Announcing the 2014 TarValon.Net Blood Drive

[Bryher al'Venna]

I like that idea, Niere!

Donating again on Saturday. :fistbump

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

I *finally* found a blood drive that coincided with my (limited) time off ...... and finally donated.


A thought ....
Would a red cross drive be possible at something like Anni or Fall Ball ..... in the same *vein* as DragonCon having had a blood drive in the past?

Definitely something worth looking into! Since we usually get our locations in plenty of time it would just take a little research in the surrounding areas to see if there is a mobile bank available.

With the amount of people partaking of booze and aspirin, that'd probably yield a negligible donor pool.

What if it was done on the first day when people are waiting to check in. Before all the shenanigans?

 

[Shaerlyn Storna]

Definitely something worth looking into! Since we usually get our locations in plenty of time it would just take a little research in the surrounding areas to see if there is a mobile bank available.

What if it was done on the first day when people are waiting to check in. Before all the shenanigans?

Bonus: alcohol works faster when you're dehydrated/de-blooded. :halo

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

Well, we would have to take the health of our members into consideration too. It could be a good idea, but it would take more planning and careful thought to make it happen.

 

[Niere al'Aman]

A blood drive during the check in day sounds like a good way to aproach it. Or that evening before the party gets into full swing.

 

[Marivea al'Corriyi]

Event blood drives sound potentially awesome, and potentially really-not.

Finally got 'round to donating again at the end of last month. And, as usual, I was just barely not-anemic. 12.6, when anemic is 12.5.

 

[Elorenya d'Rahien]

I need to donate again sometime soon...

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

My father donates all the time though. He is O+ so he donates whenever possible. His work has a mobile blood bank that sets up once a month for the workers to donate if they wish. He has a bunch of those coins they give you when you donate a certain amount.

 

[Dnae Ila]

It's so hard to find places to donate where I live that fit with my schedule. But a blood van visited my church a bit ago, so I gave then. I usually am completely fine, but that day I stupidly didn't eat very much, didn't sleep well the night before, and it was sweltering hot. Closest I've ever gotten to fainting, and I felt ill all night and the next morning. It'll still be another month or so before I can give again. Next time I'll make sure to eat well, hehe.

I'm a little disappointed that I don't qualify to give double red. I'm just a few inches too short. (and if I ever lose the weight I intend to, I'll be 20lb too light) Think platform shoes will fool 'em? :P

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

I doubt it Dnae. Besides, that requirement is there to keep you safe; probably not a great idea to be wiggling around the rules.
Does the blood van come to your church often?

 

[Dnae Ila]

I wasn't seriously considering trying to find a loophole. I know the rules are important.

Not too often. Maybe twice a year.

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

I have been looking into what it might take to have a blood drive available for our live events. I found information from the American Red Cross that I thought might be helpful for those that have churches and organizations in their hometown who might want to have a blood drive, but aren't sure how to get started.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/hosting-blood-drive

 

[Dnae Ila]

That's some good information. It doesn't look like it would be too hard to organize.

 

[Ariadne Davion]

Just a reminder, there are Blood Drive items in the shop, and those purchases will go to our Fundraiser. Each Item gives us about 2$ if you wish to give that way.

 

[Avery d'Itkarya]

Just had our annual blood drive at work. Tried to donate. Once again: too anemic. That would be my fifth failed attempt

 

[Lireina ni Dormerus t'al`Bearach]

Donated double red today- feeling pretty good about it. Only woman on their list, too- my iron was a solid 14.4 today. :clap

Think you so much to everyone in here that donates and keeps trying even when they don't quite make it- this is why I love y'all!

Niere, aspirin intake actually does make a difference in whether or not you can donate- it asks if you've taken aspirin in the past 72 hours because it's a blood thinner.

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

Awe Avery YAY for trying!

Here is a list of high iron foods

Spoiler

There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is derived from hemoglobin. It is found in animal foods that originally contained hemoglobin, such as red meats, fish, and poultry. Your body absorbs the most iron from heme sources.

Iron-Rich Foods

Very good sources of heme iron, with 3.5 milligrams or more per serving, include:

• 3 ounces of beef or chicken liver
• 3 ounces of clams, mollusks, or mussels
• 3 ounces of oysters

Good sources of heme iron, with 2.1 milligrams or more per serving, include:

• 3 ounces of cooked beef
• 3 ounces of canned sardines, canned in oil
• 3 ounces of cooked turkey

Other sources of heme iron, with 0.7 milligrams or more per serving, include:

• 3 ounces of chicken
• 3 ounces of halibut, haddock, perch, salmon, or tuna
• 3 ounces of ham
• 3 ounces of veal

Iron in plant foods such as lentils, beans, and spinach is nonheme iron. This is the form of iron added to iron-enriched and iron-fortified foods. Our bodies are less efficient at absorbing nonheme iron, but most dietary iron is nonheme iron.
Very good sources of nonheme iron, with 3.5 milligrams or more per serving, include:

• Breakfast cereals enriched with iron
• One cup of cooked beans
• One-half cup of tofu
• 1 ounce of pumpkin, sesame, or squash seeds

Good sources of nonheme iron, with 2.1 milligrams or more per serving, include:

• One-half cup of canned lima beans, red kidney beans, chickpeas, or split peas
• One cup of dried apricots
• One medium baked potato
• One medium stalk of broccoli
• One cup of cooked enriched egg noodles
• One-fourth cup of wheat germ

Other sources of nonheme iron, with 0.7 milligrams or more, include:

• 1 ounce of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, roasted almonds, roasted cashews, or sunflower seeds
• One-half cup of dried seedless raisins, peaches, or prunes
• One cup of spinach
• One medium green pepper
• One cup of pasta
• One slice of bread, pumpernickel bagel, or bran muffin
• One cup of rice

Try adding one or two of these items to your diet on a more regular basis. It might help boost your iron. Also, cooking with cast iron instead of teflon pans will also boost your iron.

A study published in the July 1986 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that cooking in cast iron skillets added significant amounts of iron to 20 foods tested. For example, the researchers reported that the iron content of three ounces of applesauce increased from 0.35 mg to 7.3 mg and scrambled eggs increased from 1.49 mg to 4.76 mg of iron.

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

:blood1 July Update :blood1

We have had 21 donations (pints/liters) so far this year!
We are just past the half way mark in the year.
Do you all think we can double our number? I think we can!
Let's try for 42 donations or more by the end of the year!

So far donations from our members have been given from

• 7 different countries
• 3 different continents

That is AMAZING!

 

[Marivea al'Corriyi]

Another donation a few days ago: great iron levels (14.6 as opposed to my usual 12.5!), but it was super freeeeaking painful this time, they had to switch arms most of the way through, and then I got nauseous. :x Irksome, but I'll be there again in 56 days to donate. :P

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

Oh goodness
Did it hurt in the second arm? Maybe you just had a new nurse who isn't so great at getting the cath in just right. I hope it goes better next time. Thank you for continuing to donate even after a bad experience.