The restriction for people that lived in the UK is because they have had cases where people contracted the "mad cow" disease. So "they" do not want to take the risk of blood of someone who may have eaten contaminated meat into the blood supply in the US.

*I am merely stating the facts of why people that lived in the UK aren't allowed to donate... not giving any commentary on whether or not Mad Cow is present in the US.

 

actually i don't think anyone ever contracted mad cow. it's a big scare IMO.

I'm all for giving blood. When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, 75% of my blood was just dead "soda pop" colored fluid. No, I am not kidding...3/4's of my red blood cells were gone. I would not be alive had I not taken in 5 pints of someone else's blood.

 

I give when possible. I need to not be doing anything for the rest of that day because it really drains (no pun intended) me.

 

Don't lie, yes you did mean it.

 

Giving blood is good, for every pint you donate you have the chance to save 3 lives. Before I retired I was the chairman of many blood drives, I think of it as bagging good karma points for being a bastard. My place in hell will hopefully be less hot.