Donating blood

I have written about this before, but thought it was well worth talking about again especially after reading the following article which had this headline:

"Canadian Blood Services Urgently Needs Donors, But Still Won't Accept Gay Men"

Not only will it not accept gay men, it still won't accept the following people, as per the Canadian Blood Services site:

"Some people are deferred from giving blood because of where they have lived or visited. For instance, donors who have travelled to locations outside of Canada, the continental U.S. and Europe have a waiting period of 21 days after their return home before donating blood. These new criteria were introduced in February 2016, to identify donors at greater risk for acquiring illnesses spread by mosquitos such as Zika virus.

Other deferrals include those for malaria and vCJD.

Because the risk of infection diminishes over time, people from a country where malaria is prevalent are deferred for three years after departure from the country. Those who have visited a malaria risk area are deferred for one year after departure.

Because of the theoretical risk of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vcJD), Health Canada concluded that deferring donors who had spent time in the following places balances the safety of Canada's blood supply with the need for donors:

• a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (UK) between January 1980 and December 31, 1996
• a cumulative total of three months or more in France between January 1980 and December 31, 1996
• a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe outside the U.K. or France from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 2007. Western European countries affected are Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.
• a cumulative total of six months or more in Saudi Arabia from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996

Donor screening deferrals are based on risk factors. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity."

What this means that despite me, my husband, son and daughter living most if not more of our lives in Canada we cannot still donate blood.  It's a crying shame............

Another day, more jobs accomplished...........

Actually really only the one job completed, and that was changing the main electrical panel in the house.  I was dh's assistant, and I had a very responsible job; I was in charge of holding the flashlight/torch so dh could see.  I do feel I did do an excellent job, though must say I was happy that by lunch time dh was in a position where he could get on with it on his own.

Although I know to a lot of people holding a flashlight might be a great job, I'm not one of them!!!  It was a great job done, and I have to admit, I feel a heck of a lot safer, as it was very iffy the way the previous guy had wired it up.

There was a story on the news about blood donors, so I decided to see if I am still banned from giving blood in Canada; and guess what I am.  Why:

2. Possible Exposure to CJD or vCJD:


People are not eligible to donate blood or plasma if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (U.K.) between January 1980, and December 31, 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in France between January 1980, and December 31, 1996, or if they have spent a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe outside the U.K. or France since 1980. In addition, people will no longer be eligible to donate blood or plasma if they have had a blood transfusion in the U.K., France or Western Europe since 1980. This is owing to the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) through blood.

That info is from this site   So I am guessing they think I am a carrier of the "mad cow disease."    Their loss as far as I am concerned.  Mind you its not my idea of a good time having a needle stuck into me.

The pain meds and antibiotics have kicked in, but my poor mouth is still sore.  We are supposed to be going to friends for dinner next Tuesday, but I think I will call and put it off, as I can't chew anything hard at the moment.

Not sure what exciting things we'll be doing on Friday, but I do think we deserve a day out of the house...........we'll see.