The Red Cross SELLS blood and platelets to the military. I just donated platelets at Walter Reed.

[Captain Hilts]

I've done it several times.

But, yes, the Red Cross makes the military PAY for blood, plasma and platelets. Walter Reed saves money when I donate even though the throw away plastics associated with the donation are very expensive. They still come out ahead.

So, when I come across some right wing crank with a ribbon magnet on the back of his car and I ask them what they've done to "support the troops" I tell 'em I'm a platelet donor!

[elleng]

1. Are/were you there, Cap'n?

My old neighborhood.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Yeah, the 'Ellen' graffiti on buildings is faint, but still readable. nt

[elleng]

9. I REALLY miss it over there.

Can't even drive by to see all the flowering trees.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Get your priorities in order!

I didn't go to Woodside Deli for the matzo ball soup afterwards, which is what I usually do.

After a blood donation, that's a MUST because it restores fluids. With a platelet donation, that's not as big a deal since you don't use platelets and they put the red stuff back in you.

[WatchWhatISay]

2. So are you saying

that if we donate directly to a VA hospital, they won't have to pay, but if we donate to the Red Cross they will?

[Captain Hilts]

6. Yep. That's exactly what I'm saying. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Good for you!

Platelet donors are rare as hen's teeth. I know, because I used to be a nurse drawing those donors...and I used to donate too...

Those products are in great demand, and there are never enough...

Thank you so much for helping!

:yourock:

[Captain Hilts]

8. My schedule is flexible, so I do it a couple of times a year.

They only have one-arm machines at WRAMC right now, which some women find difficult to use, but I was okay.

Sometimes I get called and asked for a donation. I'm A-.

They're nice, appreciative folks.

[LiberalLoner]

4. Thank you so much for donating. I had no idea the Red Cross charged.

That really sucks, especially since people like me would always give blood whenever the Red Cross would come onto post to get volunteers.

Thank you so much for donating your platelets.

[Captain Hilts]

7. This is just a 'heads up' to folks that have military facilities nearby that take donations. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. My understanding is that they charge fully burdened cost but no profit

If that is true, that seems reasonable.

[Captain Hilts]

12. It's about saving the military money. The Red Cross's price is reasonable...

until you remember the six figure salary jobs Dole campaign personnel got there after Bob lost in '96.

The Red Cross is a really larded bureaucracy.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Lots of big "non profits" are including

NPR, United Way, UK NHS Trusts and others. Ones that are not include Salvation Army and others who have their own set of issues. Not sure what the answer is at this point.

[Captain Hilts]

14. True.

But military folks have really learned to hate the Red Cross over the years.

[PavePusher]

15. How so? n/t