Michael Every now and then, the American version of the Red Cross shows up at our workplace and organizes blood donation drives. It's quite a useful thing; you can donate quickly and painlessly. After all, one would be grateful if they ever had an accident and needed a quick transfusion!
It's been quite some time since my last blood donation. Back then, as a conscript in the German Army "Bundeswehr" barracks of Murnau, you were actually allowed to take the whole afternoon off if you donated, and, on top of that, you were given a day off!. Naturally, I was at the front lines, shouting "Hooray!", and donating generously.
Recently, I thought it would actually be a pretty good idea to help fill the local blood banks, but I was set straight. It's hard to believe, but the Red Cross here in the U.S. won't accept just anyone's blood, especially not from people who grew up in Central Europe in the 80s. According to the Checklist for Blood Donations, the American Red Cross does not accept blood from people who have spent more than five years in a European country between 1980 and today. The reason: mad cow disease.
Certainly a hard blow, but travelers in malaria regions (within the last 12 months), Iraq (12 months), tattooed individuals (12 months, in a U.S. state that does not have strict tattoo regulations), or homosexuals (if active since 1977, before that, it's okay?) face the same situation. At first, I thought, "My God, these Americans," but also In Germany, gay men are not allowed to donate blood.. Okay, so, considering that in San Francisco, according to my personal estimates, surely 30% of the population are gay and lesbian, one wonders if the blood banks there are adequately stocked at all? Heaven forbid there is a shortage if I ever need a transfusion!