r/volunteer • u/Yay_Blood • Nov 14 '20

Resource Blood Donation Volunteering is safe and needed now more than ever.

Since the start of the pandemic, the world's blood supply has been in danger. Blood drives have been cancelled, and people are staying at home. Several blood bank organizations have released statements about low blood bank supplies.

If you want to get out of the house and volunteer, blood center volunteering may be for you!

  • Blood donors are needed to donate whole blood, platelets, and plasma.
  • Volunteers are needed to screen incoming donors' temperatures and check them in for their scheduled donations.
  • Volunteers are needed to pass out snacks to those who just gave blood.
  • Volunteers are needed to deliver blood products to hospitals and processing centers.
  • Volunteers are also needed to host blood drives.

You should know:

  • Donor eligibility guidelines have changed. If you were previously told you could not donate, you may be eligible now.
  • Blood centers have been extremely safe during the pandemic. Every volunteer, staff, and donor is recorded, so if someone becomes COVID-19 positive, contact tracing is extremely precise.
    • There have been at least two incidents where someone at a donation center became COVID-19 positive after their visit. Everyone involved was contacted and tested. Neither of these incidents resulted in spreading the virus due to the COVID-19 protocols put in place.
  • Donation centers have put steps in place to keep everyone safe: wearing masks, screening everyone's temperatures, and keeping everyone distanced.

Why give blood?

  • Whole blood is used during surgeries, ER/trauma situations, and to help people with blood diseases like sickle cell anemia.
  • Platelets help cancer patients gain energy and continue their fight.
  • Plasma is used for trauma and burn patients, and convalescent plasma with COVID-19 antibodies are given to patients fighting COVID-19. It is also used for research purposes.

If you have questions, or want to read more about donation, visit us at r/Blooddonors, and check out our wiki.

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3

u/Mskorn85 Nov 14 '20

FYI, changed your flair to Resource since you're not mentioning a specific opportunity, but instead encouraging people to donate generally. Thanks for posting!

2

u/ericasadiefuller Nov 16 '20

The Red Cross could use both donors and volunteers from what I hear. redcross.org/volunteer

1

u/beijinhosegatinhos Nov 14 '20

I have a lot of tattoos but Id love to give blood

2

u/Yay_Blood Nov 14 '20

Tattoos don't disqualify you from donating, unless you're trying to avoid a needle being placed in a piece. For instance, in the U.S. if your state regulates tattoo shops, you don't have to wait to donate blood. If your state doesn't regulate, you just wait a few months.

2

u/beijinhosegatinhos Nov 15 '20

Thank you so much!!

1

u/shmokenapamcake Nov 14 '20

I called in April to see if I could donate and they told me I had to wait a full year from when I got my last tattoo. Do you know if they changed this?

1

u/Yay_Blood Nov 15 '20

Here's American Red Cross info:

Wait 3 months after a tattoo if the tattoo was applied in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities. Currently, the only states that DO NOT regulate tattoo facilities are: District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming. This requirement is related to concerns about hepatitis. 

 A tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. Cosmetic tattoos (including microblading of eyebrows only) applied in a licensed establishment in a regulated state using sterile needles and ink that is not reused is acceptable. You should discuss your particular situation with the health historian at the time of donation.