..So, yesterday at my school, the American Red Cross sets up a station for blood donation. So, about an hour and a half before school lets out, I go down to give blood. I've always wanted to give blood, but last time they were at the school was the first time they've been there since I turned 17, and I had football so I couldn't. So, anyways, I'm going down there to give blood. I get there, and sit around for about half an hour before they decide to have me fill out paperwork. They set it up to where you're supposed to answer "yes" to the first question, and then "no" to the other 50 or so. I answered "no" to all of them, but one. It asked if I'd spent more than a total of 3 months in Europe between 1980 and 1996, so i circled yes(I spent about a year and a half in Germany...being born there). So, they bring me into this booth and I explain to them that I only lived there from birth until I was a year and a half, and it was all on a U.S. Air Force Base. Apparently, this didn't matter, because even though I was only a year and a half when we moved, and not even young even to eat beef, I'm at risk for Mad Cow Disease. So now, I can never give blood to the American Red Cross in my life, something I've always wanted to do. They felt sorry for me, so they gave me free Little Debbies and Juice, as much as I wanted. They also gave me a red "livestrong"-type band that says "giveblood." I feel kind of guilty wearing it, though.
Do they enter your name in some kind of a database? What happens if you were to go back and answer 'No' to the question where you put 'Yes' ?
They do enter your name in a database. I tried donating blood after being indefinitely deferred. I couldn't do it. They caught me.
Wow, I didn't know that. Every 2~ 3 months I get a phone call from Red Cross asking me to consider to go in for an apointment. I felt like a milk cow.
I have been rejected for vacationing in Costa Rica, Cambodia, and the DR. All at one point had been called "Malarial Zones".
I am wondering what would happen if the blood supply would reach some very low point and there would be a shortage. Would the Red Cross continue to reject potential donors?
The reject donors because of tainted samples with HIV and hepatitis C in the 80s. Some people refused transfusions in response. The red cross is just being vigilant against future infections.
If you needed a blood transfusion wouldn't you want them to screen it to the point of paranoia? If the Red Cross didn't screen blood so tightly and someone did get a blood borne infection can you imagine the outcry against them.
My "kneejerk" reaction was to say it was rediculous, but you and Invisible Fan (good moniker, btw ) make a good point. Mad cow?? I was chased up a tree once by a mad young bull, but mad cows??
I already catch hell up here because I'm from Texas. Friends will playfully make farm jokes towards me and such. Anyways, I went to go to my girlfriend's tonight, and she puts up and away message on AIM that says: "Having a rodeo.... With a mad cow."
