Bleedin
Since the wife and I give blood somewhat regularly, when our time comes to give again (56 days) we usually start getting lots of phone calls.
I’ve grown used to them. We usually wait until a blood drive is going on, because we get free schwag (posters, movie tickets, gift certs, etc). While that might be fundamentally and morally wrong, it is a voluntary effort and I like getting a little *something* for my time.
Today I got a phone call from the blood center that topped any previous ones. She started by introducing herself and telling me that they were in need of blood, like they always do. She then went on to say:
Mr. Tennis, we currently have a man on the operating table right now in Indianapolis who is O+ and is going through a lot of blood. We are extremely low and we aren’t sure if we’re going to have enough blood for him to make it. If you could come in tonight or tomorrow we would really appreciate it.
Fantastic - nothing like a guilt trip to make you come in and give your blood. Hey buddy, if you don’t come in right now this guy is going to die. Do you want that on your hands?
Nevermind the fact that it takes at least a few days for the blood to be processed and moved into the pool. This guy needs it NOW.
So, do I go or do I wait a few weeks until I can get some free movie money?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:07 am
I would wait, but that IS ballsy of them to go that route. Especially when you are regular (fairly regular) donors.
I used to donate, but I spent some time in the UK and may potentially have the Mad Cow, so now they don’t want my blood.
So if I go crazy one day, you’ll all know why.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:36 am
also, I believe it’s SWAG (as in Stuff We All Get). Schwag, as I know it, has a slightly different meaning.
Also, I’d saw wait for the schwag. err… swag.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=schwag
April 19th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Oh yeah?
http://www.promosapien.ca/Content/What Is Schwag.asp
April 19th, 2007 at 11:40 am
yeah
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swag
April 19th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
next time they call, you should tell them you’ll only donate if you get a free t-shirt.
April 19th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
LOL
Them: Mr Tennis, this guy is dying
ME: Yeah, I’m not coming in unless you give me a free shirt.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
i remember when i was at rose they used to advertise the blood drive all over campus. the posters would typically have a picture of some very cute, sad-looking little girl, and at the bottom it would say something like “6 year old Rose was hit by a drunk driver, and lost 14 gallons of blood. if it weren’t for donations from people like you, Rose wouldn’t have survived.”
i always thought that was the dumbest advertising campaign, because it highlights an instance where they had plenty of blood, rather than not enough.
if instead the poster said “6 year old Rose was hit by a drunk driver and DIED because there wasn’t enough blood” it would be much more effective