Do You Stay in (or at Least Close to) Your Country?

[Cbsteffen]

I sometimes have had a desire to travel to anywhere outside of North America but doubted my being able to. It turns out I was right. I can’t go anywhere outside of the USA and Canada because somebody needs blood in my country (the USA) every other second, only a tiny percentage of those eligible to give blood in my country actually do so, and if I leave North America above Mexico, the American Red Cross has to make me wait 1-3 years to give blood. Yes, it might sound sad, but it’s part of my law of nature.

[bshee58]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

[countrygirl12]

I sometimes have had a desire to travel to anywhere outside of North America but doubted my being able to. It turns out I was right. I can’t go anywhere outside of the USA and Canada because somebody needs blood in my country (the USA) every other second, only a tiny percentage of those eligible to give blood in my country actually do so, and if I leave North America above Mexico, the American Red Cross has to make me wait 1-3 years to give blood. Yes, it might sound  sad, but it’s part of my law of nature.

Why would you have to wait 1-3 years to donate blood after traveling abroad?

[Cbsteffen]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

[countrygirl12]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

He is saying he donates blood often.  He wants to continue to do so.  If he travels to certain areas then he is restricted from giving blood for 1-3 years after coming back from that country.  Not sure why.  Especially when you do not know what you are exposed to in our country anymore.  Esp with the huge numbers of illegals coming in to the country.  A couple of counties over from me they have a HUGE problem with TB right now and it is among the illegal hispanics.  This is fact whether some people want to believe it or not.

[Cbsteffen]

I sometimes have had a desire to travel to anywhere outside of North America but doubted my being able to. It turns out I was right. I can’t go anywhere outside of the USA and Canada because somebody needs blood in my country (the USA) every other second, only a tiny percentage of those eligible to give blood in my country actually do so, and if I leave North America above Mexico, the American Red Cross has to make me wait 1-3 years to give blood. Yes, it might sound  sad, but it’s part of my law of nature.

Why would you have to wait 1-3 years to donate blood after traveling abroad?

Read my reply below yours, and you’ll find out.

[Cbsteffen]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

He is saying he donates blood often.  He wants to continue to do so.  If he travels to certain areas then he is restricted from giving blood for 1-3 years after coming back from that country.  Not sure why.  Especially when you do not know what you are exposed to in our country anymore.  Esp with the huge numbers of illegals coming in to the country.  A couple of counties over from me they have a HUGE problem with TB right now and it is among the illegal hispanics.  This is fact whether some people want to believe it or not.

I’m a she.

[countrygirl12]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

Are those something you get thru the air? The food you eat? I know one country a friend visited he said you should never drink a soda in a restaurant unless you see them open it in front of you. They apparently do not have the fountain drinks like we have.

[countrygirl12]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

He is saying he donates blood often.  He wants to continue to do so.  If he travels to certain areas then he is restricted from giving blood for 1-3 years after coming back from that country.  Not sure why.  Especially when you do not know what you are exposed to in our country anymore.  Esp with the huge numbers of illegals coming in to the country.  A couple of counties over from me they have a HUGE problem with TB right now and it is among the illegal hispanics.  This is fact whether some people want to believe it or not.

I’m a she.

lol.  Sorry.  I have never been interested in traveling to other countries anyway.  Maybe Canada but that is about it.

[Cbsteffen]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

Are those something you get thru the air? The food you eat? I know one country a friend visited he said you should never drink a soda in a restaurant unless you see them open it in front of you. They apparently do not have the fountain drinks like we have.

It can sometimes be a matter of whichever organism you have an interaction with. Because of the conditions Europe is at risk for, you have to stay away from cows and avoid eating beef there.

[UGetPaid]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

They have a huge long list of questions when you donate blood asking if you have been to X, Y, or Z at any time in the past # months - or if you were in country Q during a certain prior time frame.  All to determine if you run the risk of carrying something. They also ask about drug use and sexual contact and a few other questions.


I never knew that these actually disqualified you, or if it just meant that they took additional screening measures in testing your donation.  I guess I now have my answer!

[hitch0403]

1 of a few scriptures in bible......

Acts 15:20. “Abstain . . . from blood.” God gave Christians the same command that he had given to Noah. History shows that early Christians refused to consume whole blood or even to use it for medical reasons.

[UGetPaid]

1 of a few scriptures in bible......

Acts 15:20. “Abstain . . . from blood.” God gave Christians the same command that he had given to Noah. History shows that early Christians refused to consume whole blood or even to use it for medical reasons.

I know that your opinion will likely differ  but I think most would agree that there is more than one way to interpret that 'commandment'.


I interpret it to mean we should refrain from ingesting blood - as in eating it for nourishment.  A transfusion for a life saving medical procedure is quite different (in my opinion).


As for the early Christians' refusal to use blood for medical reasons, I think we can safely say that the medical knowledge of early Christians (and the knowledge of how blood works, its biological purposes, and how to properly and safely use blood for medical purposes) and the medical knowledge of 21st Century doctors (who routinely save lives through the use of donated blood) are quite different.

[countrygirl12]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

Are those something you get thru the air? The food you eat? I know one country a friend visited he said you should never drink a soda in a restaurant unless you see them open it in front of you. They apparently do not have the fountain drinks like we have.

It can sometimes be a matter of whichever organism you have an interaction with. Because of the conditions Europe is at risk for, you have to stay away from cows and avoid eating beef there.

I honestly did not realize Europe had any problems like that.  I thought the conditions were pretty good there. But then again a lot of times they are not here in the US.  We have foods recalled ALL the time anymore.  I got a notice where it is now safe to eat the romaine lettuce again.  Really?  They have been selling it in stores and restaurants for a few weeks.  I thought it was safe a long time ago.

[countrygirl12]

What has that to do with what country you live? Stay in or at least close??? I live in the United States, so not getting the giving of blood thing.

Some countries are at risk for malaria, and European countries and Turkey are at risk for mad cow disease and the human equivalent Creudzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Those illnesses affect the immune system.

They have a huge long list of questions when you donate blood asking if you have been to X, Y, or Z at any time in the past # months - or if you were in country Q during a certain prior time frame.  All to determine if you run the risk of carrying something. They also ask about drug use and sexual contact and a few other questions.


I never knew that these actually disqualified you, or if it just meant that they took additional screening measures in testing your donation.  I guess I now have my answer!

Well most people will lie about drug use and sexual activity.  They do testing on the blood or are suppose to.  But when it is for emergency use it would be hard to get the results back because doesn't it take like 3 months for the AIDS test?