SoWal Blood Drive - Monday, Apr 24th

[Smiling JOe]

Attention:
The Northwest Florida Blood Center will be parked at Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast (new hospital at the edge of Sandestin) on Monday, April 24th from 9am-6pm. Be there or be square. It typically takes no longer than 1.5 hours and can save up to three lives per donation. The only pain involved is the fear of the little finger prick when they take the sample for the iron level.

I just recently began donating, a little over a year ago, and Monday will be my first full gallon which I have donated (not all at one time :floor:). I am shooting for 10 gallons + before I die. I cannot convey how simple, yet important it is to not only for me, but the people who receive it. Please come out and GIVE BLOOD on Monday! For anyone donating on Monday at the Hospital, I will buy you a Bloody Mary at the Red Bar on the following Sunday if you bring your proof of donation.

[scrltbegonya]

Attention:
The Northwest Florida Blood Center will be parked at Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast (new hospital at the edge of Sandestin) on Monday, April 24th from 9am-6pm. Be there or be square. It typically takes no longer than 1.5 hours and can save up to three lives per donation. The only pain involved is the fear of the little finger prick when they take the sample for the iron level.

I just recently began donating, a little over a year ago, and Monday will be my first full gallon which I have donated (not all at one time :floor:). I am shooting for 10 gallons + before I die. I cannot convey how simple, yet important it is to not only me, but the people who receive it. Please come out and GIVE BLOOD on Monday! For anyone donating on Monday at the Hospital, I will buy you a Bloody Mary at the Red Bar on Sunday if you bring your proof of donation.

How about a mimosa?

[Smiling JOe]

How about a mimosa?Mimosa will work. Maybe I should call this my Booze for Blood Drive. :idontno:

[30A Skunkape]

SJ, I am curious if the blood bank there also gives you your cholesterol level? They do that where I give blood which is a nice bonus :clap_1:

[scrltbegonya]

Mimosa will work. Maybe I should call this my Booze for Blood Drive. :idontno:

Perhaps a local restaurant owner and frequent sowal poster would be incined to reward its patrons with a beverage for giving blood...

[Smiling JOe]

Perhaps a local restaurant owner and frequent sowal poster would be incined to reward its patrons with a beverage for giving blood...Like...???

[30A Skunkape]

SJ, I am curious if the blood bank there also gives you your cholesterol level? They do that where I give blood which is a nice bonus :clap_1:

[Smiling JOe]

SJ, I am curious if the blood bank there also gives you your cholesterol level? They do that where I give blood which is a nice bonus :clap_1:They don't typically do that on the bus, but they may at the center, located in Ft Walton Beach. I will try to remember to ask on Monday.

[Chickpea]

SJ: since everyone seems to be asking you all the questions: I have donated blood and platelets for as long as i can remember EXCEPT recently when Red Cross was here and I went and I filled out a questionnaire and asked if I had had ever lived abroad - my list is long as you can imagine and they declined my blood because of my "possible" exposure to Mad Cow disease in England. Insane and I am sure I would know if I had Mad Cow by now! Anyways do you know if I call Sacred Heart would they be able to put me in touch with someone who could answer questions????? Many thanks.

[Smiling JOe]

SJ: since everyone seems to be asking you all the questions: I have donated blood and platelets for as long as i can remember EXCEPT recently when Red Cross was here and I went and I filled out a questionnaire and asked if I had had ever lived abroad - my list is long as you can imagine and they declined my blood because of my "possible" exposure to Mad Cow disease in England. Insane and I am sure I would know if I had Mad Cow by now! Anyways do you know if I call Sacred Heart would they be able to put me in touch with someone who could answer questions????? Many thanks.

There are quite a number of questions asked in the screening process. Some of the basics that will prevent you from donating are noted below. It appears that it is the FDA who has placed a halt on donating if you lived abroad or visited during certain periods. Not noted on the list below is visiting New Orleans after Katrina passed through. I am uncertain as to the whys, but my guess is that there are still some unknowns on many diseases out and about, so it is easier to use an ounce of prevention rather than 15 pounds of symptom control.

I know that the screening process is different if donating platelets rather than red blood cells. However, on the mobile unit which comes to the Hospital, you cannot donate platelets only. They tried bringing that machine once, but it was not working well on the bus set-up.

Here is the link to www.nfbcblood.org where you may find more info regarding your question.

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.

[audie]

our blood bank here always refuses me because my normal body temp is around 99.5 so they always consider me to have a fever. i have an uncle with A- blood that started donating in vietnam, and has donated every 56 days or however long the minimum waiting period is. i have no clue how many gallons he has donated now.

an example of how one patient can affect everyone, at our hospital 2 weeks ago, a pt having a major surgery ended up using 193 units of blood in one week - our regional blood center was drained !

[Chickpea]

There are quite a number of questions asked in the screening process. Some of the basics that will prevent you from donating are noted below. It appears that it is the FDA who has placed a halt on donating if you lived abroad or visited during certain periods. Not noted on the list below is visiting New Orleans after Katrina passed through. I am uncertain as to the whys, but my guess is that there are still some unknowns on many diseases out and about, so it is easier to use an ounce of prevention rather than 15 pounds of symptom control.

I know that the screening process is different if donating platelets rather than red blood cells. However, on the mobile unit which comes to the Hospital, you cannot donate platelets only. They tried bringing that machine once, but it was not working well on the bus set-up.

Here is the link to www.nfbcblood.org where you may find more info regarding your question.

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.

Thanks for the info SJ - I am definitely ruled out but applaud you for bringing this to Sowal's attention. It is wierd though because like I said I gave blood and platelets (yes, very different process) repeatedly in late 90's and early 2000 and suddenly rules changed. So be it. Good luck. I am with you all in spirit at least.

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks for the info SJ - I am definitely ruled out but applaud you for bringing this to Sowal's attention. It is wierd though because like I said I gave blood and platelets (yes, very different process) repeatedly in late 90's and early 2000 and suddenly rules changed. So be it. Good luck. I am with you all in spirit at least.
You probably noticed the date of May 31, 2002 when the FDA added the other guidelines regarding living in England and France. Perhaps more recently, they recieved new or unknown results of how Mad Cow or other diseases spread.

[Chickpea]

You probably noticed the date of May 31, 2002 when the FDA added the other guidelines regarding living in England and France. Perhaps more recently, they recieved new or unknown results of how Mad Cow or other diseases spread.

Nut wouldn't I know if I had contracted Mad Cow??

[Smiling JOe]

Nut wouldn't I know if I had contracted Mad Cow??I don't know. Maybe you could be a host carrying the disease but not show any symptoms.:idontno:

[Camp Creek Kid]

Nut wouldn't I know if I had contracted Mad Cow??

Chickpea, I can't donate either. I did a study abroad in London. There isn't a proven connection between mad cow disease and the human version, but there is a possibility that they are related. Don't worry about it. You could be carrying the disease and not know it for years. In the meantime, something else might get ya. :shock:

[Rita]

Bill donated double reds last week and our bloodbank was giving Jagger "Satisfaction" t-shirts. :cool: Now my daughter wants to give for the t-shirts. Ha! I think she really wants the "Imagine" shirt. :lol: She doesn't weigh enough, so I don't think she'll be stealing her dad's X-larges. ;-)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/gulfwindsway/v9-Stones-websize.gif
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/gulfwindsway/v9-imagine-websize.gif


They also have an Aretha Franklin "Respect" and an Elvis one in the collection.

[Smiling JOe]

Now I could use one of those Imagine Tee's. I am happy to give without receiving a physical gift in return, but that would be a funn bonus. The mobile unit here gives out a tee shirt when you donate on your birthday month. I missed my birthday month because they didn't call to tell me they were coming, usually they call. Now, I have but it on my schedule to check their calendar online each month so that I stay in the routine of giving.

[Smiling JOe]

bump

FYI - When you go to the Sacred Heart to donate today, don't look for the mobile unit (bus). They will now be taking blood donations in suite 3 (the brown trailer on the west end of the hospital). ;-) Hope to see you there. I will be the quiet one.

[Smiling JOe]

ChickyPea,
Just as I suspected, according to the nurse screening me for my donation today, a person can carry Mad Cow (I forget the real name) for up to twenty years without showing any signs of it. To date, we have no way to detect a carrier of the disease so the FDA would like to prevent it from spreading more and they do this by illiminating you from being a donor if you have lived in England or visited for more than three months during the time period when it was found there.

I forgot to ask about choleterol screening with donations. :idontno:

[Mermaid]

It's a shame about the Mad Cow clause because it pre-empts Merman from giving as well, and he has a very desireable blood type. He emigrated from the UK in the '80s and therefore has that "taint." Ah well. I give, though not as frequently as I should, so thanks, SJ, for bringing up this reminder of giving opportunities.

[Smiling JOe]

That is too bad, Mermaid. The turnout yesterday was less than normal, I think primarily due to them not being in the mobile bus, which acts as a big billboard reminding every passerby to stop by and give blood. They set up in the outbuildings in front of the hospital and had additional staff to accomodate more people due to the larger room, but the turnout was down. They were very short on donations.

The good news is that they were able to have the ALYX machine set up and it is able to save steps in the filtering process and people are able to give more blood without feeling woozy at the end. With ALYX, I am able to give 2 units of red blood cells rather than one. It takes a little longer and you are not able to donate again until four months instead of two. It basically draws the blood, keeps the red and white blood cells (the white cells are tossed), and returns the plasma ( I think) in addition to a saline solution back your body, so that your blood volume doesn't decrease.

The NW FL Blood Center services the 22 hospitals in NW FL, and when they don't have enough blood, they have to buy it from Red Cross.

[Chickpea]

ChickyPea,
Just as I suspected, according to the nurse screening me for my donation today, a person can carry Mad Cow (I forget the real name) for up to twenty years without showing any signs of it. To date, we have no way to detect a carrier of the disease so the FDA would like to prevent it from spreading more and they do this by illiminating you from being a donor if you have lived in England or visited for more than three months during the time period when it was found there.

I forgot to ask about choleterol screening with donations. :idontno:

You are so sweet to have asked -and all I need to do is wait for years to make sure I do not have mad cow!!!!

Good for you for being a donor and getting others to donate as well.