Nervous about blood donating...

6 years ago

The red cross in our state desperately needs blood as they've had to cancel the drives. They are asking that you make an appointment for a blood draw at one of their centers. But how would I know if I've gotten the disease and am asymptomatic? Until they can test me, I'd hate to be responsible for giving someone in desperate medical condtion tainted blood.

It's a conundrum.

Featured Answer

morz8 - Washington Coast

6 years ago

The Red Cross has implemented new measures to ensure blood drives and
donation centers are even safer for our donors and staff, including:

Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they are healthy
Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as throughout the donation process
Spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors, and
Increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.

At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees already
follow thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type
of infection, including:

Wearing gloves and changing gloves with each donor
Routinely wiping down donor-touched areas
Using sterile collection sets for every donation, and
Preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub

There is no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmitted
by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of
transfusion transmission for any respiratory virus including this
coronavirus worldwide.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

jtc
6 years ago
I heard the virus cannot be spread through blood.
Related Discussions
anyone else getting nervous about frost/freezing?
Q
Comments (25)
Just got the following from emai list of Tony Avent at Plant Delights Nursery in NC - should be helpful: Dear PDN'ers: Greetings from Plant Delights, where after two weeks of late spring weather, we have once again plunged back into the grip of winter. For nurserymen, it is the month of April that results in the most premature grey hair accompanied by high blood pressure due to the worry about late spring frosts. After two weeks of temperatures in the 80's, a cold front has once again gripped our area, with predictions of five consecutive nights of freezing temperatures and lows of 24-26 degrees F, which will shatter our old low temperature records for most of those dates. Wheres global warming when you really need it? Since we havent uncovered the overwintering greenhouses yet, the containerized nursery plants are fine, other than causing some heating bills that we could have done without. Our primary concerns are for plants in the display garden, where some arisaemas are in full flower and early hostas are in full leaf. Our crew has spent over 24 man hours covering tender vegetation with spun-bound polyester frost fabric (Im glad nursery folks never got the memo that polyester went out of fashion). Frost cloth is made for this purpose and can offer several degrees of protection for tender plants in just such a situation. The key to how much damage we will see is a combination of how cold the temperatures drop and how long they stay there. Typically, frost clothes can offer protection down to about 27 degrees F, but below that, cold injury could still occur. There is also the issue of trees and shrubs that have already developed spring growth. While these are virtually impossible to protect with frost cloth, they can be very sensitive to frost damage. Japanese maples are one of many trees that are particularly sensitive and can be killed outright by late spring freezes when they are at a susceptible stage of growth. In such cases, there are really only two options for protection. One is the application of irrigation, which, while the water is freezing actually releases heat that protects the plants. This technique is most commonly used on field grown crops such as strawberries. The downside is that water must be applied at the proper rate and the application must continue continuously until the temperatures rise above freezing. The other option is to rent kerosene space heaters and simply heat up the night air around the plant. This is similar to the smudge pots that are used in Florida orange orchards when frosts are imminent. These heaters can usually be rented from stores who specialize in the rental of construction equipment. If you would like to know more of the technical details about water application to protect plants, the following NCSU website is quite useful: http://www.smallfruits.org/Weather/frost_freeze.htm .
...See More
Nervous about Craigslist appt. at home tonight -please advise
Q
Comments (15)
"Small alarm bell: he works in D.C. (he says) I live in Northern VA suburbs (huge) and his cell phone has a Maryland area code." I wouldn't freak about that. DH's cell doesn't match our area code either, plus we have bought from CL hours away. If you are worried, do what I do. Call mom. I ~know~ it is rude, but if I am nervous about a situation like that I will have her ON the phone, actively talking to her. Yes Mom, the guy is here fixing it now. Oh? You need yours done too? Well this guy's name is... Bob. You know what? He kind of looks like Walter! I'll let you know if he does a good job and give you his number. In a hairy situation, we will keep talking until whoever is gone. Also, I know I always say the same thing on these type of threads, but I am a firm believer in women carrying mace. And really carry it, not in your purse where it will take 30 seconds to dig it out.
...See More
I think I am going to have a nervous breakdown
Q
Comments (39)
My problems have been relatively minor so far. Demo started last Monday. On the first day, the power went off in my neighborhood for two hours. Not my GC's fault. This was, however, an omen. I had told the GC that I wanted the wall oven lower because I'm short, and he said he'd keep it at the same height as the current one. But, in fact, he raised it 6 inches. That one I caught in the framing stage, so he's fixing it. I think he forgot. Then he asked me as he was heading out to buy lights, did I want black or white UC lights. He recommended white, I'm not good with quick decisions (why I read GW for months) and said OK. Before I could tell him I really thought I'd rather have black, the white was installed (it was the same day - at least he's quick). That wasn't really his fault - I should have asked for time to decide. But we did discuss where to place the recessed lights, since the joist ran right where they should go, so they could be too close or too far from the cabinets, and I'm quite sure we had decided on too far, but he installed them, instead, too close. If this was due to a decision on his part, shouldn't he have mentioned it to me? I think he forgot again, and it was the same day. But I didn't notice until the ceiling drywall was done, so too late! The most recent thing is not really his fault, except indirectly. I'm donating the cabs and metal stuff to Habitat for Humanity Restore. They said they would be selling the oven for scrap, which was a shame, but at least it wasn't going to the landfill. When the GC demo'd, he put the oven in the driveway instead of the garage with the rest, and I reminded him that it was being donated (I'm seeing a pattern of forgetting here). I knew it was very heavy, so I told him that it was OK to leave it there - it was up by the garage, behind the dumpster, not easily visible from the street, and it didn't matter if it was rained on, but I told him to be sure not to put it in the dumpster. That was last week. Habitat comes tomorrow. Today, while my teenage daughter was home alone, a man and woman in a pickup truck came up the driveway with a dolley and took the oven, wheeling it between the dumpster and our Buick Rendezvous. My DD called my DH, who doesn't ever listen to me when I tell him what is going on, and he told her it was OK if someone could use it. She was afraid to go out and say anything to these people anyway - she's only 13. So my beloved oven was stolen by scrappers. I understand if something is at the curb, it's fair game, but no one should walk up your driveway and spend 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get an double oven into their pickup truck. I'm really PO'd. So it's been only 7 days of remodel, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. From now on, every piddling thing is going to be in writing. Still, my stories are nowhere near as bad as all of yours. Clearly, no amount of planning - or wine - is ever enough.
...See More
Donating blood
Q
Comments (22)
When I first got married my Mother In Law and I would go to the fire station in our town and donate each time there was a blood drive. Everything was fine until my last visit. I remember feeling just slightly dizzy. I didn't say anything to anyone about it though, and the next thing I knew there were people surrounding me. They had me lay back and were handing me cookies and drinks. I didn't pass out and I will forever wonder how they even knew that I felt dizzy. Anyway, it was that time when they discovered that I was anemic and they couldn't accept my blood. I have struggled with anemia ever since and never did donate after that. And oddly enough, now it takes all I have in me to not get sick when I have to get just a little blood drawn in order to have blood work done. ????? Go figure.
...See More
arcy_gw
6 years ago
Donations are waaaay down and our blood banks were already pretty sparse so this is a huge deal. I can't give again for another month but will ASAP. The need is greater than the fear around this.
Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author
6 years ago
OK, thanks for the info. The FDA says they have no known cases of transfer of the disease via blood transfusion, but that they don't know about covid-19 but in general respiratory illnesses are not transferable.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
I'd call the local facility and ask about their location, their staff and physical precautions taken to protect donors and keep them segregated. Then it's up to you to decide if that information does or doesn't make you feel comfortable.
maifleur03
6 years ago
Since most non-essential operations are on hold the blood would be used by someone that needs it. Even infected blood since little is known at this time could mean extended life for someone. Because of my age I can not give but admire those especially at times like this that are willing to do so.

As has been mentioned by real experts most people will eventually have the virus. There will be some that are naturally immune. The premise for not going out in public is to lessen the impact on hospitals and other care situations.
morz8 - Washington Coast
6 years ago
All blood banks seem to be putting out emergency request for donors. The 'drives' have all been cancelled due to groups congregating of more than 10, and individual donations down so much that they are in critical need.

There will still be accidents, emergency necessary surgeries, heart issues, problem births. The banks need blood if anyone is able and willing and would not be compromising themselves by going out.
Bluebell66
6 years ago
I just donated two days ago. Tainted blood aside, I was very impressed with the precautions they took and felt completely safe. The first thing they did when I walked in was take my temp, and proceeded from there.
User
6 years ago
They will check your blood. Please donate. Hospitals need it now more than ever.
sephia_wa
6 years ago
All blood is screened after a donation to ensure there isn't anything wrong with it. Like someone may have HIV and not know it. If HIV is detected, the person would be notified.

I'm donating today.
jewels_ks
6 years ago
I did the fast pass online today and then it had you call for an appointment. I was 103rd in line on the phone que.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
queue
Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author
6 years ago
I understand that the screen the blood for what they can, but they don't screen it for everything. If we can't get cv-19 test kits, I doubt they can test the blood either.
grapefruit1_ar
6 years ago
I volunteer at our local Red Cross blood drives ( every other month). Our most recent one was on Tuesday, The Red Cross staff did take the temperature of every potential donor, but they did not take the temperature of the volunteers, nor did I note any other precautions. The donors sat side-by- side as they waited to be called, there was no hand sanitizer that I saw, they shared the required reading material, they sat at the same canteen table, etc. I was surprised when I later read about the new “ measures” being employed. That memo never made it to our town!

Nervous about blood donating...

morz8 - Washington Coast

Comments (14)

jtc

Related Discussions

arcy_gw

Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author

Elmer J Fudd

maifleur03

morz8 - Washington Coast

Bluebell66

User

sephia_wa

jewels_ks

Elmer J Fudd

Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author

grapefruit1_ar

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Nervous about blood donating...

Comments (14)

Related Discussions

Annie DeighnaughOriginal Author

Annie DeighnaughOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author

Annie Deighnaugh
Original Author