American Red Cross — Local services in West Chicago Township

My husband has elevated iron and was told to donate whole blood in order to lower his levels. I made the appointment for him, we went, everybody was super great and friendly. But, he keeps getting phone calls, emails, notifications, and even SNAIL MAIL about his blood type being the universal platelet donor, and they keep pressuring him to donate platelets. He works six days a week, only has one day off, and he cannot spend that day sitting there for three hours. He has a fear of needles and does not do well, I explained this to them. He is able to tolerate whole blood donation, but they specifically keep pushing for platelet donation. She then took it upon herself to say she will email him a video of the donation process (which included TWO lines, one in each arm)and then if he still would like to decide he can. I said that most likely won’t happen but go ahead and email him if you’d like. We watched video and once he saw that, of course he said he can’t. Two days later, (TODAY) I receive another phone call (he put my number because he doesn’t like to talk for himself) and I said the same thing that I said to the last woman, he is not able to sit there for three hours with a needle in his arm. She said well his donation has a potential to save three lives. I don’t know why are they are trying to force, harass, manipulate, and peer pressure people to do with their body, but this is not right. This is like pure a violation, now I fear for him like the movie “Turista 2006” at this point… You cannot bribe or force someone to do something that they don’t want to do. This has to stop. NO MEANS NO. Please stop pushing your donors away… Vitalant is a great alternative, and they do not harass and bully...

I’m a healthcare worker who needs to take BLS recertification. I live in Chicago, where traffic is perpetually bad, and gave myself a 5-10 minute buffer to make it to the class based on Google maps estimated time. On my way it started pouring rain and traffic gridlocked on the highway. I ended up arriving 10 minutes late and they didn't let me attend. I contacted Red Cross about rescheduling or a refund. They told me to contact Nation’s Best CPR, their 3rd party affiliate who was hosting the class. I explained the situation, but Nation's best said it was against their policy to reschedule or refund a course if you are 5 minutes late. Mind you, I had already taken the 2 hr 45 minute online portion of the class for a split learning course. This was essentially just to test on the skills. Most healthcare workers probably feel like I do - overworked and underpaid. I never have a single free minute in my day and then have to squeeze in continuing ed and compliance classes around my schedule. It’s extremely frustrating when you show up 10 minutes late due to bad weather and are told you can't attend and there is no refund or option to reschedule. I now have to pay for a separate class and wasted an hour of time traveling there and back. This is taking advantage of healthcare workers and further perpetuating the burnout that we all feel. Nation's best has terrible service and Red Cross is just as culpable for partnering with a company who is more concerned about making a quick buck than supporting the ongoing efforts of the healthcare workers who are actually trying to make...

I know they are just a front for the global shadow vampire elite. Were it not for the 'donations' I can only imagine the carnage on the streets as the vampires are, once again, forced to feed among the populace. I am willing to do my part to make sure that the GSVE (global shadow vampire elite) are fed and taken care of.

I donate to make sure that so many people can go about their days free of fear and dread for their own safety and safety of those they love. The staff here are polite and decent and are good at keeping up the cover that the 'donations' are for 'medical' purposes rather than for the satiation of the GSVE.

I will continue to donate here, the staff is decent and kind (they themselves may not know their own position in ensuring the supply of nutrients to the GSVE so I hold them innocent).

Do consider donating, the life you save may be your own, better to give up pints here and there than be bled dry in totality all at once.

(Written to amuse myself, though, TBH the snacks keep getting smaller and smaller, like, a small teeny tiny bag of micro/mini Oreos? For my royal blood I should get full sized Oreos AND milk.....I get cost cutting but, yea, lay on the sugary goodness people. I am aware my double red brings in a pretty coin, you can do me the solid of not humiliating me with the smallest snack...