Blood Drive for Boston

[Tree]

After 26 seconds of silence for the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting the 2013 Boston Marathon began. A little after 4 hours later as runners were trickling across the finish two explosions rocked the finish killing three and injuring over 140 more. Much is still unknown as it is still under investigation, but the loss of life and trauma at this international event cannot be ignored.

TarValon.Net is home to many runners, people of many nations, and residents of the Boston area. These senseless acts have not gone unnoticed by the community and so now the Department of Community Outreach would like to ask you, the members, to join us and show your support for those impacted by these events.

Starting today we will be holding a no-host blood drive in the spirit of the Boston area Red Cross. What does this mean? If you are able to give a pint, no matter where you are, head down to donate a pint of blood. It may go to Boston, it may not- but supplying your local blood bank can and will help save lives and stand, as the Tower still stands, against these senseless actions.

If you are able to donate blood, please consider sharing your donation here so we can see just how many pints TarValon.Net can give. We are not setting any goals for this no-host blood drive, and registering as a donor counts just as much as a single donation. A single pint donated is what we’re calling a success and an inspiration!

If you can or cannot, please also consider showing solidarity to those impacted runners and spectators with this perfectly signature sized badge, colored purple for Boston.

• For members based in the US you can find your local donations centers through the Red-Cross Blood Bank.
• Canadian members, you can find your local blood donations centers through Canadian Blood Services.
• UK members can find local locations for blood donation through the National Blood Service.
• TarValon.Net members in South Africa can also find information on blood donations through the South Africa National Blood Service.
• Australian members can check out the Australian Red Cross Blood Service for donation information.
• Members in New Zealand can also check out donation resources through the New Zealand Blood Service.
• Members in the Netherlands can take part in registering or donating blood through the Sanquin Blood Supply.
• My German isn’t good, but if you’re in Germany and looking to donate a pint, the German Red Cross should be able to point you in the right direction.
• Members in Norway wanting to give, remember to thank Ilissa for this tip, and check out this link to register and donate!

International members, please help fill out this list! If you are going to donate, wanting to register to be a blood donor- or just know the local lay of the land for blood donations, please share here any links to blood donation organizations that other members might find useful so that we can add them to the list above.

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

As a suggestion - this is a helpful list of the top reasons why (in the UK) you may not be able to donate - http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/top-reasons-donors-are-unable-to-give-blood/ I'm posting because hubby and I in the past have gone to donate (or there's been a blood drive at work) and something random like having been at the dentist stopped us being able to donate. It's the sort of thing that you might not consider (at least, we didn't!) so maybe worth having a look on your local organisation website just to be sure you know the rules and regs. I also found the blood service VERY helpful when I phoned them regarding donating my daughter's cord blood, so please, if you're unsure, give a phone and check before you travel

I'm not able to give blood at the moment but I intend to as soon as I am able.

Thank you Tree Sedai and the Community Outreach Team for thinking of this.

 

[Tree]

This is a great point Elandrelle- thanks for bringing it up!
There are many reasons why donation cannot be accepted or at least not a certain time! Check with your local blood service and maybe if you are unable to give this week or month, consider registering for another time!

 

[Alyssa Letherio]

I gave blood a month ago, so cannot for another few weeks, but if you can, it's a small gesture that can mean so much for others.

 

[Arya Ellesméra]

I'm so sad right now. I mean, obviously it's always good to donate blood, but I did on March 28, so I can't again until May 23. Thank you for organizing this, and thank you to all who donate for Boston!

 

[Sa'areah Britthorn]

Sadly I can't give blood, ever - least until they find a way round the whole 'no blood transfusions since 1980', or the 'asymptomatic autoimmune disorders' rule.

But thank you so much for pulling this together, and a huge thank you to anyone who can and does donate for this cause

 

[Ty al'Djinn]

I gave three units of platelets yesterday

 

[Azi al'Thone]

I fully support this. Our company gives blood as part of Canadian Blood Service's organization program (whatever it's called), but since I was in Dominican Republic in the fall I can't give again until next October

But props to everyone who donates and supports this, it's a very noble and needed cause. And free cookies!

 

[Lilli O' Neeus]

I don't know if they will let me donate. The last time I tried even doing the "sell plasma" thing, they told me I couldn't because I was in Europe during the time that mad cow disease started going around.

Not to say I won't look into it, but I've been told no before. :/

 

[Leese Sulan]

Mmm I'll consider it for after my exams.

 

[Ilissa al'Nari]

I have an appointment set up for the 24th, so I'll go in then

For the Norwegians, here is one service that will allow you to sign up to donate blood. It should work for the entire country.
www.giblod.no

 

[Siera al'Cere]

I think everyone is awesome for giving blood!! I am terrified of needles so I may try and work up the courage to do it

 

[Ariadne Davion]

I strongly encourage anyone that is able to, give it a try. I can't, they seem to not like pregnancy women or people with really low blood pressure give blood. >.>

 

[Kitan Tataru]

Brandon (my husband, not Sanderson) and I gave blood to the American Red Cross on March 27 and we'll be giving again as soon as they'll let us, which will be in the vicinity of May 11, if I did my math right. I'd give again right now if they'd let me, but it's too soon. I'm so glad we gave fairly close to this tragedy, because our blood may be helping someone injured in Boston.

 

[Shendare Doanshar]

(If any med-trained members feel that I am mistaken about the information below, please let me know right away and I'll correct/remove it!)

Just as a heads up, as I understand it, delaying your blood donation for a few weeks would actually be very beneficial.

They are already receiving a large number of blood donations (which is awesome!) as a result of the Boston incident. This means that they're not really hurting for blood right this second.

The bigger deal is that donated blood only lasts for four weeks before expiring. That means that about four weeks from now, they're going to go from a surplus of donated blood to a shortage, as they have to dispose of all of the leftover blood from the sudden drives. Many of the people that might normally have been donating blood during that four-week period probably did so early on during the drive, so the organizations will actually have less blood than usual after the disposal.

Waiting 3-5 weeks before you donate blood will help alleviate this post-drive disposal shortage and make things easier on the med staff.

 

[Marivea al'Corriyi]

I have an appointment to donate blood in 3 weeks. Right in the sweet spot! Thanks for the good info, Shen.

 

[Tree]

That is great info Shen! Another thing that I noticed when looking for blood drive resources on an international scale last night was that a lot of places are now offering registration as a blood donor. I don’t know hot it works, or if it will be beneficial in terms of shortages, but giving blood saves lives so even if you cannot donate today, consider registering!

Ilissa, thanks for the link! I will add it above!

 

[Kytheria al'Shea]

If you can't give blood right now or don't want to, you can always volunteer at blood drives. I used to do this often -- you help the Red Cross/other staff; keep an eye on the cookie station; help people who are feeling faint; make sure people stay hydrated; etc.


We've just posted a bunch of links via our social media channels, but here they are again:

Red Cross statement on Boston (about giving blood and other ways to help): http://rdcrss.org/11bC0qY

Red Cross Support: http://www.redcross.org/support

 

[Hilwa Katir]

Thank you for doing this! I'll be donating tomorrow morning in either the Foxboro or dedham locations.

 

[Tree]

Thanks for the info Kyth! Its a great way that people can get involved, and show their support even if they cannot give blood right now, or just can’t do the needles.

Exception Hilwa!!!