i gave blood yesterday and was wondering who else here does that as a regular thing? Also, what is your opinion of the plasma centers which pay for donations?

Finally, what makes a donor a 'regular' donor? For a number of reasons, Saturday was my first donation this year but my lifetime tally is fifty-three donations.

Just curious, and thanks for reading and your response.

Oldbear83 said:

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i gave blood yesterday and was wondering who else here does that as a regular thing? Also, what is your opinion of the plasma centers which pay for donations?

Finally, what makes a donor a 'regular' donor? For a number of reasons, Saturday was my first donation this year but my lifetime tally is fifty-three donations.

Just curious, and thanks for reading and your response.

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My family and I have been longtime blood donors. South Texas Bood Bank. It is interesting that it is how my wife discovered she had the antibodies for Covid almost 18 months ago. They used to give everyone a Covid antibody test and report the results to you. My boy and I have always tested negative. For some reason, they changed this about 4 or 5 months ago and have discontinued this practice. Perhaps they still do the testing internally but just don't report the results to the donor. Next time I go, I will ask them.

Oldbear83 said:

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i gave blood yesterday and was wondering who else here does that as a regular thing? Also, what is your opinion of the plasma centers which pay for donations?

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This isn't knock on those people that get paid for plasma; however, many of the people there are looking for gas or food money. Very depressing.

In school I started my donations with American Red Cross. When Carter Blood Care came to town, I switch my donations to them as they keep the blood local, unless of an emergency.

Oldbear83 said:

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Finally, what makes a donor a 'regular' donor? For a number of reasons, Saturday was my first donation this year but my lifetime tally is fifty-three donations.

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I'd call a person a regular donor that goes a few times a year. The Knights of Columbus at our church have 3 or 4 drives a year. They space them out so that one can do the double donation and then the next drive would be about 16 weeks after that. Then they have some drives that are only 8 week separated.

You've go me beat with the 53. I'm only at 45 units. I'm not sure if they included my ARC donations.

I'm glad you brought this up. I was going to donate about three or four weeks ago, but had just gotten over the Covid. I am past my two-week waiting period. I need to go donate.

I did the double platelet on Saturday.

And you're great at 40+. There is one guy where I donate, has a 25 gallon donation mug.

(Must not covet, must not covet)

Last week, me and my freind went to a blood military donation camp and donate our blood.

Donating blood is one of the most unselfish and needed things a person can do. May God bless those who are able and donate their life saving blood...

Did it like 6 times. Passed out last time. Haha

Bexar Pitts said:

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Donating blood is one of the most unselfish and needed things a person can do. May God bless those who are able and donate their life saving blood...

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It's all about the $, you dolt.

BellCountyBear said:

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Bexar Pitts said:

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Donating blood is one of the most unselfish and needed things a person can do. May God bless those who are able and donate their life saving blood...

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It's all about the $, you dolt.

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I'm sure a few great fortunes began at the Blood Bank. :-) BTW, I remember back in the dark ages when frat members would drive pledges down to Marlin to give blood...and sometimes pledges would get to keep a little of the cash! :-)

Gave at high school when I was 18, went smooth. Tried again at work when I was 30. Because of my small veins they had jab me 4 or 5 times. Even when the flow would start it would stop before they had a pint. The next morning about a foot of my arm was black and blue and green and purple. The nurse told me I probably shouldn't give blood anymore.

My sister has the same kind of veins and told me I should ask for someone who takes blood from babies. I told her I wasn't quite secure enough in my masculinity to ask for someone who takes blood from babies.

i donated blood regularly from 18 till to 22. Times were tough and if you donated on tuesdays they gave you a sloppy joe. Others days you got cookies.

Later, at 27 or 28 I was coaching and single and I donated blood. A friend of mine told me that it was a good way of getting your blood checked. If anything was wrong they would mail you a notice. My first time to donate in Huntsville I got a letter from the red Cross. I almost fainted. But it was just a thank you note for some milestone I had reached. When I moved back to Waco my brother and I started selling plasma. We had fun flirting with the nurses and racing to see who finished fastest. They had a rule that if they stuck you and didnt draw blood they paid you and let you go. I have thick skin and deep veins. Many times they missed and I got my 30 bucks. Finally, after missing 3 weeks in a row they banned me.

I did it pretty regularly for about 30 years. Once I retired for the first time and started travelling I didnt donate in any foreign countries or Alaska.