I like donating blood or plasma. I really do. I would rather donate blood though. I have no problem going to a United Blood services office or mobile office to do it. I don't do it for money. I did get free movie tickets once though. I have type O positive blood. The universal blood, which means it can be used on other blood types but I myself can only receive O positive if needed. Sadly I have not donated blood since 2006 =/ once I got the courage to finally get a tattoo. See most states have a law that does not let you donate blood till a year after you have gotten a tattoo. Which I have not gone a whole entire year with out getting a tattoo since then. Whether it's a actual piece or just a touch up I haven't lasted a year. It makes me feel kinda bad to know I can't go and donate blood. It's important to do since we never know when we can have a nation wide emergency and blood can be needed or if a hospital patient needs extra blood to keep them from dying after a bad car accident. We live in a world that has made many of us turn into ungratefuls because we've never suffered true hardship or tragedy. Most of us have never been in the position were we actually need blood or a loved one has died because the hospital did not have enough blood for them. I love getting tattoos and I do think it is unfair that I can't donate blood because of it. But I do understand that because not everyone gets tattoos in a shop or clean environment is the reasons why these rules have been put in place. Not every state has the same tattoo laws and due to the fact that anybody can buy a tattoo machine and start scratching people skin makes it a health hazard. It does suck for those of us who get tattooed by trained professionals who do everything properly to insure that there is no cross contamination. I think anybody who is in good health should go donate blood if they can. You never know it might save a life. Maybe sometime soon I'll challenge myself to go a whole year with out a tattoo so I can donate once again.
