Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

Interesting blood note. After the 9/11 attack happened, and we were scurrying around trying to do something constructive to help, my office of six freelancers considered giving blood. We checked the screening rules, though. One of us wasn't interested. One had lived in England during certain years which means he might have some prionsin his system.

I had had a lymphoma cancer so am permanently on the disabled list. Another was on sulfa drugs (allergic to a variety of other drugs). Another had a disqualification. So only one out of five willing could contribute.

This is one reason why our blood system is generally so good: they're that conservative in health histories.

I hate giving blood. I did it once in high school to get out of taking an exam; but I got it in the end.... I passed out.

Glenn, on the other hand, they are eliminating any man who has ever had sex with another man, and any woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with another man. I don't know, but I'm guessing that's not keeping up with the current probabilities, especially since they test the blood for HIV anyway.

Brad, giving blood has become less painful than ever before. And I've never passed out. Of course, they're taking it from my arm, not from my butt as they seem to have done with you. Are you sure you went to a legitimate blood donation service? :)

Yes, the red cross came to my high school when I was a senior. My health teacher let us know that if we were willing to donate blood we would be excempt from the final. So being the slacker I was, I lent towards donating blood. They took it from my arm, and I was fine for the durration of the process. But when it was over I stood up and felt very light headed, then I hit the ground. I then had to deal with the mocks from all the other students that were there, but hey there wasn't much I could do about it.