It's been a while since I donated blood, so I think this is great. I'm pretty excited. I assume you're all with me? =D
Where is Parkside Hall A?
Ooooh, I hope they have nicely colored bandages. Like pink.
Rossiu advises all qualified citizens to donate blood as it is an important civic function that ensures that blood is available on that day YOU may need it. ;)
In all seriousness I will be there donating and it really is something important to do. It doesn't take long and given it's a holiday weekend odds are good someone will need that blood. Plus they give you cookies and stuff. :P
Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/LRAP) of the area where Parkside Hall is (essentially between the Civic and The Tech Museum.
(PDF) layout of Parkside Hall A/B (http://www.sanjose.org/EC2/sitepdfs/parkside-hall-layout.pdf). Note that we're only in A.
I am not sure which doors will be open, but you can always walk through The Tech Museum entrance that's on Park Ave / S. Market St to get to Parkside Hall A.
I plan on donating, and it would be nice to get a ribbon or shirt as a perk ;) (but I'd still donate anyway) It's only blood..I wont need it...right('_'?)
Darn! I'd love to but I'm not allowed to donate until June (according to Stanford BC anyway). Hope lots of people show up to donate though!
This announcement came at the perfect time, as I just got the email saying I'm eligible to donate again after my last donation.
I made my appointment for 10 on the dot. :D
I don't meet the weight requirements to donate, but to everyone who does and is willing:
Be sure to hydrate well, eat something more substatial than Pocky and instant ramen, and get some sleep! Don't eat nothing but Pocky, stay up all night, and then try to donate blood. (...and then don't try to stay up all night that night, either, or run around like crazy afterwards...)
Take care of yourselves out there! :D
I really would love to, but I'm not allowed to donate until June either because I'm underage D|
On behalf of the useless sickies, thank you!
I can't give blood myself cause of my stupid heart problems but it cheers me up to see so many people excited about this.
Oh yeah! I should add -- if you're of age and meet the minimum requirements, just go donate! They welcome walk-ins and check you beforehand if you're eligible, and usually Stanford Blood Centers give out something nice to people who come in and try to donate. Plus, free cookies, pretzels, ice cream, and juice to those who do donate! Who doesn't like free goodies?
I can't donate at Fanime because I already donated to the Stanford Blood Center at the beginning of May, but I encourage everyone to donate if you can!
Here are some pointers:
Drink lots of water before and after donation
Eat a balanced meal before you donate, preferably something rich in Iron
Don't skip or miss any meals after donating
Immediately report any dizziness or lightheadedness after donating
Enjoy the cookies and take it easy for 24 hours after donating
You can get more information on eligibility for donating here:
http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu/donate/EligibilityMedHisDeferral.html
Please please please donate if you can. The SBC folks are a good bunch of people and if you're a little scared they'll get you through it. Most of the pain comes from the initial test they run from a prick into a finger, not from the actual donation.
Your blood WILL save lives. You'll get a cool sticker and colored arm band, and if you come and find me while wearing a sticker or armband I'll give you a Cthulhu for President button.
DO IT
Quote from: HunterZero on May 16, 2011, 02:17:31 PM
You'll get a cool sticker and colored arm band, and if you come and find me while wearing a sticker or armband I'll give you a Cthulhu for President button.
DO IT
T_T Can I have one anyway just because I'm whiny and useless?
Unfortunately, we're not giving away stickers. We've had issues in the past with stickers that we've handed out appearing all over the place. This makes Team San Jose mad and they (much to their dismay) have to charge us to have their staff move them.
Originally, I wanted to do something really cool and put a FanimeCon spin to it, but A) plans came too late and B) I need to find something cool enough to where people wouldn't feel forced to donate just for that cool item/prize.
If the turnout is great this year, we will definitely be bringing it back next year and working to put a spin on it. ;) If you have any ideas, e-mail me.
I honestly would but the sight of just a drop of blood makes me light headed so I think giving blood would make me faint. :-[
I have an blood donation appointment on Wednesday so I won't be able to do it next week. Plus I need an hour to recover after I've donated. I learned my lesson the last time. x_x
Quote from: MPLe on May 16, 2011, 02:34:00 PM
Unfortunately, we're not giving away stickers. We've had issues in the past with stickers that we've handed out appearing all over the place. This makes Team San Jose mad and they (much to their dismay) have to charge us to have their staff move them.
Originally, I wanted to do something really cool and put a FanimeCon spin to it, but A) plans came too late and B) I need to find something cool enough to where people wouldn't feel forced to donate just for that cool item/prize.
If the turnout is great this year, we will definitely be bringing it back next year and working to put a spin on it. ;) If you have any ideas, e-mail me.
Is Stanford going to give away their normal "I gave blood" stickers?
I have a 33% success rate in giving blood, so I will most certainly start ironing up a week before. Apparently if you start iron intake that far ahead it really does help so it can get into your system. Also, you can ask for the smallest needle where I normally donate. I didn't even feel it last time. It might take a minute longer, but oh well.
Yayyyyyyyy
Quote from: Mango Bunny on May 16, 2011, 05:17:40 PM
I have a 33% success rate in giving blood, so I will most certainly start ironing up a week before. Apparently if you start iron intake that far ahead it really does help so it can get into your system. Also, you can ask for the smallest needle where I normally donate. I didn't even feel it last time. It might take a minute longer, but oh well.
Yayyyyyyyy
The first time I gave blood I hadn't started taking vitamins yet and my hemoglobin was around 13... 3 months later + consistent vitamin taking and my hemoglobin jumped up to 14.1 (and I was on a diet no less). So yeah, supplementation works!
Quote from: HunterZero on May 16, 2011, 04:28:56 PMIs Stanford going to give away their normal "I gave blood" stickers?
Nope. I just realized that I didn't clarify that when I said "we" in the above statement to mean that Stanford or FanimeCon.
Okay then, I'll amend my previous offer for a Cthulhu for President button. One will be provided if you have the colorful bandage they put over the draw site.
You know what would have been cool? Some way to incorporate blood type/personality stuff. Even if they just had a card to give you, or something of the sort. I already know my bloodtype, and could easily look up my 'personality', but it just would have been cute, imo. Something for people to look at while waiting and whatnot. I know you get the type results by mail, but still.
I'm B+ btw. In case anyone needs some blood or something.
If you donate with the Stanford Blood Center they will send you a card in the mail with your ID number and blood type.
Quote from: Nina Star 9 on May 16, 2011, 09:32:14 AM
I don't meet the weight requirements to donate, but to everyone who does and is willing:
Be sure to hydrate well, eat something more substatial than Pocky and instant ramen, and get some sleep! Don't eat nothing but Pocky, stay up all night, and then try to donate blood. (...and then don't try to stay up all night that night, either, or run around like crazy afterwards...)
Take care of yourselves out there! :D
Lol it's almost like you were(unintentionally) referring to me>,>. I'll definitely not repeat my "fueled by Ramen" eating binge that I usually have. But I can't promise I wont stay up all nite and run around like crazy...I can't help it, it's in my nature 8)
I'd love to donate, if it werent for the fact that i cant stand the needles and as soon as i heard about it, i got strange pains in my elbows..
Quote from: Antstep on May 16, 2011, 03:31:03 PM
I honestly would but the sight of just a drop of blood makes me light headed so I think giving blood would make me faint. :-[
"You got blood on my suit." (Your avatar) Yeah, I had to go there.... XD
I might donate. Haven't before and want to. I just need the schedule to go up to make sure it doesn't conflict with the FMVs. (If that sounds selfish, I'll be donating outside of the con if I can't do it at the con.)
Hey, should folks take bigger precautions against overheating after donating? Like, can you be more susceptible to heat stroke?
If anything I'd say it's a lot harder for you to get warm after donating (loss of blood), although you will be dehydrated. They suggest not exercising/exerting yourself for 24 hours after you donate, and they make you stay for 15 minutes after and give you water/juice, so chances of heat stroke are slim.
ETA: That said, if you're bigger like me (5'5" and 165 lbs), donating a pint of blood may have no visible effect on you. The first time I ever donated I had to go to a company retreat right after and felt perfectly fine. Just remember to drink lots of water before and after.
Ugh, I just came back from the blood bank today. If you have small veins like I do, drawing blood is not a fun experience. I had to get stuck in both arms since the usual good vein in my left was sluggishly flowing out blood. It took almost an hour to fill the whole bag. D:
It helps if you tell them this before hand so they can use a smaller needle on you. Blah, never again. >_<
BTW, when exactly is the scheduling for the blood bank?
Quote from: Touya no Miko on May 18, 2011, 09:53:16 PM
Ugh, I just came back from the blood bank today. If you have small veins like I do, drawing blood is not a fun experience. I had to get stuck in both arms since the usual good vein in my left was sluggishly flowing out blood. It took almost an hour to fill the whole bag. D:
It helps if you tell them this before hand so they can use a smaller needle on you. Blah, never again. >_<
BTW, when exactly is the scheduling for the blood bank?
Not sure what you mean for "scheduling" but it's from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. http://www.fanime.com/2011/05/15/fanimecon-blood-drive
Also, you can always ask for a smaller needle. I have some friends that try to get the smallest needle because they have a fear of needles.
Also, remember: Don't give blood if you are unable to for one reason (already donated) or another (don't like needles, want to keep your blood, you'd rather drink blood than donate :P). We're definitely not forcing *anyone* to give blood and this is a 100% voluntary donation.
I'm not sure if they can do this for blood donor clinics, but when I have to go for blood tests I ask for a butterfly valve to be put in my forearm, rather than a regular needle in my elbow. My veins are very prone to collapse, and this method is less painful and less likely to cause me problems. It doesn't hurt to ask!
I'm surprised so many other con-goers donate at Stanford Blood Centers, I'd donate at con, but I do platelets + plasma and con is just whole blood :P