Want to meet me...

[Smiling JOe]

at the Sacred Heart Hospital on Tuesday, Jan 30 to donate blood? The blood drive will be from 10a-6pm in the smaller building west and south of the Main hospital building. Be there! Until you or your loved one needs blood, you may not realize how valuable it is. Please come out and donate if you are able to. One day, it may be someone you know who needs it in return. :idontno:

[mleigh]

REALLY wish I could be there! Couldn't agree more with the desperate need to donate blood. I will donate here in this frigid, dreary Louisville, KY!

[JoshMclean]

I'll be there :clap_1:

[Unplugged]

Proud to say I've already met you SJ :cool:

I look forward to seeing josh there too!
________________________________________

[Miss Kitty]

:clap_1: ...it's a MANdate!

[Beachbummett]

at the Sacred Heart Hospital on Tuesday, Jan 30 to donate blood? The blood drive will be from 10a-6pm in the smaller building west and south of the Main hospital building. Be there! Until you or your loved one needs blood, you may not realize how valuable it is. Please come out and donate if you are able to. One day, it may be someone you know who needs it in return. :idontno:

This is one of the many reasons we :wub: you SJ! Good work guys!:clap_1: SJ...let us know if these two wimp out!

[Unplugged]

This is one of the many reasons we :wub: you SJ! Good work guys!:clap_1: SJ...let us know if these two wimp out!Ummm excuuuuuuse me???? :roll: :roll: :roll: A little credit please...
_______________________________________

[John R]

wish i was still able to donate. 8+ gal. doner.

everyone who can donate should. this country is in a constant state of being undersupplied with blood products. donate along side of SJ in your own towns.

[Beachbummett]

Ummm excuuuuuuse me???? :roll: :roll: :roll: A little credit please...
_______________________________________

I said good work guys!! :wub: :clap_1: :clap_1: i'm proud of all of you and would join you all if i was down there!:biggrin:

[John R]

bumpity.

head on over to your local blood bank and donate. it's free, and you get cookies and tang...

[Smiling JOe]

bumpity.

head on over to your local blood bank and donate. it's free, and you get cookies and tang...
Tang? :idontno: Gross! Down here, they give out tee-shirts, Orange Juice, sodas, snacks, coozies, etc. and to all who donate, they give a free lunch at the hospital cafeteria, though I ate there only once:(. No wonder there are so many sick people in the hospital. :funn:

[nicdeedoop]

I wish I could but I can't!


You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames

From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany
From 1980 through 1996 - Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece

[JoshMclean]

I've never heard that before. I would be a little worried if I wasn't allowed to give blood to be honest. What is the reasoning for that?

[Smiling JOe]

Josh, just wait until you go through the pre-screening. You may be shocked at some of the questions. One of the screening questions is if you have visited New Orleans since Hurr Katrina. The NW Fl Blood Center tells me that they would rather take precautions in such cases. Got a tattoo? you're out of here. Had sex in exchange for drugs or money? you're out of here, etc

[JoshMclean]

No tattoos Joe! I have had sex for money though :clap_1: But, who hasn't?
I've already got it marked on my calendar, I'll be there.

[Smiling JOe]

Here are just a handful of the screening questions for the NW FL Blood Center from www.nfbcblood.org (http://www.nfbcblood.org/):


Potential Donor Eligibility Requirements:

Please carefully read the below eligibility requirements. If you do not meet the following requirements, you should not attempt to donate blood at this time.
Donors must be in generally good health
At least 17 years of age
Must bring picture ID
Weigh at least 110 lbs
Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
No cancer within the last 5 years
No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
No tattoos within the past 12 months
No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
No history of viral hepatitis
Additional FDA Restrictions effective May 31st 2002:
Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
If you have had a problem donating blood in the past due to low hematocrit (iron related), the below document in PDF format will guide you to several foods that are naturally rich in Iron.
Click Here for helpful Information on Foods that are Rich in Iron (http://www.nfbcblood.org/images/IronFacts.pdf)

[nicdeedoop]

I was told several years ago that it had something to with Mad Cow Disease....

[T.Cline]

I have never donated blood before....:shock: dont know why not but I should have...I will be there.

[Indigo Jill]

Potential Donor Eligibility Requirements:

Additional FDA Restrictions effective May 31st 2002:
Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more



:shock: My husband is French ... and we travel there often. Why do you think they put "France" in particular (instead of "Western Europe for example)?? I know the UK is dealing with Mad Cow worries...did I miss the same thing about France?

[Smiling JOe]

I have never donated blood before....:shock: dont know why not but I should have...I will be there.:clap_1::clap_1::clap_1::D

For answers to the questions of others regarding the reasons for asking the screening questions, please contact the NW FL Blood Center (http://www.nfbcblood.org/).
Phone Numbers: Pensacola 473-3853
Panama City 785-6958, Ft. Walton 862-4216
(All Numbers are in the 850 Area Code)


Thank to all who are going to donate, no matter where you are. :clap_1:

[Franny]

Surprised they don't mention Canada if if the mad cow disease is an issue.:idontno:

[fisher]

Would if I could, but even a previous skin cancer disqualifies you for 5 years.

[Bob]

Here are just a handful of the screening questions for the NW FL Blood Center from www.nfbcblood.org (http://www.nfbcblood.org/):


Potential Donor Eligibility Requirements:

Please carefully read the below eligibility requirements. If you do not meet the following requirements, you should not attempt to donate blood at this time.
Donors must be in generally good health
At least 17 years of age
Must bring picture ID
Weigh at least 110 lbs
Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
No cancer within the last 5 years
No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
No tattoos within the past 12 months
No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
No history of viral hepatitis
Additional FDA Restrictions effective May 31st 2002:
Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
If you have had a problem donating blood in the past due to low hematocrit (iron related), the below document in PDF format will guide you to several foods that are naturally rich in Iron.
Click Here for helpful Information on Foods that are Rich in Iron (http://www.nfbcblood.org/images/IronFacts.pdf)
The list includes spinach, an iron-rich food that actually blocks the absorbtion of iron in the body after ingestion.

[Mermaid]

:shock: My husband is French ... and we travel there often. Why do you think they put "France" in particular (instead of "Western Europe for example)?? I know the UK is dealing with Mad Cow worries...did I miss the same thing about France?


My husband can no longer donate blood since the regulations have become more stringent, since he emigrated to the US from the UK in mid-1980. They are very strict about this. France is only one of several European countries affected by the donation ban, and for the same reason:


In-Depth Discussion of Variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease and Blood Donation
In some parts of the world, cattle can get an infectious, fatal brain disease called Mad Cow Disease. In these same locations, humans have started to get a new disease called variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) which is also a fatal brain disease. Scientists believe that vCJD is Mad Cow Disease that has somehow transferred to humans, possibly through the food chain.
There is now evidence from a small number of case reports involving patients and laboratory animal studies that vCJD can be transmitted through transfusion. There is no test for vCJD in humans that could be used to screen blood donors and to protect the blood supply. This means that blood programs must take special precautions to keep vCJD out of the blood supply by avoiding collections from those who have been where this disease is found.
At this time, the American Red Cross donor eligibility rules related to vCJD are as follows:
You are not eligible to donate if:
From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK), or
From January 1, 1980, to present, you had a blood transfusion in any country(ies) in the (UK). The UK includes any of the countries listed below.
Channel Islands
England
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames
From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany
From 1980 through 1996 - Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece.
You spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 5 years or more from January 1, 1980, to present, in any combination of country(ies) in Europe, including
in the UK from 1980 through 1996 as listed in above
on or associated with military bases as described above, and
in other countries in Europe as listed below:
Albania
Austria
Montenegro (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Belgium
Bosnia/Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Norway
Poland
Czech Republic
Denmark
Romania
Finland
France
Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
Germany
Greece
Spain
Hungary
Ireland (Republic of)
Italy
Kosovo (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Netherlands (Holland)
Portugal
Serbia (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Yugoslavia (Federal Republic includes Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia)

[Indigo Jill]

Thank you Mermaid for posting that. So much to think about when you sit down to eat now - brain wasting disease from eating meat, clogged arteries from eating trans fats and processed foods, pesticides on fruits and veggies, who knows what from bioengineered foods...I guess something will get us at some point.:(

[John R]

there's to be a segment on the blood shortage in the panhandle on ch.13 at 10pm tonight.

[Smiling JOe]

there's to be a segment on the blood shortage in the panhandle on ch.13 at 10pm tonight.Saw that on the morning news from Panty Maw City. Thanks for all who are remembering to donate where ever you may be, and for those who are willing, yet unable, thanks for the consideration. I know many people who are screened out, so it is even more important for those of us who can. See you all on Tuesday. Remember to plan on not drinking alcohol for that day, and also remember to drink plenty of fluids.

[bsmart]

Here are just a handful of the screening questions for the NW FL Blood Center from www.nfbcblood.org (http://www.nfbcblood.org/):


[If you have had a problem donating blood in the past due to low hematocrit (iron related), the below document in PDF format will guide you to several foods that are naturally rich in Iron.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]
Click Here for helpful Information on Foods that are Rich in Iron (http://www.nfbcblood.org/images/IronFacts.pdf)
[/FONT]


Chocolate and oysters, cannot go wrong there.

Prunes...that creates another problem.

[Smiling JOe]

Reminder, tomorrow is the day to donate blood at Sacred Heart of the Emerald Coast.

[John R]

bumpity. do it if you can.

[JoshMclean]

I've got it market on my calendar. I'll see you there!

[Waterman]

Long time no speak..hope all is well

[JoshMclean]

Well, I donated blood today. It took me about an hour an a half, but I did it. I had to explain everywhere that I had travelled in Mexico. I lived there for 4 years, so it took a while. They then missed the vein in my right arm and hit a tendon. We switched to the left arm and got it right! Also had blood spilled on my jeans. I guess saving lives is worth the trouble.

[Smiling JOe]

Just returned from the blood center and they are still open if you can hurry. Open til 6pm today. Josh, yes, it is worth the hassle. Thanks for making the effort. :clap_1:

[John R]

thanks you guys.

[howlin'enterpri]

Thank you for all the great information...I use to be a donor in Missouri and helped with the blood drives....haven't gotten back into the swing of donating since arriving in FL, but I need to. The screening process certainly hase changed!

[Poodleone]

I am so pleased to see this thread! I am a medical technologist and have been blood banking in hospital laboratories since 1980. So much has changed in those years- unfortunately the number of people donating has NOT increased.

However, thank goodness for the folks who do (or have in the past). When people ask me if they have a "rare" blood type, I always tell them that the most rare blood is the one that isn't sitting on the shelf in the BB refrigerator when I need it!

Also, if you can't give blood, you can help those who do donate by covering their job at work for an hour while donating (at an on site drive) or even volunteering to help at a local drive.

All of the pre-donation questions and limits may seem a bit bewildering but it all has been studied and thought out to help protect the blood supply. Also, they really help protect the donor.

Many folks don't realize how strictly regulated blood is- the FDA is stringent in all areas of handling the product. Unlike television (such as "ER"), doctors do NOT do their own crossmatching and do NOT just run into the blood bank and snatch blood off the shelf in an emergency!:floor: