Anyone else sick of blood banks???

[catnhatnh]

....just posted to another forum on the subject of blood banks.In the mid 80's as an EMT I had occasion to handle inner city patients who had contracted what we then referred to as "the gay plague".Though we had no idea then what it was, we had a pretty good idea it was both nasty and virulent.I was deeply saddened to deal with extremely ill,lesion ridden patients while wearing masks and gloves,which was both demeaning and depersonalizing,....later,when donating blood this became a sticking point when replying to American Red Cross questions I had to admit to being "exposed" to HIV"...this routinely required a delay of 20-45 minutes until their medical director (usually the head nurse) would ask,"Did you take special precautions?"Meaning did I wear a mask and gloves...This drove a ninety minute dance into 2-2 1/2 hour marathon just to perform a 12-15 minute donation.After the third ridiculous replay of the same absurd scene I replied "Yep,I didn't kiss him on the lips..."This ended my career as a donor after my 40th pint.Anyone else find honestly answering questions just to wait for a superior to ask pro-forma questions a worthless waste of time???

[Fescue4u]

1. No I appreciate what they do.

Hard to get sick of saving lives.

[catnhatnh]

3. What WHO did?

I "SAVED" lives as an EMT...they just annoyed and delayed me out of donating blood...

[Fescue4u]

6. Good for you.

Im glad that you saved lives and I certainly don't have a beef with EMTs. In fact they've hauled me to the hospital a few times.

My message was that having a blood supply is something I support and I think we need.

Surely as an EMT, you have seen accident victims in need of blood that if they don't receive would otherwise die.

I just cant say that Im sick of blood banks...their role is critical.

[catnhatnh]

7. Your right...

...and blood banks are critically important.My beef,and what I expressed poorly was the problem of many blood banks needlessly delaying and denying potential donors for telling the truth of their profiles.

[leesa]

10. Needlessly?? These are FDA requirements...go bitch to them if you have

nothing better to do. Sheesh. What a stupid post!!

[catnhatnh]

13. Stupid?

I think not...I think it was stupid to have a valid blood donor wait more than once to answer the same question...if the initial screener can ask about night sweats,liver disease,etc,then certainly she could ask if I wore a mask and gloves...I see no higher plane of discussion here calling for some superior intellect...

[Dookus]

18. They're FDA recommendations

not requirements. Sheesh, what a stupid post!

[Dookus]

2. well

they won't take my blood, because I'm gay. They don't care that I'm in a monogamous relationship and have been regularly tested for HIV for many years.

It's a stupid prohibition - it just makes people lie.

[catnhatnh]

5. Yep...

...your bloods probably safer than mine....but these clowns SEEM to want virgins blood and I'm betting there ain't enough of THAT to go around....

[vpigrad]

4. It's a waste of time for most people

I helped my wife volunteer at a blood drive in my town. More than three out of four people were turned away, and they weren't turned away nicely. The Red Cross complains so much about needing blood and call at all hours of the day asking people to donate, but then when you get there all they do is demean and attack you. My wife calls them blood nazis. I'm starting to agree with her.

[prolesunited]

8. Must be the people at that agency then

I help organize drives at work about three or four times a year. We've never had those kinds of complaints or problems. And, although some people are turned away, they are never made to feel bad.

I think you need to complain to people higher up in the organization.

I feel bad for those who are turned away, but blood donors are vital. I hope the blood is there if I need it, and I'm happy to help others. In fact, I'm scheduled to donate on Wednesday.

[catnhatnh]

11. I didn't give up because I was turned away...

...I gave up when what should have been an intimate,friendly,1 hour encounter,became a bloated waiting period for some nameless (none of them EVER introduced themselves)"authority" to ask what was obviously a previously determined question since each (after waiting for their arrival)asked "DID YOU TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?"My blood was still fine...the wait wasn't...

[leesa]

12. What is wrong with you people?? They are required by law to do this.

Would you rather they collect tainted blood? Hopefully it is caught on further screening, but this is the first line of defense. Blame the FDA if you really must be so incredibly petty. Blame the FDA for not requiring testing for CJD of all animal products since this is far more limiting.

The Red Cross does not set these standards. What a bunch of whiny babies!

[catnhatnh]

14. Whiny Babies?

How many quarts have you donated and why do you find it SOMEHOW offensive that someone who has given 40 pints finds it offensive to face an extra 1/2 hour plus every time I gave blood-HELL they should have put in an express line for people like me...Instead they screwed with me and I quit...I don't whine,I did a cost/benefit analysis..

[Dookus]

16. Then the law is stupid

and ineffective.

One requirement is this: You cannot give blood if "you are a man and have had sex with another man, even once."

Do you have ANY idea what a large percentage of men this covers? Do you really think most men are honest about this? Furthermore, do you think men who are in denial about their sexuality are good at getting at regular HIV tests?

I haven't been able to give blood for over 20 years because I'm gay. I am not HIV positive, and I have the paperwork to prove it. I venture that very few "straight" men who give blood have had a recent HIV test.

[Dookus]

17. actually

I just looked it up. It's not law. It's a recommendation from the FDA.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. The forms etc at our local blood center are not nearly so

invasive. Of course I am a 2 gallon donor and the worst thing to ever come back on my blood was dangerous only to me...high cholesterol..

A first time donor would probably get a deeper screening.

Dealing with dangerous blood borne diseases, of which there are several, just naturally demands caution. Remember lots of people contracted HIV from infected blood.

The HIV questions I was asked on my last several donations always ended with "or have you ever had sex with someone who has"....

The local blood center here is always extremely courteous.

[catnhatnh]

15. That last question...

is"Did you have contact with or did you have sex with..." believe it or not, carrying them down the stairs while taking their blood pressure constitutes "contact"...