We were both turned away from the Red Cross blood van for having traveled to a high malaria risk area in the last year. We had no idea it would be an issue, or we wouldn't have made appointments or prepared ourselves to be stabbed and drained of our precious blood. It would be really terrible if we came down with malaria now, seven months after returning from Centroamérica. Even worse, what if the blood we were willing to give so generously had made sicker a sick person in need of a transfusion? The Red Cross is very careful in their screening process, and for that we are grateful.
How insane! As Americans strive to be so careful, practicality flies out the window!
ReplyDelete