Giving Blood
Since I occasionally have my moods where I am an upstanding citizen, I again volunteered to give blood. But must they make it so painful? I'm not talking about the insertion of the needle, I'm talking about the long wait beforehand in the Red Cross waiting room. Now, I had an appointment at 4:30, so I was expecting to get in reasonably soon after I arrived. No way! Apparently, there were lots of people who had 4:30 appointments, and plenty who hadn't gotten in from their earlier appointment were also sitting in the waiting room.

Okay, stop, and let's review. I am volunteering my time, and my bodily fluids to the Red Cross, which they then go ahead and sell. Yet they can't manage their business efficiently so that I want to come back.

One time, I arrived and waited an hour and half. It turns out that a patient had a medical problem giving blood, and needed medical treatment right there on the donation table. I understand how emergencies can happen. But what about a little courtesy to those of us in the waiting room? Like for example, an announcement that we're going to be quite a bit behind schedule. No, we didn't get that. Other times I have waited from 15 mintues to and hour and 15 minutes.

Today, when I arrived, I saw the huge crowd ahead of me. I waited one-half hour, reading their stupid magazines that I was not really interested in (my fault, I forgot to bring a book), and only one person was ushered in to give blood, although two left. I can do the math, I was going to be sitting there a long time. So, my dear Red Cross, please listen carefully — and I'll write you an actual snail-mail since you probably don't read this blog — don't schedule 6 appointments at 4pm and another 6 at 4:30 if you only have the capacity to handle 2 or 3 people in a half-hour. Either bulk up your staff, or don't make so many appointments. Don't treat us blood donors that way, we are volunteering to help you, we deserve better.