Donating blood

[Rev. Powell]

Donated blood today and feel really good about it. The only downside is a tiny bit of quite tolerable pain and loss of an hour of my time (would have been less if I didn't have to fill out paperwork). Positives:

*Contributing to society, saving lives (there is a huge blood shortage in the U.S. right now due to Covid)
*Free snacks
*Free T-shirt or hat and mask (from my state donation center; I hear Red Cross is offering $5 Amazon gift cards)
*Free lab work (they have to screen your blood for various diseases to make sure it's usable)
*Weight loss (giving blood will actually cause you to lose weight as your body uses calories to manufacture more blood cells)
*The "oil change" theory: since your body will manufacture new red blood cells to replace the ones extracted, your blood should theoretically have a higher ratio of new, more efficient red blood cells, meaning better oxygen transport in the long term.
*Free snacks

I hope someone else will consider doing this. It's a good feeling.

[Alex]

Well done on donating blood, it is something I do regularly too and second the Rev's encouragement to anyone to do it.

[bob]

I used to do this back in high school to get out of classes.

[WingedSerpent]

I'd like too, but the last time I had any blood work done it said my cholesterol level was high.  I don't know if that would eliminate me,  but I think I'd better try to get it down first before trying.

[Rev. Powell]

I'd like too, but the last time I had any blood work done it said my cholesterol level was high.  I don't know if that would eliminate me,  but I think I'd better try to get it down first before trying.

My cholesterol's a bit high and I don't think they rejected me. I don't think someone who needs an infusion to survive the next hour cares about cholesterol.

[Jim H]

I should go do this, especially as I'm that amazing type - the universal donor.  Thanks for the reminder.