When I donate blood or platelets, how much am I helping others? Is this an efficient form of community work? Donating platelets takes a couple of hours. Should I be working those hours and donating the money or volunteering in some more active way? [more inside]
posted by Area Man on May 8, 2012 - 37 answers

Why would people of Hispanic descent be disallowed from donating blood products by apheresis? [more inside]
posted by vytae on Jan 14, 2012 - 13 answers

What are the benefits (to the donor) of a platelet/plasma donation? [more inside]
posted by MrBCID on Mar 6, 2011 - 14 answers

My blood type is AB+. What's the best kind of blood-product donation I can do? And where in the DC area should I go to do so? [more inside]
posted by lash on Jul 8, 2010 - 13 answers

What is the benefit of "double red" blood donation over whole blood donation? [more inside]
posted by Nothlit on May 8, 2010 - 6 answers

Blood donation question: how long does it take to fully recover from donating blood? Yesterday was the first time I've ever donated..some questions.... [more inside]
posted by dmbfan93 on Jan 28, 2010 - 35 answers

I'm giving blood today. I'm eating 1200 calories per day in an effort to lose a few pounds. Should I eat more to make up for the calories "burned" during donation?
posted by croutonsupafreak on Jul 11, 2006 - 12 answers

While donating blood today I noticed a sign that says "You burn about 650 calories by donating blood." How is that? [more inside]
posted by thefinned1 on May 6, 2005 - 9 answers