...Your Blood that is. I finally reached my first gallon donation! So plan all those tattoos and piercings at once, cause you usually have to wait a year inbetween to donate. Who knows, someone on here might need a pint of you in some unfortunate situation.

I've never met the eligability to donate-(weight requirement).
But I'm really grateful to those who do this, as I had one 4 years ago and my newborn (at the time) also had one.
No one ever imagines that they'll ever need a transfusion, but it happens.

Thank you Suspeckted! I need to buy you a beer!!!

Although I hate it, I donate every year. When I was 3, my mother and I were in a terrible car accident. She would've died without a transfusion. that's why I donate.

The Red Cross has me on speed dial, since
they know I'll come in whenever they call.

Did you know that you can donate after
getting a tattoo, if you got it in Iowa, or any
other state that requires tattoo artists to be
certified? But if you get it in MN, you have to
wait a year. I don't know how the Red Cross
would know, but a sweet old phlebotomist
told me this info.

Thyroxin-Binding globulin deficiency is a disqualifier for donating. However, I would if I was allowed.

I give 2 units at once through Memorial Blood Centers. They centrifuge out and keep the red cells, and pump the plasma back in, which looks pretty neat. You can only do this once every 4 months, so I only have to go in 3 times a year. I think that my next trip will be the 2 gallon mark. I've totally gotta move that 1 gallon pin over to my new mess bag.

I sold plasma once. I hate it. I can't stand needles and whenever blood is extracted from me it feels like I'm being emptied.

I haven't been eligible for blood donating in 5 years. I keep breaking bones, having surgery to fix said bustedness, and getting tattooed. one of these years I'll make it.

so it looks like I'll be buying a few beers......

Yeah, I've had quite my share of blood transfusions. Although I am now ineligible to donate blood (serious illness I had a while back), I strongly encourage anybody who is able to go donate. For real, y'all will be my heroes if you do.

I used to sell plasma in college, but I've never donated blood. Where does one do this? Maybe we should have a bikelove blood donation get-together.

I would seriously be jazzed about a group donation!
The Red Cross by the new Guthrie is where I've
been going lately.

I go to the Saint Paul Memorial Blood Center. There used to be one on Park, but they moved over to St Paul. Not far into St Paul though. Plus the new place is all fancy and has nice linoleum floors.
(651) 332-7000

very cool so many of you do this. I started doing it regularly after i learned that my father had hit 5 gallons and I never even knew he donated. On top of that he apparently passes out like 1/4 of the time to so that's even more impressive. Anyhoo, I go the one in bloomington off 98th since it's right off 35 which is by my abode. I confess when I go I drive, but usually ride to work afterwards. I'll have to look into this iowan tattoo thing.

I've passed out every time that I have donated and it's honestly the reason why I don't usually sign up. I have tried different times of the day and different combos of food in the morning. I've passed out on the table, getting off the table and 10 minutes later after I've been chatting and eating and then hit the deck. I don't know what my problem is.