I've had positive experiences donating blood here. The staff are fast and friendly and they're never had a problem getting an IV in. I donate whole blood and the whole process takes an hour from checking in to finish. I recommend completing the Rapidpass online to save some time. Once you check in you wait in the waiting area for your name to be called. Then they take you into a back room and ask some of the same questions as the Rapidpass. Next, they do a fingerstick to check your hemoglobin and get a full set of vitals (pulse, blood pressure, temperature). After donating blood, they offer you snacks and sometimes a free shirt. The only downside is that parking can be tough to find. I recommend coming on a Sunday when it's less busy and to get the free meter parking. read more

This is an excellent place to donate blood. The staff are friendly, the snacks are top-notch, and those doing longer donations have a TV screen at their seat. It is conveniently located near many workplaces as well. read more

Super easy donation process. All the staff were great. I was impressed how easily my phlebotomist was able to find my vein on my right arm -- I have never been able to use it for any type of donation in the past. Convenient location and great people, will definitely be returning to donate in the future. read more

Rude staff. Came in with my boyfriend who had an appointment. While waiting for him, a 3:15 appointment became available. I signed up for the time slot and was signed in. An incredibly rude staff came to the reception and repeatedly said "we're not taking her." She then said it was 3:15.. not sure how this is relevant. If you're going to turn people away, don't make that time slot available ? Rudeness by the worker was completely unnecessary and made for an uncomfortable atmosphere as if I had done something wrong. Highly suggest going to any other location unless you enjoy being subjected to rudeness. read more

I have given blood numerous times before with no complications, but two days ago I experienced the most incompetent lady there. The southeast asian lady must have been new since I haven't seen her before, but as soon as she inserted the needle, a shock of pain went down my arm to my fingertips. I've never felt pain like that. Clearly I was in a lot of pain, but she still asked 'Does it hurt?' as she moved the needle around. I looked over and blood was spilling onto the arm of the chair. She kept saying that my blood was pumping too slow and would continuously wiggle the needle in my arm. I understand that this was my choice to give, but I am writing this review and adding pictures because no one should go through the lack of competency by the red cross staff when donating like I had to. I replaced my bandaid yesterday and took it off today, but I really hope Red Cross will reconsider their training and for the people reading, know that this is the risk you are facing when donating blood. I cannot straighten my arm without feeling a jolt of pain in my fingers. I'm hoping it's just the bruise that is pushing against the nerve. It's unfortunate because I really do like giving blood, but after this traumatic experience, I doubt I will ever be able to go back. read more

American Red Cross - Incompetency of needle handling by Red Cross Staff at Tremont St. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love this American Red Cross center. Don't worry, I'll give you more detail than that, but I just wanted to get the obvious out of the way. First, be warned that this is NOT a regular blood donation center. They do not accept whole blood donations--which are the most common kind of donation where they just take a pint of your blood without separating anything out. They only collect plasma, platelets, and double red cells at this center. Second, be prepared to commit possibly two hours to each appointment, depending on which procedure you're doing. It takes about 30-45 minutes to complete the interview/checkup followed by hooking you up to the machines. I donate platelets, which takes me about an hour to complete (most people say it takes them about 1.5 hours to do this one). Plasma takes about the same amount of time, and the double red cell collection is the fastest at under an hour. Third, you may experience some bizarre effects during the process. Not painful or queasy feelings, just odd. When you donate platelets, they add an anti-coagulant to the blood that's put back in your body so no clots form while the platelets/plasma are extracted. The anti-coagulant makes me tingle all over and leaves a taste in my mouth that reminds me of visits to the dentist. The effects wear off pretty quickly once you're up and about again. That's all for the informational seminar. Now the fun stuff! The staff here is wonderful. They started recognizing me after my first visit and always seem happy to see me (and my platelets). They make you as comfortable as possible and respond immediately to any questions or problems you have. And they're very funny. Another thing I like about donating: free food and drink! You get your pick of sodas and juices along with whatever you want from the big basket o' snacks (which used to contain full-size candy, but now carries chips/cookies/pretzels/crackers exclusively due to budget cuts). Oh, and the staff opens all bottles and bags for you. And you can have however much you want! During the procedure you get to relax in very comfy Lay-Z-Boy recliners with heating pads. It tends to be cold in there (to keep the donations fresh, I suppose), but that's okay because they give you blankets fresh from a heating oven made especially for...blankets. There are also warming packs available for your hands if they get cold, like mine tend to do. I usually read during my donations, but you have the option of plugging into some headphones and watching DirectTV during your stay. All in all, it's definitely the cushiest set up available for making a huge difference to people in need in Boston. You can donate platelets every 2 weeks. I'm not sure about the frequency for plasma or double red cells as I only donate platelets (since my blood type, A+, is the universal donor for platelets). The bottom line: become a regular donor, get to know the incredible staff, eat some yummy free food, watch some TV, and save lives. It's that simple. read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The people are so awesome here. I wish I knew their names, but they are constantly there on the weekends when we stop by. My sister is a constant donor, so I'm sure she knows their name, but this place is great just for the people alone. They are so gracious for your donation, and makes you feel really great just being there. They also valet your parking ticket if you park next door. This place is a temporary holding ground for them while they get their center up and running, but that doesn't get this staff down as they are able to make a good thing out of anything. I have heard one time they had someone new do the needle and while my sister is a great test subject to do training, I would have been a bit squeamish. Make sure you tell them you would not like to be tested on if that is the case with you. read more

American Red Cross - Temp place for red cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Pre covid review: Yes the organization does good, but the person helping me got blood everywhere and I still had a mark 2 months later. If you can go to another location, I'd recommend it read more

This is a Red Cross center where you can donate blood, plasma, and platelets. The staff is super sweet and they recognize you quickly after your first donation. I've been giving here since 2015 and have yet to have a bad needle experience. They also have tons of blankets (warmed in an over like environment), heating pads, tums (in case you get the shakes/nausea) and snacks/juice post-donation. The chairs for platelet/plasma donation are all equipped with TVs containing Netflix and other apps for you to watch during donation. The center is kept cold bc of all the products so wear warm cloths and don't be afraid to ask for more blankets or a heating pad - they'll happily provide! Hot tip - have them put a blanket under you before you start to stay extra warm. read more

American Red Cross - Snack central! In a totally fair trade, you can give blood/platelets/plasma for free snacks. Hello Oreos!! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

To start the new year off right, I decided I'd donate blood. I read a recent Globe article about the current blood bank shortage in New England and thought this would be an easy way to win karmic brownie points. Whether you're a first-timer like me, or an old pro, the super staff at American Red Cross take good care of you. First, you have to do some paperwork; they sit you down and prick your finger to make sure you have enough iron to donate and then ask a bunch of sexual questions (I dare you not to laugh). If you pass with flying colors, then you get set up in a cushy Laz-Boy recliner, and they hook you up to the blood-sucking machine. It's actually really cool, and the science nerd in me got all excited once the blood starting coursing through the tubes and into the processor. I chose to donate platelets because it's the most urgently needed blood product (for cancer patients and other life-threatening conditions), so the machine processed my blood and separated the plasma (light yellowish goo) from the red blood cells. Everything but the plasma/platelets was returned to me. Platelet donation takes about 1.5-2 hours from start to finish (including the paperwork), while red blood cell donation takes about 45 minutes. Once you are settled in your warm recliner (thanks to the heating pad at your back!) and the machine is pumping away, you can choose to watch a movie or TV. It's also a good time to break out that book you've been meaning to finish, or catch up on some trashy Hollywood gossip rag. But be sure to bring your own because the reading material is woefully lacking in the lobby area. Toward the end, you'll be offered refreshments, and they'll take a Polaroid of you so they can stick it up on a nice bulletin board. And if you're really good, you might even get a free t-shirt! Overall, I couldn't have had a better experience. Now that I know how easy it is to donate, I'm going to resolve to do it more often. The center's downtown location is super convenient and they have varied weekday and weekend hours to accommodate your schedule. It's recommended that you call ahead for an appointment, but they probably take walk-ins as well. So boys and girls, New Year resolution 2008: Donate blood! It's relatively painless (unless you have needle phobia), and you feel like such a do-gooder afterward. Unlike starting a new diet that you'll likely quit in a month, it requires virtually no effort at all to keep this resolution. read more

If you're looking for a way to give something back to the greater good, but don't want to break open your checkbook, consider blood donation. At this center, you can make a blood platelet donation (apheresis), which will take two hours of your time, but can go a lot further toward helping folks than a normal whole-blood donation. You should call ahead and make an appointment, and when you come you'll have a slew of questions to answer, and a pinprick test to check iron content. If you have any obscure disease, have traveled abroad, been pierced lately or have slept with someone born in Africa, be prepared to explain the situation. Then, they hook you up to their super-sophisticated machines, let you order any On-Demand movie you want, give you juice, crackers, cookies, and water, give you a blanket if you're cold, an ice-pack if you're warm... it's like being 3 years old again. Really, who doesn't like hanging out, eating Oreos and watching Indiana Jones in the afternoon? The folks who work here are the sweetest, and the first time I came they gave me a gift certificate to the movies, even though I had started to feel woozy and couldn't finish my donation. A great spot to rack up the karma points and help the community. read more

This is the worst place ever. I booked an appointment twice and both times when I walked in they told me there is no one there to take my blood and they told me to leave. I've received multiple phone calls about the blood crisis and that I should go donate but whenever I go there they don't take me in. This is ridiculous. read more

The American Red Cross provides professionals and citizens the best CPR training in the nation! The staff provides high-level education courses to help save lives. I had to acquire CPR training to work as an emergency rescue attendant at a rehab center, and their skills helped me save the life of a patient! If your are a business, consult with American Red Cross to train your staff: CPR can protect your customers and your staff in the event of an emergency. ALWAYS DONATE TO THE RED CROSS! read more

I'm with the T.M. review. I got an inexperienced staff member who made a number of mistakes with the pressure, moved needle around a lot at first and in middle of procedure, my blood was all over my arm and dripping off at first. The machine briefly pumped backwards and that's not what you want to see when you're donating whole blood. Then when I started feeling not well she called over other staff and briefly freaked out to them and they had to calm her down (!) while getting me a drink. I tried to breathe through it but I obviously got someone inexperienced who didn't know how to work the machines, forgot about the pressure cuff, etc. The staff who helped her at the end once she called for help was nice though. I've been here 2x. First time I got a med student who was very competent. This time I got someone who wasn't trained enough to do this on me and was acting nervously. Which makes me too uncomfortable to come back. Or I'll have to find a way to request someone with a lot of experience and actually trust that they would accomodate my request. Online forums claim that donation centers have people with more experience than in school donation drives. But I never had issues w school donation drives. read more

I love donating platelets. They are very thankful for the donations they receive. Very friendly staff. I love taking my platelets out for a spin. read more

Just got back from giving platelets. I've been going to the downtown ARC for about 15 years at 3 different locations. As always, it was a great experience. The staff: Chhorvie, Karen, Maria, Bianca, Tony, Diago, Melissa and others who are no longer there, make or made, what could be an uncomfortable situation seem like a breeze. They have me coming back year after year! Thanks guys!!!! read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Good vibes. Free snacks. Nice staff. Great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Even though I've been turned down at least 5 times in the past year for my low iron levels, they recognize me and some even know my name. So whenever my iron is high enough, it's like the whole place is cheering for me! Such a great place. A little home away from home. read more

I have been coming here for more than three years and the free snacks and movies are not the reason. As far as I am concerned there is no finer staff at any other redcross centers. They have become my family, they are whole heartedly invested in their donors and making every donation as plesant as it can be. There is always a need for platelet donors especially in a city that houses one of the most advanced cancer hospitals not to mention a world class childrens hospital. When you go make sure to say hello to Chorvee, Trish, Karen, Bianka, and Maria as well as the rest of their staff and tell them GerryD says hello. read more

I recommend giving platelets here. The staff is very friendly, you get free food and drink, and the chairs are heated! What other excuse do you need? read more

I've been giving red cells and plasma at this location for the past couple of years--it's a relatively quick procedure lasting about an hour or so (compared to the more time-consuming platelet donation) and is very much needed and appreciated as well. The staff are wonderful people who make the donor's experience pleasant --offering snacks and drinks, headphones to listen to music, or watch movies. It's the easiest way I know of to make a difference. read more

Get over your fear of needles! Instead of getting a piercing or tattoo, do something that you won't end up regretting! And something that will save someone's life! If you are busy and broke (like me) and not sure how you can make a difference, this is it. I have donated at this location about 4 times, and I always feel good when I leave. They treat you really well--free soda, PEANUT M&M'S, Oreos, and a pay-per-view movie (last time I watched Ratatouille). The people there are so nice and make sure you are ultra comfortable. If you are a first time donor, this is a great place to make your first donation because it's actually a pretty relaxing place to be. And from my experience, I haven't felt light headed or drowsy from donating platelets here the way I have felt when donating whole blood at other places. If you want to help others, this is a great place to do it! I personally like the thought that there's now other people with a little bit of me in them. read more

5 stars, because I want to folks to donate blood if they are eligible. The need is great!! But, just expect that you will wait, if you are donating on a weekday evening. They are understaffed, and the nurse who did my intake health history was awesome, but she wanted to go home and see her kids. They "close the door" at 7:00 pm, which means that anyone who comes in and gets their reading material before 7:00, is in their queue. I drove all the way there, with a 6:15 appt, waited till 7:00 to go thru the health history, waited a while till I got a table, then the nurse (tired, I'm sure!) couldn't get my vein w/ the needle, another nurse tried also, it was kind of painful. No blood, so I went home. Tried to make another appt. for 2 weeks from now, but they denied me, saying the nurse didn't make the note in my chart saying no blood was actually given. Can't blame her! It was a long day for her and she probably just wanted to go home like the rest of us....Gotta wait the 8 weeks. Ah well. ARC calls me exactly 8 weeks after my last blood donation asking if I'll give again, of course I will, just remember that donors' time is limited, and nurses' time is limited too. read more

Lauren did a great job on my double red donation. It's one of the smoothest I've had in a while. No pain or discomfort at all during the process. Thank you! read more

You get to sit in a comfy recliner, wrapped in a blanket pre-warmed in a special blanket oven, and watch a movie while people bring you snacks and drinks. And when you leave they don't give you a bill but hand you a free t-shirt and a coupon for a half gallon of ice-cream. You should go donate platelets. Kids with leukemia need them. read more

I can't say enough about the staff at this center ( Boston ). They're fabulous !!! On top of that, the feeling you will have from what you've done is "PRICELESS" !!! If you can donate, please help out - I promise you will be glad you did !!! read more

Tony, Maria, and their entire staff will take good care of you. Whole blood, platelet apheresis, or double red, they're the best! Enjoy!

I am so glad I found this center! It is in a convenient location and I can go after work. The staff there is great! If you are nervous about donating I would go here!! It was the best experience I had donating and I have had a few bad ones. There are comfortable seats, tv, lots of drinks/snacks, and friendly staff who stay with you to make sure you are comfortable. Just think about the lives you will help by donating. For a couple hours of your time you will help people who have no choice but to live with the uncertainty if they will make it to another day. A simple donation goes a long way and helps a lot of people. Visit the Red Cross web site for more info. read more