Give Blood. It may save a life...YOURS!
Feb 11, 16, 2:58 pm
#541
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Diamond; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,701
In some ways, it may be a tougher sell with the FT community than elsewhere. I donate when I can, but going to Belize pretty much once a year meant I was usually ineligible (malaria risk). I've recently been informed that Belize is off that list, but a few days in Zambia + Zimbabwe ruled me out anyway. I'm sure many here are in a similar situation.
Feb 13, 16, 3:24 pm
#542
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,951
In some ways, it may be a tougher sell with the FT community than elsewhere. I donate when I can, but going to Belize pretty much once a year meant I was usually ineligible (malaria risk). I've recently been informed that Belize is off that list, but a few days in Zambia + Zimbabwe ruled me out anyway. I'm sure many here are in a similar situation.
Feb 16, 16, 6:42 am
#543
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,855
Because I lived in Germany from 1983 to 1987 I'm on the banned from the US blood donation list. Supposedly I was exposed to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (aka Mad Cow Disease) during that time. Even if they eventually lift that ban, and it's been in place for 20 +/- years, I still travel frequently enough to other "exotic" destinations to keep me banned.
Feb 16, 16, 9:03 am
#544
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Diamond; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,701
Feb 17, 16, 8:42 am
#545
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,855
Feb 17, 16, 10:27 pm
#546
Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,294
Feb 28, 16, 12:20 am
#547
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 2,974
Got a letter from the Red Cross saying the minimum hemoglobin is going from 12.5 to 13.0 in May. In the past year, I've probably had at least half of my (platelet) donations in the 12.5-13.0 range. Because of that, even before I got this letter I had decided to donate every 3 weeks instead of the normal 2, as well as regularly taking an iron supplement.
Anyone else impacted by the change?
Anyone else impacted by the change?
Mar 2, 16, 1:34 am
#548
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: LH SEN, VA Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 497
I only donate plasma now because of the frequency in which I can do it (2 weeks @ 902ml), and because of the number of malaria warnings I have on my profile.
There is an exclusion time of 120 days in Australia if you've been to a Malaria zone, and wish to donate whole blood.
There is an exclusion time of 120 days in Australia if you've been to a Malaria zone, and wish to donate whole blood.
Mar 14, 16, 4:42 pm
#549
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,773
Another pint of whole blood down, and an excuse to bump the thread and remind others to donate.
Hey, beats the US -- it's a full year deferral for a malaria zone.
Hey, beats the US -- it's a full year deferral for a malaria zone.
Mar 23, 16, 11:24 am
#552
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
Programs: SkyTean, Star Alliance, HHonors
Posts: 155
It's 28 days for men, but longer for women (six weeks I think?) who are in a relationship with a man who's been in a Zika area. At least it was at my donation center when I was there on Saturday to give platelets. I could donate but my wife was deferred
Apr 3, 16, 5:14 am
#553
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Coronavirus, United MileagePlus, Environmentally Friendly Travel, FlyerTalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,719
I deleted a couple of posts here. Just a quick reminder that this forum is not for political or ethical debates. Please use our Omni forum for those. Thank you.
l'etoile
forum moderator
l'etoile
forum moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Apr 3, 16 at 10:13 am Reason: Adjust
Apr 7, 16, 2:58 pm
#554
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,784
Donating blood as we speak
Pint #: 96
BP: 107/63
Pulse: 83
Blood Type: Red
Pint #: 96
BP: 107/63
Pulse: 83
Blood Type: Red
Jun 15, 16, 11:33 am
#555
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 771
Its tough for those of us that end up in "exotic" places at least once a year. I'd love to donate blood but I also love to travel and end up somewhere on the malaria or zika blacklist pretty often. 
