BELLEVUE -- I met the nicest volunteer at the Puget Sound Blood Center. Walter said when 9-11 happened, he and his wife "had to do something." That something was volunteering at the Blood Center. Walter donated his first unit of blood at the age of 15 after his mother received 50 units fighting an illness back in 1947. She passed away, but the family was still obligated to donate what she had used. Walter rolled up his sleeve and his father cajoled co-workers at the office to donate as well. Things are different today, but one thing remains the same. There will always be a need for blood and there's only one way to get it -- from you.
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mikeysgirl1 said on January 31, 2010 at 11:48 AM
I didn't know people were "OBLIGATED" to donate to restock what was used for family etc. I used to donate regularly to the red cross, but am permanently deferred as I might be a "Mad Cow disease carrier" from living in Germany with my military husband was stationed and I understand the government sends substandard meat to the military bases (this came from a military MD). When Mt St Helens blew up, my husband was in Germany, his mother had the Red Cross bring him home as his brother was missing up there, the Red Cross gave him enough money to get him to Denver, (still a far cry from WA state) I had to scrounge to get money to get him the rest of the way home (his mother finally paid us back for it after I had paid for it first), but then the red cross had to be paid back for the airline ticket (which was not easy, we were young, he was a low rank and we had children). Left a bad taste in my mouth, I had no idea you had to repay. I will never accept help from them again. God Bless Vol
36724697saera said on January 31, 2010 at 10:19 PM
i dont think people need to feel obligated at all to repay what they need, but it's sweet when folks are motivated to give what they can to help those in need.
36745102gatemann said on February 1, 2010 at 3:57 PM
I'm a Gulf War vet and fully understand about donating blood for the troops. I thank all who donated. Now with that said, your donated blood will cost the average joe approx. $10k to get transfusions. The reason hospitals say is, that they have to test it and store it. Now I admit I'm not a doctor but why does it cost so much to test and store it? They guilt everyone to give it for free but charge you your house to get it back. I do understand that blood will go bad quickly but with all the blood centers around somebody is making a ton of money. To this day I'm not allowed to donate due to my exposure to different agents when we destroyed Iraq's chemical bunkers. But I don't think I would unless it I knew it was for the troops. It pains me to see when people donate their time, money and blood, they are obligated to pay them back when they need that help.
36792982withane said on February 16, 2010 at 8:59 AM
This is misguided: one does not "repay" for blood used. Not everyone is able to give blood. Therefore the question is 'what if I can't repay?' Yes, there is a monetary obligation for transfusions; there's a monetary obligation for everything else one uses in a hospital situation. You wouldn't have to "repay" bedpans or gauze in kind, so why would anyone think they have to repay blood. Doesn't make sense. I am an 18-gallon blood donor.
37682724morganthomas said on March 10, 2010 at 8:00 AM
It is great to give blood. How about making convicts give blood too?
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