Any gallon club members around here except me?

[gooseman]

As someone who works for the American Red Cross, let me say THANK YOU to all those who donate, be it at a Red Cross or not!

 

[GigaCluster]

It's not PRECISELY true that homosexuals can't donate -- only those "who had sex with another man even once since 1971".
And FoBoT, they can install a valve in you: basically, a permanently inserted needle with a valve at the end to which they can hook up a pipe when you go to donate.
Here in Texas, when you reach a gallon, they don't give you a pin -- they give you a mug and I think a special t-shirt.

 

[WhiteKnight]

I think I'm at about 2 gallons now but I never got a pin or anything. The only thing I got was a coupon for a free pint of Ben and Jerry's the first time I donated.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
Is it true homosexuals aren't aloud to donate blood? (in california atleast?)

Technically, I believe if a male answers yes to "have you ever had sex with another man," that's a "permanent deferral."

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: GigaCluster
I am slowly getting there... except in Texas.

NogginBoink, that would make me ineligible too, as I was born in Europe and lived there for 11 years -- all within the last 20 years. That doesn't stop me from donating. I would double-check. A few months ago I was mistakenly deferred from donating blood because a dumb nurse at the blood center thought that "Ukraine" == "U.K.". I even asked her to double-check... I don't know what she did, but she stood behind her deferral. I had to call the Red Cross, find out the true requirements, then call the blood center and bypass her to be able to donate.

I had AAFES beef (Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the foodservice company on the army bases in Europe) and apparently that beef came from the UK.

 

[LordJezo]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
I would be, but recent rule changes have made me ineligible to donate blood.

I've eaten beef in Europe within the last 20 years, so I can't donate.

I am in the same boat as you are.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
I would be, but recent rule changes have made me ineligible to donate blood.

I've eaten beef in Europe within the last 20 years, so I can't donate.

I am in the same boat as you are.

I think that you are still eligible even if you have eaten beef in Europe, it just depends how long you've lived there.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I think I'm upto two gallons.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
I would be, but recent rule changes have made me ineligible to donate blood.

I've eaten beef in Europe within the last 20 years, so I can't donate.

I am in the same boat as you are.

I think that you are still eligible even if you have eaten beef in Europe, it just depends how long you've lived there.

i went to school in kent county, md and, despite the regulations i had been told about elsewhere, they were willing to take blood. i dint go, based on what i had been told at other places...but i believe it possible to find a place willing to take blood.

 

[RU482]

You've all got a long ways to go to beat this guy