Conference 7.286::digital

Moderator alert, moderator alert....
If you didnt allow the "where can we send Christmas cards etc, etc"
to our troops" discussion in this notesfile, then I believe this is 
inappropriate also...

OK, i tried to reply to .1 once before, but i may have injected too
much of my political bias about the war into that one, so i have
deleted it.

I would like to make the point that the Red Cross does come on site
to collect blood at some Digital facilities (such as MKO).  So it
seems to me that this might be the sort of world event/situation
where an emergency blood drive would be appropriate.  Maybe the
moderators would like to make this into a more general note about
special blood drives at Digital facilities based on world events?

Whatvere...i'm still interested in the answer to my question in .0.

							paul

    In the UK, you have to register as a blood donor and take some tests
    to ensure that you don't have HIV or whatever. To start this process,
    there is a free phone number to call, which although I don't have it to
    hand, is known to the Directroy Enquiries people.
    
    I'd be surprised if DIGITAL had a specific program, other than
    supporting those wishing to give blood by giving them the paid time off
    to do it.
    
    	- andy

   re .0
   Sounds like the Radio Stations are going off on their own bat, again, like
   they did with the letters. (Why send a letter to them, when it will get
   there faster when sent to an APO/FPO address.)
   
   Reputable TV Press (you know who) has been reporting that Blood Donations
   are up marginally, but as yet there is no significant demand on it. They
   (well actually the American Red Cross urged people not to rush in and
   donate blood,as they had adequate stocks and whole blood has a limited
   shelf life (40 odd days), and it takes longer than that to replenish it
   with you own body, so excess donations at this point may well be poured
   down the drain and reduce your likelihood of donating when it is really
   needed.
   
   Call the American Red Cross Blood Services for confirmation. 1-800-262-2660
   in NH/VT and (508) 532-0600 in Peabody Mass.
   
   q
   
   And, while I think of it, It wouldn't be sensible for Digital to
   Co-ordinate blood bank services on site at the moment. I am sure the Red
   Cross people are being kept busy enough, as is. If you really do have a
   urgent need to give blood, then I am sure your supervisor and the
   corporation will excuse you for the hour or two, that it takes to go to the
   nearest Red Cross Blood bank centre.
   
   

re: .4

Well, i leave the timing up to the experts (RC), of course.  I'm just
wondering if Digital will expedite this by having the RC come on site.
It seems like the current Desert Storm situation is a worthy opportunity
for this.  Again, in the interest of making this note more general, any
similar world event with this sort of impact might warrant Digital's
expediting such a blood collection (all i can think of for comparison
at the moment is last year's Iranian earthquake, or maybe the Chernobyl
reactor disaster--either of which i would also have been willing to
donate blood for, had Digital encouraged on-site collection.)

								paul

    Re: .3.4.5

    I have worked at the Hudson MA plant for seven years and as long as I 
    can remember, the Red Cross been here to collect blood.  Someone for
    health services(I think) sits at a table by the cafe before they come
    and lets people schedule a time to give blood.  The the Red Cross comes
    sets up six or so tables/stretchers in a conference room and people
    give blood.  They also feed you cookies and juice before you go back to
    work.

    -Bruce

    It was just over a week ago (on the 11th) that American Red Cross came
    to ZKO.  Yes, I gave my pint (B positive).  Previously I have given at
    MKO and MLO when I worked at those sites.
    
    --Simon
    

re: .6,.7

Yes, the fact that the Red Cross comes on site as part of regularly
scheduled blood drives is not at issue (i think).  It's whether we
can also get them on site for emergency-type situations (like wars,
etc.).  Would someone in Digital need to make an overture to get the
ball rolling in this particular situation (Operation Desert Storm)?
Will check with Health Services about this tomorrow...
								paul

    I was in Hong Kong on June 4, 1989.  I called the Red Cross to give
    blood.  They were swamped.  In retrospect I don't think any of that
    blood went to where the donors intended, because the Chinese said
    there was no need for that blood.
    
    In this case it's different.  This time we are in control of the
    destination for the blood.  But the need may not be there at this time. 
    I am reminded of the Tian An Men Square Massacre only because the
    impulse to give blood at that time was similarly motivated, but perhaps
    the timing was as wrong then as it is now.
    
    --Simon
    

>================================================================================
>Note 1349.0                           Blood                           No replies
>LABRYS::CONNELLY "House of the Axe"                   8 lines  18-JAN-1991 23:14
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>The radio stations around here have been broadcasting requests for
>Type O blood to be sent to Saudi Arabia for the UN forces engaged in
>Operation Desert Storm.  Since i'm a Type O, i'm wondering if Digital
>will provide a way for us to donate blood.  Has anyone heard anything
>about this?  The UN forces will really need this for the wounded if a
>ground war gets going in the next week or so...
>                                                        Thanks, paul
Where is "around here"?  I'm in Colorado and have heard none "around here."
If people want to give blood in support of people fighting in the gulf,
they should call their blood collection organizations FIRST.  I heard on
the radio that, in the NorthWest, blood supplies are more than adequate and
that donations should not be made NOW, maybe in several weeks...

I would remind people here against actually soliciting for blood donations.
That seems the actual job of various health services organizations who
host bloodmobile visits and such; they seem to be immune to corporate
policies against solicitations.

BobW

re, .1, .2

I read no element of solicitation in .0.  Rather, I read a request for 
information.  Had I known where it lived these days, I would have referred
the question to ASKENET.

BobW

> I would remind people here against actually soliciting for blood donations.
> That seems the actual job of various health services organizations who
> host bloodmobile visits and such; they seem to be immune to corporate
> policies against solicitations.

    I can't find a reference now, but when I checked several years ago I
    found that any Digital employee, or their family, could get free blood
    from the Red Cross.  This was true because of the number of Digital
    employees who gave at company sponsored blood drives.  So sponsoring
    blood drives is something Health Services can do to benefit employees.

    In any case, long as such solicitations are not during work time it
    would not seem to be a problem.

    From the PPP:

     Solicitations and Distribution of Literature         Effective:
    17-MAY-82  
                                                          Section: 6.19         

                                                            Screen  1 of 1

     It is Digital's policy that all employees are not to solicit other
     employees for any purpose during working time.  Working time does
     not include break time or meal time.  Digital employees are not
     permitted to distribute literature of any kind and at any time in
     working areas.

     Persons who are not employees of the Company are prohibited from
     distributing literature of any kind or soliciting employees for any
     purpose at any time on Company property.

I'm sure the Red Cross will contact DEC to arrange for additional
donations.

At the moment, they are swamped, and have actually been turning donors
away.

    
    FYI - I Work at the Mill in Maynard.  We had a scheduled blood drive
    for Jan. 24th.  When I called yesterday to schedule time for me to
    donate, they told me it was cancelled and that they were coordinating
    with the Red Cross for us to donate for the Desert Shield
    Servicemen/Women.  They took both my DTN and home phone number and are
    suppose to contact me soon.
    
    Dianne

    CNN announced last night that the war zone has more blood than they can
    use due to the relatively low number of casualties presently. They are
    requesting that the Red Cross suspend shipments temporarily. However,
    when/if this becomes a ground war, the demand for blood could rise to
    1,000 pints per week...
    
    Mike

    I inquired about blood donation requests at Children's HOspital in
    Boston where I do volunteer work.  Apparently a lot of people have been
    interested in donating, but blood has a shelf life of about 40 days, so
    the recent donations will need to be replaced later.  I was advised to
    wait three of four weeks to donate when the current supply of blood
    will need to be replenished.