Tar Valon 2016 Blood Drive!

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

Yep, that is definitely the case, unfortunately, and has been for quite some time. The UK had a bad time of it with mad cow disease and scrapie (the version that impacts sheep) getting into the food supply from affected animals for a number of years, but they did finally manage to get it under control by outlawing the use of certain types of feed and introducing other safety controls at farms. The US is actually set to start importing beef and lamb from the UK next year for the first time since 1996.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is transmitable via transfusion, so the Red Cross has to take steps to protect the blood supply, but there's no known way to test for it in donor blood, so they can't do it after the fact, and the only way to definitively diagnose it in humans is via brain biopsy (which sometimes misses the effected areas) or at autopsy. That means a ban on blood donations by people at elevated risk for having contracted the disease, and since Creutzfeldt-Jakob has been known to sit around inactive for 50 years before triggering, that means the ban will be with us for a long time. And it's not just the UK - because UK beef and lamb was widely exported to most of Europe between 1980 and 1996, anyone who spent more than 3 months cumulatively during that period in a fairly long list of countries is banned from giving blood in the US and other parts of the world.

 

[Tallan Daar]

In Sweden it's only time spent in the UK that counts, and the period is 6 months instead of 3, but otherwise, that. ^

 

[Falone Charpontier]

Yep, that is definitely the case, unfortunately, and has been for quite some time. The UK had a bad time of it with mad cow disease and scrapie (the version that impacts sheep) getting into the food supply from affected animals for a number of years, but they did finally manage to get it under control by outlawing the use of certain types of feed and introducing other safety controls at farms. The US is actually set to start importing beef and lamb from the UK next year for the first time since 1996.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is transmitable via transfusion, so the Red Cross has to take steps to protect the blood supply, but there's no known way to test for it in donor blood, so they can't do it after the fact, and the only way to definitively diagnose it in humans is via brain biopsy (which sometimes misses the effected areas) or at autopsy. That means a ban on blood donations by people at elevated risk for having contracted the disease, and since Creutzfeldt-Jakob has been known to sit around inactive for 50 years before triggering, that means the ban will be with us for a long time. And it's not just the UK - because UK beef and lamb was widely exported to most of Europe between 1980 and 1996, anyone who spent more than 3 months cumulatively during that period in a fairly long list of countries is banned from giving blood in the US and other parts of the world.

Kelgan Sedai, that is very informative, thank you. So, more than likely since I lived in Berlin for a year and a half in 1994, I might also be banned...

 

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

Unfortunately, yes. The full list of exclusions for the Red Cross can be found here.

 

[Deleted member 11040]

I'm a UK based Visitor (soon to be Citizen) we Don't have Blood Drives we Have Blood Doning sessions and I've done at least 10 pints does that score me any credit with the tower?

 

[Dnae Ila]

Unless you're planning to change your Tower name upon becoming a Citizen, I don't see why you can't fill out a form, too. Click the link above and fill it out for as many times as you've given, if you can remember when and how much.

As excited as I am to be having my baby, I'm nearly as excited to be able to give blood again in a few months!

 

[Deleted member 11040]

Thanks will do.

 

[Deleted member 11040]

As i was a long term member inactive but was giving blood during that period may I add these to this year's stats?

 

[Syera Faelron]

I don't have to give blood:P Being diabetic..oh the joys

 

[Deleted member 11040]

Unlessyou're planning to change your Tower name upon becoming a Citizen, I don't see why you can't fill out a form, too. Click the link above and fill it out for as many times as you've given, if you can remember when and how much.

based on the above quote may I add all the pints that I had done I joined initially retrospectively to the form?

 

[Dnae Ila]

So long as they were given this year and you're being honest. Well, and if you were on the site at the time. I'm not sure about that, but that seems the most honest route.

 

[Deleted member 11040]

So is that a no?

 

[Dnae Ila]

Martinis, I'm sorry. When I was perusing this thread earlier, I was distracted and confused myself about your membership status. (I thought I was talking to two different people! :facepalm)
So, to clear up confusion, this is what I think of the matter: you're a Citizen. Prior to that (of course) you were a visitor. Your join date is in 2013. I don't see that it much matters how long you were a visitor before become a Citizen. You've been a member here for 3 years, so I say your donations count. However, since this is the 2016 drive, only donations given this year will count. Sound reasonable?

 

[Deleted member 11040]

For many years now this community has watched with a compassionate eye as tragedies of all sorts have struck- Super Storms, Earthquakes, Bombings, School Shootings- each matched with a horrific loss of life and each a true emergency. We've sometimes been able to aid those in need in the aftermath of these emergencies, as was the case with the Boston Bombing- but at other times we've been unable to respond in a meaningful way.

For many years now, TarValon.Net, Inc has also sought a way to respond. As a community we have asked the administration what we can do, and as an administration we've struggled with the best ways to respond. In 2013 in the aftermath of the Boston Bombing, we ran the previous no-host Blood Drive, there were a lot of participants but not all could during the time that it was running because they donated at a different time of the year. Nevertheless this was- at last- the appropriate response and serves to inspire future responses. Donating blood saves lives, and in the aftermath of tragedies having well stocked blood banks can make all the difference. In 2014, we held a year long Blood Drive that was a huge successes, resulting in the donation of 41 pints of blood, and in 2015 we donated 32 pints of blood!

For 2016 we are hosting another year-long Blood Drive, to both support those that give blood regularly and to encourage others to give blood. We recognize that this isn’t for everyone, and not everyone can give blood. Yet there are those that can and one of the problems that most Blood Banks run into is that people only give blood after disasters, and usually just the once. Blood is often needed weeks before hand and even after, it has a short shelf life and they need every drop year round. This year-long event is designed to address these needs year-round so that instead of reacting, as a community, we are preparing. Our goal for 2016, is to beat the 32 pints of blood donated in 2015.

All donations beginning January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 can be reported using the following form:

>>FORM<< ​

Data collected with this form is intended to get an accurate count of donated pints throughout 2015, you will notice only four required questions. Also, we've included a section where you can share what blood bank you donated to! This information will be used to help other members locate a local blood bank they can donate to.

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Here is a collection of Signatures, Badges and even an Icon or two that we encourage you to wear through the year- whether you can or will donate yourself- spreading the word is key.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sig1v2_zps0f3947e0.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sig1_zpsf5a3ad0d.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sig2_zps9bdfca36.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sig2v2_zpsd1511fb8.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sig3_zps811244b2.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sigbadge2_zps119f3ac3.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/arycollection/Outreach/Blood Drive/sigbadge1_zps15552b85.png


And Icons!
:blood1
:blood2

 :blood1 :blood2

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Also, please check out our little section in the Tower Store.
All funds raised through these purchases will be donated at the end of the year towards our Feast of Lights Fundraiser- so its double awesome!

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Blood Drive Basics:

• 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!

:blood1

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Hello Aryawnah Sedai. I'm wondering how I register previous years blood pints as I want to help the group with the blood drive.

 

[Dnae Ila]

I'm not sure if she's monitoring this thread atm, since she hasn't said anything for a while. A pm would probably be your best bet, like when you messaged me earlier.

Also, I'm not sure if you realize, but quoting someone's post doesn't send them a notification or anything; it's only really useful for referencing something specific someone said, so there's no need to quote a long post. (Also, you can edit the quoted post down to just the portion you are referencing if they said several different things in one post.)

 

[Deleted member 11040]

I'm not sure if she's monitoring this thread atm, since she hasn't said anything for a while. A pm would probably be your best bet, like when you messaged me earlier.

Also, I'm not sure if you realize, but quoting someone's post doesn't send them a notification or anything; it's only really useful for referencing something specific someone said, so there's no need to quote a long post. (Also, you can edit the quoted post down to just the portion you are referencing if they said several different things in one post.)

Sorry still farily new thanks for the Info Dnae Gaidin.

 

[Dnae Ila]

Not a problem. We were all new once. That's why we like giving people a heads up about stuff that's not always intuitive.
And feel free to ask questions.

 

[Almira ni'Caldazare]

Do I need to tell the Red Cross what organization I'm with when I donate? The organizations I've gone through before all have a code to use when registering.

 

[Dnae Ila]

No. Your previous organizations probably used a code to track donations. We just use the form above. It makes it easier, because not everyone is using the Red Cross.

 

[Niere al'Aman]

Sixth and final donation for the year.