Blood donations & Playa Del Carman

[redacted]

Interval there I believe is days although I usually did it once a month. They actually take about 5 liters from you but you get almost all of it back so recovery is very quick. Unfortunately, they put Cozumel on the off limits list about 3 years ago, so that ended it for me.

 

[Natasha]

I should have an answer soon from her.
Funny you should say that about Cozumel. She told me Coz was NOT on the list but Playa is on the list.

Are there different lists?

Gee, I hope I have an answer from the Red Cross soon.

 

[DocVikingo]

Yes, Tulum, like Coba, would be considered as outside of the city limits of Playa del Carmen and in a rural/jungle area, and therefore problematic.

No, there is only one list.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo

 

[Natasha]

FredT:
I stand corrected. It is Gallons ..but is only 72 gallons and not 76.
She donates platelets, twice a week. She is now 43 years old, and as I said, also works as a vounteer at the Center.
She insists the list she has just simply says, Playa Del Carmen.

So my job is now is to find out how I can get the list to be more specific, and say 'not Metropolitan Playa Del Carmen', and just rural Playa is out.
Hard work huh?

 

[DocVikingo]

Because Playa borders so much closer to risk areas than Coz & Cancun metropolitan areas, perhaps the RC thinks it's safest just to nix it altogether.

However, the DebraK post above is still puzzling. Her understanding of things could be incorrect, or perhaps there are some dated, erroneous or incomplete lists out there.

Best just to wait for the official response.

DocVikingo

 

[Natasha]

True. Thanks Doc. I'll cut and paste the response here when I get it.
Have a great weekend.

:sunny:

 

[Natasha]

Now I need to find out where the FDA is ..and see if I can have them change the list. I guess the Red Cross is not the list the LOCAL place she goes to uses. It's the FDA list.
This came from my sister in law today.

I'm at 595 donations--8 donations = 1 gallon. So,
I'm between 74 gallons and 75. I donated Monday and Wednesday of this week
and will go in again next Wed. What they don't understand is I don't donate
whole blood. I'm an aphaeresis donor. I donate plasma or platelets. I am
also a serial donor. Being a serial donor means that I am closely
monitored, health-wise, and that being done, I can donate plasma up to twice
a week and platelets 24 times a year. Each time I go in I have blood (
whole blood ) taken out, the machines separate the three components (
plasma, platelets, and red blood cells) and take what they are getting and
then mix with saline solution my red blood cells and platelets - if I'm
giving plasma and it's given back to me. That way I'm not out the red blood
cells which take longer to reproduce in your body. The plasma and platelets
come back very quickly. If I donate plasma it takes about 40 min. on the
machine; platelets 60 min +.

People that are undergoing chemotherapy often need platelets---which help to
fight infection and clot your blood-- and with Houston having M.D. Anderson
Cancer center much is needed. Platelets only last 5 days once they are
drawn. Plasma is used for many things, one of which is burn victims. I
generally donate mine to the Shriner's Burn Center for Children.
Plasma--frozen--can last up to a year--of course so much is used it doesn't
sit around that long. Whole blood lasts 44 days. The local blood center
uses, on average, 800 units/day.

Regardless of what anyone may say about Playa del Carmen, the FDA will
always error on the side of caution when it comes to keeping the blood
supply safe. They decide what areas are restricted, not any of the nation's
blood banks and right now I would be deferred for a year if I was even on a
ship off the coast of Playa del Carmen, much less if I set foot on land.

There is mixed evidence about "Mad Cow" Disease being transmitted blood to
blood. But the FDA isn't going to take the chance of letting
Crutzfeld-Jacobs Disease ( mad cow ) getting into the U.S. so if a person
lived in England for a total of 6 months between certain years that person
is deferred indefinitely. Some think the FDA is being too cautious, but how
would we feel if this deadly disease got into the supply?

Do I sound like a walking ad for donating blood? Well, I'm also on the
Conroe Community Coucil to increase blood donations for Montgomery County.
I will volunteering at a blood drive 9/27.......at Minute Maid Park, during
an Astros game.

Janet

 

[Dee]

I go every year in the spring and I donate several times a year at one of the Blood Centers buses that come to our little town. The list they use says because Roatan is an island, it's OK but the mainland of Honduras is a big no on the list for malaria. In fact if you even lay over in Pedro San Sula on the way to Roatan, it puts you out of commission.

 

[davehicks]

Hey, what do you do for fun?

I put my entire life on hold in order to donate blood!

Call me cynical, but your sister seems a little obsessive to me. Don't get me wrong, donatiing blood is a great community service, but I think structuring your life around it is going a bit too far.

I've donated 4 gallons of blood myself, and feel bad when they restrict me due to travel, but that's life. Frankly, I have to wonder about the state of the blood supply these days since there are SO MANY restrictions on donating now. They are already banning people for life if they have spent a month or so in England. It's only a matter of time until we get some Mad Cow cases in the US, and then what will they do? Ban every American who has eaten a hamburger?

Sincerely,
The Cynic

 

[Natasha]

I know. She's a bit over the top with it. But, so are we about Scuba.
The Red Cross wrote and said they were going to call me. I had a few 'unknowns' show up on the caller ID, but no message. I have not heard a thing.
Anyway, Janet said she will not go unless the FDA's list has it taken off. That's the one she goes by.
I just don't know how to get a hold of the FDA, so for now I have given up.