am a regular blood doner in New York City. I do not get paid. I feel it is a worthwhile as blood supplies are often short. I usually give a pint every quarter and have been doing so for the past thirty-five years.

When my time comes, my family knows my wishes are to have all of my usable parts donated to help whoever they can. The back of the New York State Drivers license also is signed and witnessed as a donor.

My wife and I also have a living wills which have been in effect since 1987.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 04-12-2005, 02:28 PM:

My stepmother donates a lot of blood through the Red Cross usually once every other month. As for myself, I do not donate due inpart to my heart health.

When my mom was in advanced stages of liver failure (TTP), she required tens of units of blood to replace those units in her that could not be purified. In the last weeks of her life she was being ferresed twice, or even three times per day. Everytime my uncle comes home he donates a little to try and make up for what she used.

Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 04-12-2005, 02:59 PM:

I think you only get paid if you're donating plasma, not just blood. I donate regularly since I'm AB negative. The blood bank calls me at home if i haven't come in for over four months!

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 04-12-2005, 03:27 PM:

Nope, never. The "bloodmobile" might as well hang a banner above the door that reads "no fags allowed". [fu]

Silly rules like that make one wonder if they really do test the blood before they ship it out.

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 04-12-2005, 04:29 PM:

In the state of Washington, you can have a stamp on your driver's license indicating you are an organ donor.
I don't think anyone would want my blood. Too much Rainier beer in it.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 04-12-2005, 05:20 PM:

There are probably several bits of my anatomy which wouldn't be of much use to anyone (no double entendre intended, Phil!), for similar reasons... [beer]

Agreed entirely about medical research and organ donation. When the time comes, there's no point in any part of my body going up in smoke and adding to the global warming problem if it could be recycled for a more constructive use. I don't mind if that's research or transplanting - it's not like I'll be around to have much say in the matter! In Britain, driving licences have a 'donor slip' at the bottom, which you can sign in order to indicate that, if you meet a sudden death while carrying it, the authorities have your blessing to salvage whatever pieces may be recyclable. I've signed it, put it in my wallet and, for obvious reasons, haven't really thought much about it since.

Posted by Alexander Smith (Member # 1769) on 04-12-2005, 05:41 PM:

To add a data point to the thread: I have given blood
ever since I reached the age of 18, usually as often
as the UK's http://www.blood.co.uk/ allows (about 3
times a year). IIRC my next donation will be my 40th.

I might need it back some day... ;-)

Alex.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2005, 06:36 PM:

I donate platelets at the Oklahoma Blood Institute on a regular basis --currently at a rate of once every two weeks. Platelets are the clotting factor of your blood and the most needed blood component.

A person in good health replaces his entire platelet supply on an average of every three days. You can donate it pretty often, but most places usually don't recommend you do it anymore than 2 or 3 times a month.

It is difficult to get people to donate platelets. It takes quite a bit longer to donate a unit of platelets than whole blood. You can donate a pint of whole blood in under 20 minutes (if even that). It typically takes a donor 90 minutes to 2 hours to donate a unit of platelets.

I don't get paid for donating. However, the Oklahoma Blood Institute (www.obi.org) has a Members For Life program where frequent donors can build up points to earn things, such as merchandise like jackets and shirts or highly detailed "heart check" screenings, the tests of which normally cost hundreds of dollars if you get them done at a doctor's office.

The Oklahoma Blood Institute is quite an organization. It has one of America's best blood donation and testing networks. Lots of blood centers job out their tests to other facilities. The OBI does their own. Because of this, the OBI is far faster in response time. The OBI was first to have units of blood into New York City after the 9-11-01 terrorist attack.

Every time I donate at the OBI, they check my blood for all sorts of stuff and I get a free basic reading of cholesterol and liver function levels. That's been pretty useful lately. I had bronchitis this past winter and had to take methylpredizone (a powerful steroid) to knock it out. That drug shot my cholesterol level up to 256! My total number is back down to 186, as of my donation last week.

There's also other benefits. I can camp out for two hours hooked up to that automated blood donation machine drinking free sodas and eating free snacks. The center has a bunch of DVD and VHS machines and TVs mounted over every donation station. So I just kick back and watch a movie. You also get a free t-shirt every time you donate. Some of the shirts are actually pretty cool. Lots of sports oriented ones. Bass Pro Shops also did a promotion with them too. I have quite a growing collection of the things.

There's currently a major shortage in the nation's blood supply. Influenza and other factors have cut down on the number of blood donors. Lots of people are also not able to give blood simply for where they have traveled in the last decade or two (Europe, Iraq, the far east, parts of Mexico, etc.). Most military people are unable to donate because of where they have traveled. That hurts efforts since they have been among the most frequent blood donors.

There are some places where people can get paid for donating blood or blood products. Usually such places are bio-tech companies that use the blood for testing new drugs and such. Aventis has a center here in Lawton that collects plasma donations for such purposes and pays donors. There are some WIERD people hanging out there! There are few, if any, blood donation centers left in the United States that will pay donors for blood to put into the medical supply.

Oh, one last benefit for donating: the piece of mind knowing you're safe for other singles. The OBI tests all donations for HIV, types of hepatitis and several STDs.

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 04-12-2005, 06:46 PM:

I, like Bobby, do the platelet pheresis program also. Donate about once a month.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 04-12-2005, 07:44 PM:

I donate blood every few months. When you donate blood, you get blood "on account" if you ever need a transfusion, otherwise you have to pay for it. It is good to donate blood every now and then because it keeps your marrow ready to make a good amount of new blood, just incase you lose some due to a bad cut. They also check your blood for HIV, and a few other things.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 04-12-2005, 07:51 PM:

I donate blood on a regular basis, nothing to it, the whole thing takes less than an hour. The Richmond Metropolitan Blood Service supplies blood and blood derivitives to all of central Va. at no charge to anyone who has ever donated and for just an administrative fee to others. Supplies in excess of needs to the area go elsewhere and to the Red Cross which is out of the collection side of it here.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 04-12-2005, 08:44 PM:

I don't donate blood for much the same reason Danny states above. Since they have the silly rules that homosexuals can't donate blood. Cause silly straight people are never out there having unprotected sex and contracting blood-born diseases!!!

Oh, and because needles creep me out. And feeling blood surging OUT of your veins creeps me out too. I hate getting blood tests letalone having it pumped out of me.

I am an organ donor though, although my little tiny red sticker peeled off my drivers license the 2nd or 3rd time I took it out of my wallet to show my ID. I figure when I die I want to be creamated anyway, so they can go ahead and give out the best of me before they light up.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-12-2005, 09:06 PM:

I used to donate plasma while I was in Wisconsin, and yes, I got paid. I've also donated blood for free.

For some reason, donating blood never bothered me but I couldn't keep donating plasma for that long because every time I did it my blood pressure dropped way below the normal level...

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 04-12-2005, 09:31 PM:

My friend was telling me that the blood bank place pays up to $180 a month. It's probably done twice a month.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 04-12-2005, 09:38 PM:

There's something about getting paid for donating that reminds me of the NYC druggies that need $$$ to support a habit.

I have given blood many times to the Red Cross cuz as others have said, you never know when you need to cash in on your deposits.

And besides, if I can help those in need... so be it.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2005, 10:29 PM:

In Oklahoma, if you donate once to the Oklahoma Blood Institute you're covered for any transfusion needs for one year. With additional donations, you can credit your donation to cover family members or put points toward covering people in your workplace, civic club, etc.

quote:
Since they have the silly rules that homosexuals can't donate blood. Cause silly straight people are never out there having unprotected sex and contracting blood-born diseases!!!

There's a lot of sex-related questions on the forms I fill out that apply to straight people -a "yes" on any will prevent you from being able to donate. The forms have a lot more non-sexual related questions that prevent a great deal of others from being able to donate. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think homosexual men are being singled out on this. Most of my straight friends are unable to donate for some odd reason or another. On top of that, even if you can get past the questionaire, it may turn out you don't have enough iron in your blood. That knocks a lot of ladies out of being able to donate.

Of course, anyone hell-bent on donating blood can lie about what they've done, what countries they've visited or what medical treatments they may have had --just so they can have the warm fuzzy feeling that they donated blood. IMHO, anyone who intends to go that far is being a selfish prick.

Sorry to sound harsh about it, but the blood networks are not there to make a donor feel good about him or herself. They're there to help others in serious medical need. I don't enjoy having a thick needle run up into my arm. It's not too fun either if that thing vibrates in your vein when the machine reverses flow for reinfusion. But there's so few A-positive platelet donors in my state that I'm going to feel seriously guilty if I don't offer to help. However, I'm not going to offer my blood to others unless I know its absolutely safe. I have been leading a pretty damned uneventful love life the past few years, so I have no doubts in that area.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-12-2005, 10:53 PM:

I donated plasma for money while I was in college and quite broke...

We got $20 for the first time in a week and $30 for the second time in a week. You could only donate twice each week for a total of $400/month. I usually only went once a week or less because my body couldn't handle any more then that. The also took plasma by weight so they were getting plenty off me! [Smile]

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 04-13-2005, 12:20 AM:

If you get paid it's hardly "donating" anything. You're really selling it. [Big Grin]

Yes, I have donated 2 gallons of blood. I also donated a kidney to my father last summer. I haven't donated blood since about 2 months prior to transplant but I will resume again sometime soon.

Both of my parents are donating their bodies to University of Nebraska medical centers for research upon death. They are quite the pair to study too. I am undecided on the whole research thing, but I probably will do the same.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 04-13-2005, 03:22 AM:

All these technical people who know how hard it can be to find parts are donating their organs! It's so generous & understanding!

My will states that when I die, I would like to be mummified, placed in an amusement park, & utilized as one of those "You must be as tall as my hand" things.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 04-13-2005, 03:43 AM:

Sorry - forgot to mention. I am barred from donating blood because I was once treated for Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This involved receiving immunoglobulin infusions. It is believed that at the time (1993), there was a tiny but theoretically possible risk that the immunoglobulin could be infected with Variant-CJD (aka 'mad cow disease'), and therefore anyone who has received this stuff cannot donate blood, as a precaution against further infection. That's another thing I prefer not to think about, as there's no cure for V-CJD, and dying from it is neither quick nor pleasant. But as there have been about 70 deaths out of a UK population of 57 million, it really isn't worth worrying about. I'm far more likely to meet my maker driving down the A19 this evening, I guess.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 04-13-2005, 07:20 AM:

Have given blood once (have been sent a card asking for me to go in and donate again). When donaiting the needle came out of my arm so I had to have it switched to my other arm.

In the UK there is no payment made to donators (or paid by recipiants)

A sample of the questionaire that donars have to fill in is avaliable from This website

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 04-13-2005, 09:38 AM:

I made it past 2 gallons with the American Red Cross, but I am now on permanent deferral. I can neither donate blood nor be an organ donor.

I also worked in an HLA (Histocompatibility) laboratory for 15 years and was a perpetual donor in the lab because of my HLA antigens. (Being a frequent lab donor basically stopped my donations to the Red Cross.)

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-13-2005, 03:09 PM:

They gave out free cookies, so I ate there three times a day, seven days a week. I stopped going when I cut myself shaving and nothing came out but air.

--Steve Martin, The Jerk

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-13-2005, 05:48 PM:

I was donating blood, but it has become a pain. First they would break out the atlas and the books because I spent a week in Tunisia 15-years-ago. Then they told me that I couldn't donate for a year after my trip to India. So I guess I can donate again come August.

Posted by Jarryd Beard (Member # 2543) on 04-13-2005, 06:16 PM:

I've donated twice. They had a hard time finding a vein the last time. About half way through my draining, I noticed the blood stopped. I spent the next 20 minutes with a woman moving the needle around in my arm. (I wasn't just going to quit and let that blood that had already been collected go to waste.) That was about two years ago; I haven't done it since. I should, though.

Yes, I'm also and organ donor as well. However, I have heard stories about doctors being real fuckin greedy when it comes to potential organ donors. I certainly hope these are false. I don't want to be treated any different just because I might be able to offer a kidney. Hopefully, I'm never in a situation that severe.

Posted by David Buckley (Member # 2600) on 04-14-2005, 01:27 AM:

As I lived in the UK during the Mad Cow Years, New Zealand does not want my blood...

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 04-14-2005, 07:02 AM:

I used to donate regularly to the Red Cross, starting donating during Vietnam blood drives when going to school. Then sort of stopped, for one reason or another. A few years ago, wife's mother had many, many pints in critical care unit of Methodist Hospital following a serious car accident (she died of her injuries). I started to wonder, "where's all the blood coming from?" Thus I made it a point to start donating every two months (minimum time between donations they allow). Makes you feel like you're doing some good for someone.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-14-2005, 12:38 PM:

According to the Oklahoma Blood Institute website, if you live to the age of 72 you have a 95 percent chance of needing some kind of blood product transfusion in your lifetime.

I was surprised how many people need platelets. Many people being treated for cancer and leukemia need it. So to burn victims and patients being treated for a number of other conditions. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused component (trauma victims, patients undergoing surgical procedures). However, the OBI practically begs eligible donors to give platelets since they're pretty hard to come by.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 04-14-2005, 01:09 PM:

quote:
started donating during the Vietnam blood drives when going to school.

Ah, yes . . . the "bleed-ins". Quite popular in your neck of the woods at places like Ohio State and Michigan. Mind if I ask if you were in college or still in high school at the time?

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 04-14-2005, 07:31 PM:

I was once a donor, but now, no and no to the questions asked. My intake of coumadin on a daily basis precludes it. Bravo to those who can.

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 04-15-2005, 07:02 AM:

Arron, that was at Michigan Tech Univ. back in the mid-60's. Jeff

Posted by Jannette McQueen (Member # 1885) on 04-15-2005, 12:25 PM:

In Canada you don't get cash for donating blood.

Anyway, my story: I tried to donate once. They had a blood drive at the highschool I went to, so a lot of the grade 12s do that, ecause it's awesome and everything. So I lied about my weight to get in (I was just a few pounds shy of the minimum [Wink]

) And all went well during the donating process, wasn't till about 10 or 15 minutes after I'd been unplugged that I passed out [Razz]

After that I thought I should probably not do it for a while, but then I lost a lot of weight and such [Frown]

My dad and my sister donate quite often though.

And I just figure that my family will decide whether or not I'm an organ donor after I die. I don't want to think about it too much, but it's a good thing to do, so I'm not saying 'no'.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-15-2005, 01:44 PM:

I've never heard of anyone that gets paid for donating blood. It's always been plasma that you get paid for.