I've been donating blood here for years. For a long time, I was a whole blood donor, but in the…read morepast 6 months or so, I switched to platelets. Reasoning is simple - when I donate whole blood, I am inactive for a week or more. Can't go on long runs, can't go to the gym. It exhausts me so quickly. That wasn't a problem in the past when I was fat and lazy. However, now that I am fat and active, I need quicker recovery. Platelet donation is awesome because recovery is really fast. While you can't do any exercise the day of the donation in order to let the hole in your arm heal, you can pretty much do anything the next day. All the red blood cells that are taken out to get at the platelets are pumped back in and so, you don't lose any of your little oxygen transportation boats. What? Isn't that what red blood cells are? Essentially, the oxygen shipping industry of the human body. Another plus is you can donate much more often - every week if you want but I think they prefer every 2 weeks. I might be making that up...assume I'm making that up.
Anyway, the downside of platelet donation is the time. Depending on how many times you've donated, and how recently, the donation can take 2 hours or more (not including intake time). The more often you donate, the less you can donate each time, until you reach your maximum in a given period (I think it works out to 24 times per year, but again, don't quote me). Therefore, each subsequent donation takes less and less time.
The Manatee Blood Center is a good one. All of the staff and technicians are very friendly and do everything they can to make your donation easy. The donation beds are very comfortable and for those of you doing long platelet donations, Netflix is available for your pleasure. They have snacks and beverages for you during or after your donation - cookies, chips, crackers, juice, soda, powerade, water, etc.
I'm taking a star off for two reasons. One, the intake is probably the most painful part - it takes forever to get the donation started. From the time you walk in until the needle in your arm is easily 30 minutes - sometimes more if the platelet machine isn't ready. There's material to read, questions to answer, vitals to read, your arm to prep, etc etc. I know it's all necessary, but sometimes the staff setting you up for the donation seem to take their time - like you have all day. If I am going to be stuck there for 2 hours plus the 15-20 minute intake questionnaire, the least you could do is hurry up getting the donation started...within reason, of course. Don't accidentally stick the needle where it doesn't belong.
Also, they have had some technicians in the past who aren't great at finding the vein. This is a rare problem, and was understandable when I was larger and covered in more layers of fat and rolls than I currently am. However, every now and again a tech will have trouble with my veins even now, and they shouldn't anymore. If you can see the vein without having to apply any pressure, then sticking it with a needle shouldn't be difficult. However, like I said, this is a rare problem, and although it does happen, that shouldn't make nervous donors avoid this center. They are mostly very good and chances are they won't cause you any discomfort.
So, come on down and donate. The life you save could be a complete stranger.
