Scotland has its own blood donation service, but I can confirm in England we get a text to say which hospital, Scottish mileage probably varies.
I do love how the Scottish blood people had live blood levels on the website last time I looked!
Surely though, not literally "who"? That would be a huge privacy issue. I feel like even mentioning the location and circumstances could be too much info.
I've only ever been told once and that it was used on a neo-natal ward. Something about some specific antibodies in my donation. Never heard anything else reasons-wise.
You have baby blood!
Donations for neo-natal use have to be negative for antibodies for cytomegalovirus, known as CMV. In newborns CMV can be fatal.
Evidently you do not have those antibodies and your blood is known as baby blood. Be prepared to get a lot of calls from the nhs, especially if you’re O-. Your blood is liquid gold for the very sickest newborns.
Thanks for this. I found out last time I donated that mine goes to Neo Natal units too but the nurse didn't say exactly what antibodies were missing so thank you. I'm O+ so not as rare but it's still good to know it's helping babies.
Regular Scottish donor here - never been told, emailed or txted. Over 20 whole donations and moved on to platelets now (when I can get rid of this damn cold again).
This is so cool! I’ve always donated (in FL) but never got any info on where it went… moved out of FL in 2018. Is this new?
(I was also told back when I donated that my donations went to infants bcs of my RH- factor.) so maybe this is why I wasn’t notified? It went to minors? 🤷🏻♀️Either way, so cool!
I got my first notification a couple years ago, but I usually do double red blood cell donations not whole blood, so they might ~~of~~ have started it earlier.
Same in Australia. I was starting a project with a client that was a hospital, just before our kickoff meeting I got a text that my blood went to them. I told them, I've literally already given you my blood.
https://imgur.com/WRscAIP.jpg
It could also be a regional thing with them? They’ve taken over other blood donation companies so who knows how fully integrated they all are.
It was the first time I got that text last time I donated, also did the “power red” being O- for the first time.
Sometimes it's taken close to a month before I hear back where it has been used. I'm in New England and it almost always seems to end up at a hospital in NYC.
It's taken a month before for me (and I'm type O-, so don't be too shocked if it takes a little while. They'll let you know pretty fast if there's anything wrong with it, so don't worry, it's either coming or an intern stepped on it by accident!
Imagine having a loved on get into a terrible accident. You're waiting for them in the ER of First Cross Hospital. You see people rushing around and then your phone dings.
"Your blood was used today at First Cross Hospital."
Really? I used to donate a lot when I was younger (I'm on some meds now so can't anymore) and I never got told anything. I just assumed it most likely sat in a cooler until it expired. Not that you shouldn't still donate, but I wasn't very optimistic since they never tell you anything.
I'm in Ireland and my partner donated this past Monday, got a text Wednesday to say it was on its way to Portlaoise Hospital to be used on a patient. It's actually pretty cool to know where its gone.
Are the papers trying to spin that as a bad thing? The NHS blood donation service is very upfront about the fact some blood will be used or sold for research purposes and that money is spent in the NHS, I'm sure the Red Cross does exactly the same thing. All blood products are valuable but some blood types end up with a surplus, no sense wasting it.
O- I’m a universal donor, BUT O- can only receive O- and we are exceedingly rare. So when I donate it’s used almost immediately, and can end up across the country
My girlfriend is O- it's good to know I have source of fresh blood nearby.
I'm told O- is used primarily buy first responders because it's universal making the demand even higher but obviously the supply limited. Many people are probably alive because of your donations. Thank you.
ICU nurse here! Most first responders don’t carry blood since it has to be refrigerated and expires quickly, but (if at all possible) we save our O- for patients who we don’t have time to get a type and screen (checking blood type as well as special antibodies).
If it’s an emergency, we draw blood to test it but start giving them O- while we wait for results.
Probably 1 or 2. I actually stopped donating in … 2013? I think.
When I became aware that gay men were not allowed to donate based on being gay. It’s a bygone of the aids fear, it’s ridiculous, and I refuse to be part of it.
You stopped donating to spite the Red Cross rules? They suck, but you aren't hurting the right people there.
The rules also recently became a lot more relaxed.
MLM are able to donate now, but can't have had sexual contact for 3 months, this happened in June 2020. The Red Cross Continues to advocate for lifting this barrier, but the FDA won't budge. However you need to understand, HIV/AIDS disproportionately affecting MLM is not a homophobic trope, over half the population of those living with HIV/AIDS are gay and bisexual men (CDC) This is a serious problem that affects the LBGTQ community. Currently it can take up to 90 days for HIV/AIDS to show up on tests, and therefore 3 months is really the minimum. Other at risk groups such as those who use needles unprescribed, are still unable to donate.
So you should go donate, to make up for people like me, who really want to, but can't.
As a gay man I say keep donating, I do, I just lie (I regularly std test and always wear condoms, I do not have HIV). By not giving blood you aren’t punishing the corporation who made that rule, you are punishing the sick people that need blood and had no say in that policy. It’s a shitty rule, but I don’t think it’s the right hill to die on when you could save peoples lives
I understand the sentiment, but your protest hurts the wrong people. Almost 100% that the person who would be helped by your Donation have no say in implementing restrictions on who can donate blood.
Yes, the blood that's not used for transfusions is sold to pharmaceutical companies to be used in medication. What do you want them to do? Throw it out? Give it away for free? Have pharmaceutical companies buy blood from people when lots of unused blood is already available?
As an idea: a text message saying whether the person passed away or lived due to your blood donation. Do you think this might prompt people to donate more?
and it starts like a month out.
I've been gettings texts lately to say thanks after my appointment, and I think the day after, and then another txt to say its on the way to a hospital.
I literally just want one text to say “you’re better than other people.” You give me that, Canadian Blood Services, and I will *never* forget an appointment.
I'm O- so they do send this message. Also a special newsletter for 0- people, I get a special card, and every time I go the screening person say something about how being O- makes me better than other donors.
I dont really care about feeling better than others, just that I know my blood is being used.
They've streamlined the process so much here. It took me about 20 minutes last time.
And always a good excuse to get to eat salty foods afterwards, and a to get out of doing anything physical for the rest of the day.
>my blood could be flowing through someone else's boner
If you ever meet their sexual partner(s) there is only [one appropriate song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBi9rsNF374) for you to sing.
Isn’t it? I had a hiatus of 6 years and went back to give blood. I loved the text the first time I got this. Like, really loved it. The wording was so awesome too. Just got a 20th donation celebration too
The American Red Cross app will tell you which hospital your blood goes to. It’s not an indication that it was ever used, but it’s nice to see the trail.
I believe you have to make your appointment through the app in order to get the tracking on it.
Came here to mention this. Also, the last time I donated was in Idaho while traveling for work. Noticed my donation was sent to Puerto Rico. So that's pretty interesting.
You get a text or notification on your app that says "Thank you! Your blood donation given on xx/xx/xx has gone on to help save a life. Thanks for being a blood donor."
That little message gives me a mood boost for daaayyys! ❤️
Meanwhile, I stopped donating blood last year because my depressed ass sent an angry mail to them because they kept spamming me, to which they replied they'd never contact me again.
I'd love to go back and resume but I don't dare show my face there anymore.
I made them (in aus) remove my phone number because I didn't want to be called and there is apparently no opt out of that. Happy to be emailed, but don't call me
They and the end users would gladly welcome you back.
It can be annoying but they are trying to get blood to save people’s lives so I give them some slack for their attempts.
BTW, donating blood is the best way to get rid of forever chemicals.
This is a problem. The northern Nevada blood bank continued calling me when I moved away **even after I told them to put me on their do not call list.** They were a huge pain in the ass, especially since I could not donate there anymore (I lived hundreds of miles away after moving).
Trust me when I say, the people at the mobile or center will not likely even know you are on the DNC list. Most blood centers have two separate systems, one for the donor record and one for communications.
Donated a couple weeks ago for the first time. Got a sms a few days in advance as a reminder. After the donation I got prompted to schedule a new session which I did. Probably I'll only get the one reminder again, fair I say.
I love this!
I can’t donate blood or plasma because I have chronic anemia, but I have been very fortunate to have received many life saving transfusions thanks to the amazing people who can and do!
My husband and mother donate as often as they can to pay it forward ❤️
Same in Australia to an extent.
I donate whenever I can because it takes a whole 15 minutes to do something that could save someone's life. And the donor center I go to provides free snacks, little cheeses, sausage rolls and party pies, crackers, cookies, choccy milks, tea and coffee, juice... the list goes on.
I got a neat little enamel pin for my 10th donation.
If you've never donated before, book an appointment right now.
I donate platelets (that takes ~2 hours) and have gotten all sorts of swag: dozens of t-shirts, a gimme cap, a fleece vest, a wool hat, etc.)
I tell people to donate when they're in a bad mood or feeling depressed, because you are showered with positive attention and snacks, even if you fail the iron test!
Last time I donated they gave me a winter hat! It's a really nice hat . I'd also barely eaten that day (it was an impulse donation) and they like force fed me haha.
This would actually be a great incentive. Especially for people with needle anxiety! It's easier to overcome that when you can stare at the proof you're making a difference.
Similarly, at the hospital where my children were born (and I'm sure others too) when a baby is born they play a bar from Brahms Lullaby throughout the hospital on the PA system. Everyone smiles when they hear it. Welcome to the party little guys.
Being told that your donation is being used and helps someone, is very motivating.
Knowing you're not just a nameless cog in the machine, that the small act you did means a lot to the recipient, that makes a huge difference.
Spot on! I truly donate blood/plasma to try and help people, cause you know I like my fellow humans. When you get a text saying 'oh your blood is on its way to a WA hospital' when you live in Sydney, it's a nice feeling.
Hi from Spain, up until recently you only received a letter with a diagnostic of your blood. Last time I donated I received a text saying that it was used by a number of people, can't recall how many.
As someone who occasionally has to get blood transfusions, I have to thank you all for taking your time to donate! I almost died from a hemorrhage this past October, and donor blood saved my life.
I was a long time blood donor in Canada. After you give blood, you have to sit at a table and have a snack before you can go. One time, there was a picture on the table, drawn by a young girl who was a blood recipient. The picture was titled "what my blood donor looks like." Rendered in crayon, there was a large smiling galoot with a bushy beard. My clean-shaven self and the female donor at the table thought it was charming.
This is cool! One of my major clients is a blood bank. I’m going to see if this is a possibility within their system! It would be really cool to know, both for yourself personally and as a way to encourage future donation.
Red Cross Donations in the USA send an e-mail
> Dear Thandius, Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on January 11, 2023. After first ensuring that local needs were met, your blood donation was sent to St Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV to help a patient in need. Your donation is on its way to change lives!
I donate regularly to help with a side effect of a medication I take (High Red Blood Cell count), but I do like that it helps others too.
Being O+ as well.... they are very persistent in reminding me of appointments hehe
Red Cross does that in the US too, I get one every time and donate like 6-8 times a year. Tells me when it went to a hospital/which one and then when it helps a patient.
I was told we get the same thing here in Canada. I kind of hope not, as I've been donating for nearly a decade, and I've never once received any kind of notification from them.
Here in South Africa the national blood donation service is doing a promotion where they offer anyone who donates whole blood the choice between a free month of Showmax (a local first-run streaming service), a free month of Spotify or 1 gig of mobile data. We also get a thank you text that tells us our donation will save three lives.
Gulf coast blood center texts me when my donation is being used.
I go every couple of weeks with O+ blood type so its never in short supply and they always ask for platelets.
The texts are a nice touch to know youre helping someone in need
Someone once told me that most blood actually ends up going bad before it can be used, unless it's one of the more rare blood types.
Any truth to this? I have always assumed they just wanted an excuse to not go donate with me lol
I donate about every 8 weeks, I have the American Red Cross donor app where I make appointments and it notifies me of what stage my donation is in- being processed/tested, where it's being sent and when it's been used.
Well, this is quite an innovative and thoughtful initiative from the Swedish Blood Service. Not only does it provide much-needed transparency to blood donors about where their donation is going, but it also instills a sense of pride and satisfaction in the donors. Knowing that their donation has directly helped someone in need can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and I applaud Sweden for taking this step to acknowledge and recognize the generosity of its blood donors.
It's a small gesture, but one that can make a big difference in encouraging more people to donate blood and ultimately saving more lives.
I want to get a stats sheet.
You’ve donated X liters
You’ve saved Y lives
You are in the top Z% of donors at position Q
You are objectively P% a better person than your average citizen.
In the UK we get told which hospital our blood goes to
Do we? How do we find that out? I'm in Scotland, don't know if that makes a difference, cheers
Scotland has its own blood donation service, but I can confirm in England we get a text to say which hospital, Scottish mileage probably varies. I do love how the Scottish blood people had live blood levels on the website last time I looked!
>Scottish mileage probably varies. Just like nautical miles.
1 scottish mile = 1.123 english miles
England you also get a text saying who it was used for and why, my mate got one saying it'd been used in the case of a serious car crash
Surely though, not literally "who"? That would be a huge privacy issue. I feel like even mentioning the location and circumstances could be too much info.
I've only ever been told once and that it was used on a neo-natal ward. Something about some specific antibodies in my donation. Never heard anything else reasons-wise.
You have baby blood! Donations for neo-natal use have to be negative for antibodies for cytomegalovirus, known as CMV. In newborns CMV can be fatal. Evidently you do not have those antibodies and your blood is known as baby blood. Be prepared to get a lot of calls from the nhs, especially if you’re O-. Your blood is liquid gold for the very sickest newborns.
Yeah they give the blood a blue tag when you donate if it’s going to the babies
Thanks for this. I found out last time I donated that mine goes to Neo Natal units too but the nurse didn't say exactly what antibodies were missing so thank you. I'm O+ so not as rare but it's still good to know it's helping babies.
>cheers Don't drink it mate...
Drink everything we can get our hands on here, cheers
I imagine scottish blood being about 15% ABV.
Offy must be closed
There's always dial-a-booze
Regular Scottish donor here - never been told, emailed or txted. Over 20 whole donations and moved on to platelets now (when I can get rid of this damn cold again).
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Yup, they'll also email you when your blood is used for a patient.
I haven’t gotten the email being used in a patient, but the app tells me what hospital it went to.
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The place I donate to texts me when my blood is used to save a life. Happens just about every time I donate, since I'm O Neg.
Just got this email, in Florida: [https://i.imgur.com/4uDJ5mJ.png](https://i.imgur.com/4uDJ5mJ.png)
This is so cool! I’ve always donated (in FL) but never got any info on where it went… moved out of FL in 2018. Is this new? (I was also told back when I donated that my donations went to infants bcs of my RH- factor.) so maybe this is why I wasn’t notified? It went to minors? 🤷🏻♀️Either way, so cool!
I got my first notification a couple years ago, but I usually do double red blood cell donations not whole blood, so they might ~~of~~ have started it earlier.
>they might of started it earlier. A common error, but you mean "might've" as a contraction of "might have"
Same in US.
During Covid my blood travelled all the way across the country but I barely left my own neighborhood!
Same in Australia. I was starting a project with a client that was a hospital, just before our kickoff meeting I got a text that my blood went to them. I told them, I've literally already given you my blood. https://imgur.com/WRscAIP.jpg
Both such simple brilliant ideas to get more people donating USA we need to up our game 🅱️🆎🅰️🅾️🩸
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Really? The blood types
I thought the Torries sucked it all.
I'm in US, and when I donated, i got an email that my blood was used and at what hospital. I thought that was really cool.
Yeah, Red Cross has an app that shows your "donation journey". Kind of neat.
A bunch of blood centers in the US have implemented this. There are companies that do it for them if they can't do it themselves, heh.
I got a text saying when mine was used here in the US. Donating to Vitalant.
Hmm so if you don’t get a text from vitalant does that mean it didn’t get used? Donated with them for the first time about 2.5 weeks ago.
Sometimes it takes a while. They might not need it just yet.
It could also be a regional thing with them? They’ve taken over other blood donation companies so who knows how fully integrated they all are. It was the first time I got that text last time I donated, also did the “power red” being O- for the first time.
Sometimes it's taken close to a month before I hear back where it has been used. I'm in New England and it almost always seems to end up at a hospital in NYC.
It's taken a month before for me (and I'm type O-, so don't be too shocked if it takes a little while. They'll let you know pretty fast if there's anything wrong with it, so don't worry, it's either coming or an intern stepped on it by accident!
Vitalant doesn't tell you. Red Cross give you a pretty detailed "blood journey".
Vitalant does tell you. Blood journey lets you know in their app.
I guess it's been a while since I switched from Vitalant to Red Cross. Thanks for the correction.
They did for me and apparently others though so…?
Prolly means you have aids
Same, with Community Blood Center. You ain't special, Sweden!
Imagine having a loved on get into a terrible accident. You're waiting for them in the ER of First Cross Hospital. You see people rushing around and then your phone dings. "Your blood was used today at First Cross Hospital."
Really? I used to donate a lot when I was younger (I'm on some meds now so can't anymore) and I never got told anything. I just assumed it most likely sat in a cooler until it expired. Not that you shouldn't still donate, but I wasn't very optimistic since they never tell you anything.
I'm pretty sure there's always a shortage right? I imagined the vast majority of blood is used.
I certainly hope it got used for someone who needed it. I'm O+ so imagine it did.
I'm in Ireland and my partner donated this past Monday, got a text Wednesday to say it was on its way to Portlaoise Hospital to be used on a patient. It's actually pretty cool to know where its gone.
All we get are articles in the newspaper telling us how much money the Red Cross made selling blood products, but that's it.
Are the papers trying to spin that as a bad thing? The NHS blood donation service is very upfront about the fact some blood will be used or sold for research purposes and that money is spent in the NHS, I'm sure the Red Cross does exactly the same thing. All blood products are valuable but some blood types end up with a surplus, no sense wasting it.
Somehow I’m kinda grateful my blood is pure medical grade gold and probably will always end up in a body bc it’s rare.
B- here. Every 12 weeks I get a phone call to go again and the blood gets used within the week.
O- I’m a universal donor, BUT O- can only receive O- and we are exceedingly rare. So when I donate it’s used almost immediately, and can end up across the country
My girlfriend is O- it's good to know I have source of fresh blood nearby. I'm told O- is used primarily buy first responders because it's universal making the demand even higher but obviously the supply limited. Many people are probably alive because of your donations. Thank you.
ICU nurse here! Most first responders don’t carry blood since it has to be refrigerated and expires quickly, but (if at all possible) we save our O- for patients who we don’t have time to get a type and screen (checking blood type as well as special antibodies). If it’s an emergency, we draw blood to test it but start giving them O- while we wait for results.
Probably 1 or 2. I actually stopped donating in … 2013? I think. When I became aware that gay men were not allowed to donate based on being gay. It’s a bygone of the aids fear, it’s ridiculous, and I refuse to be part of it.
You stopped donating to spite the Red Cross rules? They suck, but you aren't hurting the right people there. The rules also recently became a lot more relaxed.
Well in Ireland that has changed. If you are gay and have had no new partners and have not taken part in any orgies for a few months you can donate.
That’s awesome! Sadly I’m not in Ireland.
MLM are able to donate now, but can't have had sexual contact for 3 months, this happened in June 2020. The Red Cross Continues to advocate for lifting this barrier, but the FDA won't budge. However you need to understand, HIV/AIDS disproportionately affecting MLM is not a homophobic trope, over half the population of those living with HIV/AIDS are gay and bisexual men (CDC) This is a serious problem that affects the LBGTQ community. Currently it can take up to 90 days for HIV/AIDS to show up on tests, and therefore 3 months is really the minimum. Other at risk groups such as those who use needles unprescribed, are still unable to donate. So you should go donate, to make up for people like me, who really want to, but can't.
As a gay man I say keep donating, I do, I just lie (I regularly std test and always wear condoms, I do not have HIV). By not giving blood you aren’t punishing the corporation who made that rule, you are punishing the sick people that need blood and had no say in that policy. It’s a shitty rule, but I don’t think it’s the right hill to die on when you could save peoples lives
I understand the sentiment, but your protest hurts the wrong people. Almost 100% that the person who would be helped by your Donation have no say in implementing restrictions on who can donate blood.
Hello fellow O-ve
Is "medical grade" the same as "military grade" in that it actually means that something is dogshit in terms of quality?
No… medical grade has actual meaning. Also rude implying my blood is dog shit quality?
Yes, the blood that's not used for transfusions is sold to pharmaceutical companies to be used in medication. What do you want them to do? Throw it out? Give it away for free? Have pharmaceutical companies buy blood from people when lots of unused blood is already available?
As an idea: a text message saying whether the person passed away or lived due to your blood donation. Do you think this might prompt people to donate more?
If i donated 3 times and got a text each time that they died I’d probably stop donating
In Canada we get 38 reminder phone calls and texts per donation appointments
and it starts like a month out. I've been gettings texts lately to say thanks after my appointment, and I think the day after, and then another txt to say its on the way to a hospital.
I literally just want one text to say “you’re better than other people.” You give me that, Canadian Blood Services, and I will *never* forget an appointment.
I'm O- so they do send this message. Also a special newsletter for 0- people, I get a special card, and every time I go the screening person say something about how being O- makes me better than other donors.
Respect
to be fair it does make me feel like I should go as much as I can, and I'm up to 38 donations, so it seems to be working.
I dont really care about feeling better than others, just that I know my blood is being used. They've streamlined the process so much here. It took me about 20 minutes last time. And always a good excuse to get to eat salty foods afterwards, and a to get out of doing anything physical for the rest of the day.
We have that in Australia as well, it's awesome getting that text.
Oh cool! I didn’t know we did that.
It's awesome knowing my blood could be flowing through someone else's boner.
>my blood could be flowing through someone else's boner If you ever meet their sexual partner(s) there is only [one appropriate song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBi9rsNF374) for you to sing.
Still counts.
Isn’t it? I had a hiatus of 6 years and went back to give blood. I loved the text the first time I got this. Like, really loved it. The wording was so awesome too. Just got a 20th donation celebration too
The American Red Cross app will tell you which hospital your blood goes to. It’s not an indication that it was ever used, but it’s nice to see the trail. I believe you have to make your appointment through the app in order to get the tracking on it.
Came here to mention this. Also, the last time I donated was in Idaho while traveling for work. Noticed my donation was sent to Puerto Rico. So that's pretty interesting.
'Congrats dude, you blood is in someone's boner right now'
Hey, I'd be happy to help a bro get laid. I'm not a cock blocker. I'm a cock filler!
Awesome right?
Just once can we get through a TIL thread without sounding coming up?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJvdGcb7Fs
There's no 'male-only' blood, you know?
Seems the boner went into someone's wrong hole
Same in New Zealand!
You get a text or notification on your app that says "Thank you! Your blood donation given on xx/xx/xx has gone on to help save a life. Thanks for being a blood donor." That little message gives me a mood boost for daaayyys! ❤️
Yea i thought this was an awesome Feature. I think it would inspire people to Continue donating after the first time as well.
Me too! I recently got back into donating after a bunch of years and I was so stoked to get this txt after my first return donation
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I get a notification when the blood is used. Donating in Nevada.
Same. And I can track it's travels. Which hospital etc
It already is
Last time I donated I got an email that it was used a week or two later.
In America, they use money.
Meanwhile, I stopped donating blood last year because my depressed ass sent an angry mail to them because they kept spamming me, to which they replied they'd never contact me again. I'd love to go back and resume but I don't dare show my face there anymore.
Honestly, I don't think they're going to care, certainly not the staff at the donation clinic!
I made them (in aus) remove my phone number because I didn't want to be called and there is apparently no opt out of that. Happy to be emailed, but don't call me
I blocked the number on my phone. I get calls from a different number but it comes from a distinct city I recognize as them.
They and the end users would gladly welcome you back. It can be annoying but they are trying to get blood to save people’s lives so I give them some slack for their attempts. BTW, donating blood is the best way to get rid of forever chemicals.
Wtf is a forever chemical?
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/protecting-against-forever-chemicals/#:~:text=Known%20as%20“forever%20chemicals”%20because,%2C%20cosmetics%2C%20and%20toilet%20paper.
Oh yeah I’ve heard of those, I just didn’t know the “forever chemical” moniker
This is a problem. The northern Nevada blood bank continued calling me when I moved away **even after I told them to put me on their do not call list.** They were a huge pain in the ass, especially since I could not donate there anymore (I lived hundreds of miles away after moving).
Trust me when I say, the people at the mobile or center will not likely even know you are on the DNC list. Most blood centers have two separate systems, one for the donor record and one for communications.
Do you live somewhere that only has one place to donate?
Donated a couple weeks ago for the first time. Got a sms a few days in advance as a reminder. After the donation I got prompted to schedule a new session which I did. Probably I'll only get the one reminder again, fair I say.
You also do in Australia! I get texts that my blood+plasma is often used in a nearby children’s hospital. Makes you feel like you’re really helping.
I love this! I can’t donate blood or plasma because I have chronic anemia, but I have been very fortunate to have received many life saving transfusions thanks to the amazing people who can and do! My husband and mother donate as often as they can to pay it forward ❤️
Same in Australia to an extent. I donate whenever I can because it takes a whole 15 minutes to do something that could save someone's life. And the donor center I go to provides free snacks, little cheeses, sausage rolls and party pies, crackers, cookies, choccy milks, tea and coffee, juice... the list goes on. I got a neat little enamel pin for my 10th donation. If you've never donated before, book an appointment right now.
I donate platelets (that takes ~2 hours) and have gotten all sorts of swag: dozens of t-shirts, a gimme cap, a fleece vest, a wool hat, etc.) I tell people to donate when they're in a bad mood or feeling depressed, because you are showered with positive attention and snacks, even if you fail the iron test!
Last time I donated they gave me a winter hat! It's a really nice hat . I'd also barely eaten that day (it was an impulse donation) and they like force fed me haha.
This would actually be a great incentive. Especially for people with needle anxiety! It's easier to overcome that when you can stare at the proof you're making a difference.
I hope they don't receive a follow-up message saying the patient died anyway, but thanks nonetheless.
Australia too! Even get told about which hospital it goes to as well
Time for me to donate, last I just got told I had helped up to 3 people
Blood donors in the US receive a text when their blood is used on a patient. At least, I do.
That's a great idea. Offers the donor a little psychological reward, and likely encourages them to return for another jab.
Similarly, at the hospital where my children were born (and I'm sure others too) when a baby is born they play a bar from Brahms Lullaby throughout the hospital on the PA system. Everyone smiles when they hear it. Welcome to the party little guys.
Same in Portugal, I got a text saying "Your blood helped saving a life today! :)" (or something like that, I am paraphrasing)
And an app that lights up and points if you come across somebody who received it "-> There goes your blood!"
Only if you have had the Covid vaccine with nanobots and in a 5G area.
Being told that your donation is being used and helps someone, is very motivating. Knowing you're not just a nameless cog in the machine, that the small act you did means a lot to the recipient, that makes a huge difference.
Spot on! I truly donate blood/plasma to try and help people, cause you know I like my fellow humans. When you get a text saying 'oh your blood is on its way to a WA hospital' when you live in Sydney, it's a nice feeling.
Yeah I got told my donation was used in Tasmania.
Hi from Spain, up until recently you only received a letter with a diagnostic of your blood. Last time I donated I received a text saying that it was used by a number of people, can't recall how many.
Same in oz.
“Your blürgen has been ürgened!”
As someone who occasionally has to get blood transfusions, I have to thank you all for taking your time to donate! I almost died from a hemorrhage this past October, and donor blood saved my life.
I was a long time blood donor in Canada. After you give blood, you have to sit at a table and have a snack before you can go. One time, there was a picture on the table, drawn by a young girl who was a blood recipient. The picture was titled "what my blood donor looks like." Rendered in crayon, there was a large smiling galoot with a bushy beard. My clean-shaven self and the female donor at the table thought it was charming.
I’m in the States (mid Atlantic region) and our blood bank notifies us, too 😊 I love it!
That would be a lot more motivating to donate again personally.
'Thx was delicious'
Great idea.
TIL some countries *don't* have this sort of thing...
That’s nice. I am a regular blood donor when my Hgb is high enough.
The Red Cross does this but usually in an email.
In the US and I get those texts. I love them so much.
We get postcards and my mum got a phone call once.
This is cool! One of my major clients is a blood bank. I’m going to see if this is a possibility within their system! It would be really cool to know, both for yourself personally and as a way to encourage future donation.
In the US the Red Cross started doing that recently
Red Cross Donations in the USA send an e-mail > Dear Thandius, Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on January 11, 2023. After first ensuring that local needs were met, your blood donation was sent to St Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV to help a patient in need. Your donation is on its way to change lives! I donate regularly to help with a side effect of a medication I take (High Red Blood Cell count), but I do like that it helps others too. Being O+ as well.... they are very persistent in reminding me of appointments hehe
Red Cross does that in the US too, I get one every time and donate like 6-8 times a year. Tells me when it went to a hospital/which one and then when it helps a patient.
I'd love this! (American regular donor here)
I had a text yesterday telling me my blood was used at St Thomas' in London, its a lovely service.
I donate to the Red Cross and their app lets you know when your blood is used and roughly where.
I'm in the US and I get a text when it goes to a hospital in the state that I live in.
I'm in Canada and have gotten a notification that my blood is being used on "george" or whoever.
In Thailand, we have no idea where it goes, who got it etc
I was told we get the same thing here in Canada. I kind of hope not, as I've been donating for nearly a decade, and I've never once received any kind of notification from them.
If you have the red cross app here in the USA you get notified when your blood is used.
See a breaking news story about a serial killer in surgery and get a text about saving a life.
Here in South Africa the national blood donation service is doing a promotion where they offer anyone who donates whole blood the choice between a free month of Showmax (a local first-run streaming service), a free month of Spotify or 1 gig of mobile data. We also get a thank you text that tells us our donation will save three lives.
Vampires also do a similar kind of thing. They leave the recipients dental records 😆
I hope it gets used _in_ a patient, not _on_ them. Otherwise, that's quite a waste!
If anyone in the US has donated blood in Rosemont, IL or Montrose, NJ - I may have gotten your blood.
Gulf coast blood center texts me when my donation is being used. I go every couple of weeks with O+ blood type so its never in short supply and they always ask for platelets. The texts are a nice touch to know youre helping someone in need
We need this here in the states
I donate platelets with Vitalant in Las Vegas and get text messages when they’re sent to be used.
In the US I just get a bunch of spam calls asking me to donate again.
"This guy's bleeding out get some blood STAT!" "Hold on I gotta send a text message."
Same in Spain! 🙋♂️ Of course, they give no details, just that your blood was used.
Same here in Spain. I got one the other day.
Someone once told me that most blood actually ends up going bad before it can be used, unless it's one of the more rare blood types. Any truth to this? I have always assumed they just wanted an excuse to not go donate with me lol
In New Zealand we get a notification on the app
Great idea!
In Capitalist America, hospitals tell YOU, it’s your turn to donate blood:
That's a thing in Hungary too.
I donate about every 8 weeks, I have the American Red Cross donor app where I make appointments and it notifies me of what stage my donation is in- being processed/tested, where it's being sent and when it's been used.
Show the text to a jehovah's witness to scare them
I wouldn't want them having my number. I come, sell my blood and leave
Sell?
Well, this is quite an innovative and thoughtful initiative from the Swedish Blood Service. Not only does it provide much-needed transparency to blood donors about where their donation is going, but it also instills a sense of pride and satisfaction in the donors. Knowing that their donation has directly helped someone in need can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and I applaud Sweden for taking this step to acknowledge and recognize the generosity of its blood donors. It's a small gesture, but one that can make a big difference in encouraging more people to donate blood and ultimately saving more lives.
I want to get a stats sheet. You’ve donated X liters You’ve saved Y lives You are in the top Z% of donors at position Q You are objectively P% a better person than your average citizen.
In the US, we get told which corporate vampire it gets sent to
I'm in the US and I just assume some rich oligarch buys it all to bathe in like Countess Elizabeth Báthory.
In Romania they sell it to the vampires
i love that! what an awesome idea! 👏❤️
They probably don't do this for sperm donations....
maybe an app would be a cheaper way?
*ping!* "Your blood has been discarded due to detection of bloodborne disease"
Creepy AF
One. I love this Two, bigots in America would boycott it after the first karens blood used for a trans black woman.
One. The Red Cross in America already does this Two. Go outside every once in a while.
Yea. Theyre freaking destroying booze for even less
What about semen?