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A "Bloody" Mess. The Red Cross won't comment on possibly contaminated blood pints that were supposed to have been recalled between 2003-2006, reports CNN News. There is no way of knowing if that blood was discarded or given to people in need of it. Copy and paste the link below onto your browser to read the entire story. http://bigchurch.com ?Page=/Nation/archive/200803/NAT20080326b.html And this is not the first time you would read about the Red Cross and its mishaps to put it lightly. But unfortunately, we are not taking about the wrong size needles or huge band aids. We are talking about life and death when some innocent patient gets infused with blood containing HIV, CJD, Hepatitis A, B or C. It really is a 'bloody mess.' So a few weeks ago when I went in to donate blood for the second time, I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. In fact, versus the last time I made it a community effort, I didn't feel right about publicizing this blood drive until I was absolutely sure that the process was safe and that there was no way one's health could be compromised by giving life (blood). So this time, I asked the volunteer to take me through the whole process. I asked as many questions as I could possibly think of. The volunteer, a lovely young lady, assured me that all the pints, the tubes attached to the pints and the needles are made brand new, exclusively for the American Red Cross. She went on to explain that the donor's arm is sanitized extensively before injected and that the workers constantly change their gloves eliminating all possible contamination. I sighed with relief after getting a better understanding of the process. She had no comment however, on the article above and I don't blame her. She proceeded to ask me all the questions she is mandated to ask to determine my eligibility to donate blood. Now I always get tickled when it comes to the SEX questions. They go something like this: "In the past twelve months, have you had sex with anyone who has the HIV virus... In the past twelve months have you been in contact with someone with hepatitis A, B or C?" To which I answer, "I will save you the time. I haven't had sex in over ten years so please feel free to tick 'no' on all those." With a look of utter shock she informed me that she has to ask them anyway. At least she didn't offer to pray for me like the volunteer before. When I informed her that I was celibate, she let out a sympathetic laugh and said, "girl I will be praying for you." Go figure! Anyway, I can now post flyer's through out my community letting my neighbors know that it is safe to give blood to the American Red Cross. When I say, "Hey Neighbor ! Let's Build A Community by giving life" It will be with much conviction and confidence that their blood won't get messed up. |
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5/24/2008 1:05 am |
You do not really have to be concerned about giving blood. Well, I never was. The only thing I am concerned about is does the volunteer has had necessary training. Because most of the mistakes that we can see I think is coming from the lack of training in particular areas or simply not following basic rules of health and safety.
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5/24/2008 8:39 pm |
Oh! You are absolutely right. I come from a long line of doctors and I watch the volunteers like a hawk. Once, one was about to prick me with the needle, she remembered that she had forgotten to write down something, then she came back to me without changing her gloves. I asked her to change her gloves and she apologized profusely but who know where that pen had been? So it is the basic health and safety rules you mentioned that are being ignored. We have to be vigilant
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