Author Topic: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)  (Read 6752 times)

Offline Vapors

  • Ballroom 20
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 837
  • Karma: 0
  • 1999-current
  • Liked: 268
I know it's super early, but for some reason, I checked in and found that the San Diego Blood Bank has opened up sign up slots for the annual blood drive.  It's something I do every year, and I think is a totally worthwhile cause to be a part of as there are emergencies everyday and hospitals need blood.  For the first time ever though, the drive will open slots up for Preview Night from 9 am to 6 pm (just in time to start Preview Night).  I confirmed this with the San Diego Blood Bank.  This  is on top of their normal times Thursday through Sunday.  So I know a lot of folks here will be in San Diego already so if you have time before Preview Night (and after the morning FoCC Breakfast), you can spend an hour to donate your blood before all the craziness starts.  To see Comic Con, you will need to set the dates from July 17 to July 21.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Remember, on top of the good feeling of helping out, you also get free swag like graphic novels and an extra Comic Con bag and pin and an exclusive high quality shirt (last year was the Marvel's Avengers shirt).  All it takes is a little blood (ok a pint, which is a small milk cartoon, but you won't miss it).  So if you think you can spare the time and blood, I encourage you to sign up ahead of time and participate.

Offline semigeekgirl

  • Supporter
  • Volunteer HQ
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 3731
  • Karma: 0
  • "If the apocalypse comes, beep me."
  • Liked: 2464
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2019, 12:29:34 PM »
Signed up! Weirdly my favorite slot was already taken, so I had to take 10 minutes later. 

Friends of Comic Cons

  • Guest

Offline mark

  • Volunteer HQ
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3917
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 2023
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2019, 12:30:30 PM »
All signed up, thanks for the reminder!

#nutterbutters

Offline Virgo911

  • Gaming Lounge
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2017
  • Posts: 301
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 102
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2019, 12:33:31 PM »
May as well. I'll be staying at MGH so it doesn't get more convenient than that.  :)

Offline RustyPonds

  • Gaming Lounge
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 318
  • Karma: 0
  • Hall H
  • Liked: 263
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2019, 09:04:18 AM »
Signed up for Wednesday after the PN Breakfast! I usually help my friend set up his booth Tuesday and Wednesday, so hopefully we'll be done with the heavy lifting by then! Ha.

Offline Jim Watari

  • Supporter
  • Pre-Registration
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 2275
  • Karma: 0
  • Twitter @jwatari
  • Liked: 584
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2019, 09:36:00 AM »
Signed up for Wednesday at 9:35 am :D
The more things change, the more they stay the same

Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: It's okay, I'm a leaf on the wind!
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: What does that mean?

Offline Zero

  • Global Moderator
  • Stan Lee's Hospitality Suite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 10672
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 1991
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2019, 03:15:33 PM »
Oh, thanks for sharing and for the reminder!  ^__^/
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login | You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Searching for the light known as 'you' in the middle of the night...

Offline chocolateshake

  • Volunteer HQ
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2016
  • Posts: 3270
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 1497
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2019, 03:29:58 PM »
To anyone that's not from the US, or for many who are, don't be insulted if they turn you away.  The regulations we have in the US pretty much only allow blood donations from Americans.  Even Americans who have spent too much time outside the US don't qualify as blood donors.  I'm on permaban.  Damn haggis, why do you have to be so tasty!

I'm doing this from memory but I think if anyone has spent more than 3 months in the UK ever, 5 years in Europe ever or even shorter periods of time in various countries within the last 3 years then they are not acceptable blood donors.


Offline comicconfamily

  • Supporter
  • Gaming Lounge
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 307
  • Karma: 0
  • Instagram: @ComicConFamily
    • Comic Con Family
  • Liked: 160
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2019, 08:52:24 AM »
Has anyone done this that has tiny veins and otherwise hard to draw blood? (I usually have to have a butterfly needle used on me) I've always wanted to do this but had an issue with a previous donation attempt where I was turned away after poking me several times. Because of this, I've never signed up, figuring it might be a waste of time. Interested to hear if anyone else might be in the same situation and it worked out for them.
SDCC 2011 - 2022
WonderCon 2017 - 2022


Offline Vapors

  • Ballroom 20
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 837
  • Karma: 0
  • 1999-current
  • Liked: 268
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2019, 10:58:32 AM »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
Has anyone done this that has tiny veins and otherwise hard to draw blood? (I usually have to have a butterfly needle used on me) I've always wanted to do this but had an issue with a previous donation attempt where I was turned away after poking me several times. Because of this, I've never signed up, figuring it might be a waste of time. Interested to hear if anyone else might be in the same situation and it worked out for them.

You can probably email the San Diego Blood Bank to see if their mobile blood drives provide this.  They were pretty responsive when I emailed them earlier.

Offline Jim Watari

  • Supporter
  • Pre-Registration
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 2275
  • Karma: 0
  • Twitter @jwatari
  • Liked: 584
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2019, 12:41:36 PM »
I've always had that problem when getting blood drawn, I usually get the most experienced nurse to draw the blood.
The more things change, the more they stay the same

Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: It's okay, I'm a leaf on the wind!
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: What does that mean?

Offline semigeekgirl

  • Supporter
  • Volunteer HQ
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 3731
  • Karma: 0
  • "If the apocalypse comes, beep me."
  • Liked: 2464
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2019, 12:49:23 PM »
[member=3681]comicconfamily[/member] I have fairly small veins and have to have the butterfly needle about half the time, and I've never had a problem at the Comic-Con Blood Drive (been doing it for 7-8 years now). I would just mention it to the nurse as soon as you get to that point and I'm sure they'll do their best to make it go smoothly. Honestly, they've been doing this for so long and they do so many people everyday that the San Diego techs are super-pros. I've had better experiences there than with half my medical-appointment blood draws.

(Also, I'm sure you know this, but your veins are easier to find when you're hydrated - like, chug an entire bottle of water before your appointment hydrated. It helps. I've even had them ask me to drink water while already on the donation bed.)

Offline comicconfamily

  • Supporter
  • Gaming Lounge
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 307
  • Karma: 0
  • Instagram: @ComicConFamily
    • Comic Con Family
  • Liked: 160
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2019, 08:05:27 PM »
Thanks everyone!  :) [member=1291]semigeekgirl[/member] [member=1237]Jim Watari[/member] [member=1220]Vapors[/member]

I'm gonna do it! I signed up for preview night morning after breakfast.
SDCC 2011 - 2022
WonderCon 2017 - 2022


Offline MiniPosterAddict

  • Sails Pavilion
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2019
  • Posts: 2
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 0
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2019, 11:04:24 AM »
Hi, did anyone have luck last year with donating locally at another location before Weds (before the CON) and showing proof to get the swag?

Offline drummerben

  • Freebie Table
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 37
  • Karma: 0
  • Liked: 17
Re: Give your blood to the con (AKA the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive)
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2019, 01:11:22 PM »
Signed up. thanks for the reminder and link