Fed Up with American Red Cross

I have been a regular blood donor for decades.  I started in my 30’s and have usually donate several times  a year.  During the past few years I have been getting fed up with the inefficiency of the mobile blood drawing operations.  They are either understaffed, overworked or terribly inefficient.  I am fuming right now and venting since I don’t know how to vent to them directly.

I get calls all the time if I’m overdue to donate so I finally relented and signed up. I got an appointment at 12:45 today in St. Albans, about 15 minutes away. I did the Rapid Pass prework and then arrived about 5 minutes early. There was one gentleman ahead of me in queue.  There were 5 people working plus a volunteer checking people in.  I looked over and 4 of the 5 beds were occupied and there was one other person with the pre-screening person going next. Then I noticed that one of the donors was having a problem. They laid him down flat and two of them were tending to him. He required a fan then some juice, then some snacks.

A few minutes later another donor passed out.  They had two people working on reviving her. They laid her down and rubbed her chest, etc to get her awake again. Then they started with the juice  routine.

By this time 5 more people had arrived for their 1:00 or 1:15 appointments.  They wondered why there was such a back-up and I explained what I had seen.  After 10 minutes more (by now it is 1:15) the lead person tells one of them to start doing the paperwork on the next people.  She calls out 4 names to come over and start the screening.  I was not one of them.

I immediately got up and left.  The guy at the front apologized to me and I told him that I wouldn’t wait any longer.

I should have gone over the  worker and questioned why I was not called.  I suspect that they just made a mistake and overlooked me. But, I’m making excuses for them. The fact is that I abhor inefficiency or disorganization. I view it as disrespectful of my time.  I’m the one volunteering! And I can only guess at how much my donation earns for them when they sell the blood.

I should mention that this is the 3rd time I have felt the need to walk out after checking in and waiting over 1/2 hour.

I won’t donate at a mobile site again.  I’m looking forward to the next time they call.

There!  I got it off my chest and now I can put it behind me and go on with my day.

Namaste