Red Cross to Burn Surplus Blood

Washington Post ^ | 11/11/2001 | Gilbert M. Gaul and Mary Pat Flaherty

[Pokey78]

The American Red Cross collected hundreds of thousands of blood donations after Sept. 11 knowing that it could not be used for victims of the terrorist attacks.

After selling some of the surplus to hospitals, the Red Cross has begun to destroy thousands of pints that have outlasted their shelf life. Directors of several Red Cross blood centers said their sites may discard as many as 1 of every 5 donations and the national total could easily reach tens of thousands.

[VA Advogado]

Maybe you work for them or sit on their board, I don't know. But I was personally outraged that they skimmed over 80% off the top and diverted it. It is not that I don't understand. Unfortunately, I do.

Perhaps you operate under the fiction that because the Red Cross is a charity the people that work there do so for free? And no, I don't work for or donate blood to the red cross. In fact 10 years ago, after donating I got a certifed letter from them (scared the crap out of me) saying I had high levels of "alanine aminotransferase" a liver enzyme and could have hepatitis and I couldn't donate anymore. I got a blood test from my doctor and he laughed and said I wasn't even close. Needless to say, I kind of have a beef with the Red Cross because of that, but it wont stop me from saying you're wrong about them.

[CheneyChick]

Why? Its a charity. I am sure your money was put to better use than the taxes you pay every year to the government.

Why? Because with paying taxes, I don't have a choice. With giving to a charity, I do.

Giving to the Red Cross is a choice I wil never make again.

[BigM]

bump!

[VA Advogado]

Why? Because with paying taxes, I don't have a choice. With giving to a charity, I do.

All the more reason you should be pleased that the RC is so much more efficient than the government. But you knew that. . it just doesn't fit with your Anti-Red Cross agenda here.

[CheneyChick]

your Anti-Red Cross agenda here.

News to me.... All I said was that I was sorry I gave them money. Take it however you want. Have a nice day. CC :)

[goodnesswins]

HuH? I'm a woman...and I am not into celebrating ANYONE'S DEATH, for ANY reason....not sure I understand your point.

[Askel5]

Hey guy ... if you intend to run around pretending to stand for FACTS and abhor PROPAGANDA, you might wish to excise from your replies statements like

"I refuse to read [those Philadelphia Inquirer stories written in the '80s by Gilbert Gaul well before this current Red Cross dust-up]"

and resist the urge to use inflammatory labels like "America haters" which you've no hope of defending if speaking about folks like me or JudyB.

[imperator2]

Always donate to charities close to home. Then you can tell what they do with the money. The farther the money travel, the less likely it is to be used legitemly.

[Askel5]

One hopes further digging will bring out all the events of the past.

Ever hopeful!

Trust all is well with you, Flamefront.

[thathamiltonwoman]

I just don't get what possesses these women to want to look like death eating a cracker. She's nothing more than a rag, a bone and a hank of hair.

[rockfish59]

sounds like you have to fend off the 'bluto types'! {:^)

[VA Advogado]

Gilbert M. Gaul is among a number of discredited sources you cite. Further, you twist a discredited source to meet your very dangerous, unpatriotic and what I feel is a very America hating agenda. For the life of me I can't understand why you can't acknowledge that blood is a donated commodity just as the cloths are that you donate to the salvation army. With a 45 day shelf life, what is inappropriate that excess blood is shipped/sold to a hospital or other blood bank that can use it? Thats free enterprise and even charity is allowed to take advantage of that part of our economic system. Unless, of course, you and the liberal marxist kooks are actually listened to by those that matter. Fortunately for those that care about charity and the gift of life, the rest of good america ignores you.

[jackbill]

Yesterday, on our local radio station, there was a "commercial" from the Red Cross, asking for blood donations.

[Askel5]

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere.

Who've you got that discredits Gaul? If I can't pull them up, I'll bet Wallaby can and we can go from there.

[JD86]

I have no time in my day for America haters or for Red Cross haters. The Red Cross has always been there for us and its time for us to be there for them.

You continue to describe people who are disillusioned with the Red Cross as America haters. You are wrong. You are free to support the Red Cross to your heart's content. Just as I am free to support other charities I have more faith in. Why can you not agree to disagree rather than belittle anyone who holds an opinion other than yours? In my experience that is an indication of a very closed mind. Please feel free to support the Red Cross. You are welcome to my spot.

[JD86]

Perhaps you operate under the fiction that because the Red Cross is a charity the people that work there do so for free? No, actually I am very well aware that the President of the American Red Cross is paid $450,000/year plus an expense account.

[VA Advogado]

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere

And you ignore the points I've made. Pathetic. Keep up the propoganda.

[VA Advogado]

Why can you not agree to disagree rather than belittle anyone who holds an opinion other than yours?

Kinda like you are doing to the red cross? You wear that crown of hypocrite well.

[NYCVirago]

However, in their defense, they had no way to know how much blood would be needed in the weeks immediately after 9/11.

No, they knew within hours that it wouldn't be needed. One of the saddest things I can remember hearing in the aftermath of September 11 was hearing about all the hospital emergency rooms that evening waiting for the flood of survivors, which never came in. Only five people were rescued alive after the second tower collapsed. The Red Cross KNEW they weren't going to need all this blood, and knew how many people were donating (people waited hours and hours in line), yet they kept up the appeals for blood for weeks.

[VA Advogado]

I am very well aware that the President of the American Red Cross is paid $450,000/year plus an expense account.

So the basis of your anger and subsequent lies and slander of this fine organization rest on how much their president makes in salary? Gee, just a few post ago you anti-american red cross haters were just using the presidents resignation as some sort of signal that things are going sour at the RC. So she's both friend and foe, depending on what lies you want to spew?

P.S. I can add not only are you guys america haters, but having done some checking on Askel's post I see she's a BUSH hater. Figures. You've lost what drop of credibilty you ever had with me. Pound sand. You're both evil and offer nothing but hate for this country (in my opinion).