Travel & Blood Donations Video

If you have traveled recently, learn about traveling and donating blood in this free video clip from a blood donation center.

About this Author

Barry Hooker has been working for the American Red Cross for 25 years. Currently, he is the director of recruitment for his region.

A lot of times travel outside Unites States is fun. You get go to places that are nice and things like that. But a lot of times those places may not be the cleanest and well kept areas that we've ever seen. Or to standards that we hold here in the United States. Malaria can be contracted in several different ways. You know, mosquito bites, through water, through other things. So we do have certain countries thatthe FDAhas deemed on the list. And the American Red Cross has deemed on the list that are not safe for travel destinations. And then coming back and giving blood right away. Now that doesn't mean you are deferred for ever. You know, you will be deferred for a year if you go to a certain Malaria risk countries. So we want you to again be a safe donor, take care yourself first and then we've got to look out for the patient. So we do ask that you know, that you are honest with us when you answer the questions. Let us know about the travel. You might even get us to go travel there too ourselves. But we've got to make sure that we're collecting a safe product from a donor that is safe. And he doesn't have any issues going on. And that's why we again ask for folks that have traveled to certain areas. Not everywhere but certain areas. They may have to wait because of the Malaria risk that are involved with certain travel to certain countries.