So it would appear as if we have neglected our blog a bit. I guess having one follower, however important that one follower may be, is not very inspiring (so follow our blog already people)! We’ve been busy these past couple months. We’ve had the release of the new Coupe, (which if you haven’t seen already, what are you waiting for?) our MINIs for Kids event, Motor-tober our Halloween event which is always fun and leads into the month of “Motor-vember” which is already jam packed!
Tomorrow we are hosting a very special event for a very special little girl very close to our MINI family. We are having a blood drive here at MINI of Ontario for our Service Manager’s little girl Amanda. About two months ago she was diagnosed with Burkett’s Lymphoma. It is a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that grows very fast. It actually doubles in size every 24 hours. Amanda has been through a lot of treatments this far including chemotherapy but also many blood transfusions. This is why we are hosting a blood drive here Thursday, November 10th from 11-2pm on her behalf. She is in need of Type O and Type A blood both positive and negative as well as blood platelets which can be harvested from any blood type. Though it is a difficult time for Amanda and her family they have managed to stay in excellent spirits with the support of family, friends and the doctors and staff at the facilities she is receiveing treatments. She is an amazing little girl and we feel it is out privilege to be able to help her fight this fight in any way possible.
If you would like to come out and donate tomorrow please come out and we will accommodate anyone willing to give for our awesome little gal. Keep in mind that any unused blood will be donated to other patient’s in need. So really, if you can make and are eligible to donate it is a win-win (no-brainer). Below you will find Kaiser Permanente’s Donor Requirements.
Who qualifies to donate blood?
- Donors must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds
- Donors must be in generally good health and feeling well
- All donor must show a photo ID at the time of donation
Before you donate:
It is very important to drink plenty of fluids and eat a good meal within 4 hours prior to donating.
Medications, Medical Conditions & Immunizations that affect donation:
Taking medications is usually not a cause for deferral. The most common medications and cause for deferral are listed below:
- Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) can donate
- Accutane – can donate 4 weeks after last dose
- Allergy medications – can donate
- Amnesteem (isotretinoin) – can donate 4 weeks after last dose
- Antibiotics – can donate 48 hours after last dose if no symptoms of infection / no wait if taken for prevention
- Anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn) – can donate
- Arthritis – can donate if no redness, pain or swelling of joint (s) at the time of donation / Rheumatoid Arthritis can not donate
- Asthma – can donate if no symptoms
- Aspirin & aspirin containing products – can donate / platelet donation 48 hrs. after last dose
- Avodart (dutasteride) – can donate 6 months after last dose
- Birth control pills – can donate
- Blood pressure medication – can donate if blood pressure is equal to or less than 180/100
- Claravis (isotretinoin) – can donate 4 weeks after last dose
- Colds, fever, flu, sore throat, cough, respiratory infection – cannot donate until symptom free for 24 hours
- Cold sore, fever blister, canker sore – can donate as soon as lesion is healed or crusted over
- Depression medication – can donate
- Diabetic medication – Oral or insulin: can donate if condition is stable. Ever injected bovine (beef) insulin: cannot donate
- Diet pills: can donate
- Diuretics – can donate
- Female hormone pills – can donate
- Flu vaccine – can donate
- FluMist – can donate
- Heart Attack – can donate after one year if no symptoms, no cardiac meds, no restricted activity
- Hepatitis A vaccine – can donate if given for prevention
- Hepatitis B vaccine – can donate 7 days after each injection if given for prevention
- Herpes (genital) – can donate if lesion (s) are healed or crusted over. Active infection can not donate. Zovirax taken preventatively can donate
- Human Papilloma vaccine (HPV) or Gardisil – can donate
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) can donate after 4 weeks of immunization
- Major/minor surgery – can donate after healed and reason permits
- Pneumococcal vaccine – can donate
- Pregnant/Abortion/Miscarriage – cannot donate for 6 weeks after delivery, abortion or miscarriage
- Propecia – can donate 4 weeks after last dose
- Proscar (finasteride) – can donate 4 weeks after last dose
- Soriatane (acitretin) – can donate 3 years after last dose
- Tetanus toxoid – can donate
- Thyroid medication – can donate if stabilized
- Tegison: (etretinate) cannot donate if ever taken
- Zostavax (shingles) – can donate 4 weeks after vaccination
Other possible restrictions
Travel: If you have traveled or lived out of theUnited States in an area where malaria is prevalent, you may be deferred for up to 1 year. If you have lived in theUnited Kingdom (Great Britain) or visited for 3 months total between 1980 and 1996, you will be deferred indefinitely. If you visited or lived inWestern Europe for 5 years total since 1980, you will be deferred indefinitely.
Body/Ear piercing/acupuncture – can donate if done with a sterile, single use needle/equipment or with a piercing gun using single use studs, otherwise 1 year wait
Dental work: can donate
Hepatitis exposure: One year deferral
Menstruation: Can donate
Tattoo: Can donate after 1 year; no wait for cosmetic tattoos done in physician’s office
Transfusion: Can donate if undergone autologus transfusion only. Otherwise, one year deferral
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