UBS/JA Blood Drive

[fuzzis]

If you've got some time today, Junior Achievement and UBS are having a blood drive at the UBS facility on 28th. They're BBQing and giving away door prizes and all of that good stuff.

They need your blood...and your platelets (if you have an extra 3-3 1/2 hours).

fuzzis

[aaron]

Why do I never see a plasma drive? Isn't plasma better than blood?

[fuzzis]

Why do I never see a plasma drive? Isn't plasma better than blood?

I don't know that it's better...different.

I would hazard a guess to say that the reason why you don't see a plasma drive is that a plasma donation is more involved and time-intensive than a blood donation. They pull your blood out, remove the plasma and then pump your blood back into your body...much like a platelet donation.

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't find donating platelets to be a pleasant experience. I did it for the first time after the storm, and it was (and continues to be) pretty awful for me. They tell you that when the blood goes back into your body, the anti-coagulant will cause your lips to tingle and you will be cold. I have that, but perhaps freakier for me is that when the blood cycles back through, it feels like all of my internal organs are contracting, shrinking away from the blood almost. It was painful.

When they call, though, I feel awful if I don't go and attempt to donate. I would hate to think that maybe some day I'd need it and it wasn't there. So every other Sunday, I go. Sometimes I get to donate. Sometimes I don't. (anemia problems...didn't get to donate today)

fuzzis