Blood Platelet Donation and Covid

[dolphins4life]

How many of you do it?

After the Las Vegas Shooting, something clicked in me to start doing it on a regular basis.  I would cycle between three hospitals in Boston.  I would do platelets because I am B+.

I wound up doing it so often, I became iron deficient, but I am not anymore.

The need is desperate in August.  I have a day off on Saturday, so I'm considering donating.

However, I have a still have a sporadic cough from my COVID.

I fear that if I donate, I might weaken my immune system a little, which could mean that if I happened to be reinfected, that the virus could cause serious harm to me.

Is that the way the virus works?

Also, I can't decide on the second booster.  Should I get it now?  Or should I wait till better ones come out in the fall?

Edit:  If you can donate, please do it. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

However, I have a still have a sporadic cough from my COVID.

Per the Red Cross website you should not donate blood if you have symptoms from Covid. 

You must be in good health and feeling well

[EDGECRUSHER]

I donated regularly before Covid but since I live in NYC, you have to wear a mask still so I'm waiting for that to end before I go back. Needless to say, removing your blood while restricting your breathing is not the healthiest thing you can do.

Still, everyone should do it. No need for people to die from blood loss due to lack of available blood. We all have it and should consider it our civic duty to help. Same with bone marrow and organ donation.

[Dave Gray]

I really with I donated blood, but I simply don't because I have a phobia.  Of all the things to be done to me, having my blood taken from me willingly is just not in the cards.  Good on you for doing it.  I respect the hell out of it.

My sister in law has donated 10 gallons, I think.

[stinkfish]

Edge man, I don’t really want to get into the mask thing anymore, and I thought that everyone was over it already. Masks don’t restrict your breathing. If they do then that person saying that either is trying to come up with a flimsy excuse to not wear one, is a soy boy, or there is something very wrong with the person who can’t breathe in a mask. Worked in a hospital in one job or another for 20 years. Never experienced trouble breathing myself wearing one. Never once ran into anyone there who basically wore masks for a living saying that they couldn’t breathe in a mask. What do you think? There are surgeons masked up for say, an 8 hour long surgery and passing out on their patient on the table because the mask interfered with their breathing? Masks don’t do that.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Edge man, I don’t really want to get into the mask thing anymore, and I thought that everyone was over it already. Masks don’t restrict your breathing. If they do then that person saying that either is trying to come up with a flimsy excuse to not wear one, is a soy boy, or there is something very wrong with the person who can’t breathe in a mask. Worked in a hospital in one job or another for 20 years. Never experienced trouble breathing myself wearing one. Never once ran into anyone there who basically wore masks for a living saying that they couldn’t breathe in a mask. What do you think? There are surgeons masked up for say, an 8 hour long surgery and passing out on their patient on the table because the mask interfered with their breathing? Masks don’t do that.

I have problems breathing in masks, no one at the donation center told me that. Pretty sure they would be fired if they did.

[stinkfish]

I have problems breathing in masks, no one at the donation center told me that. Pretty sure they would be fired if they did.

And believe me. I am NOT calling you out.

[Fau Teixeira]

I stopped donating blood after the last time .. there were too many questions asked ..

where did you get all this blood?
who's blood is it?
why is it in a bucket?

[Spider-Dan]

I think it's obvious that masks do literally restrict your breathing compared to having no mask on.  Doing any strenuous physical activity that causes heavy breathing (say, running) would suck if you were wearing a mask.

But I would think that wearing a surgical mask while breathing at a normal "resting" rate should not be a problem unless you have some sort of breathing impairment (e.g. asthma, or heavy lung damage from smoking).  As stinkfish noted, there are many professions where one wears a mask during the whole work day for an entire career.

[dolphins4life]

My cough is almost completely gone.  I still almost because I still cough now and then, but it is likely not related to COVID.

I want to donate, but I can't help feeling worried about my safety.