Being a military BRAT means not giving blood

My Dad was in the Air Force, and we moved a lot growing up.  In 11^th grade I started my 11^th school.  I loved my experiences.  I still enjoy traveling and exploring the world.  We were very close as a family.

I’ve lived in the following locations:

Sacramento, California

Las Vegas, NV

Lakenheath, England

Mountain Home, ID

Adana, Turkey

Clovis, New Mexico

Moenchengladbach, Germany

Provo, UT

Austria

Alexandria, VA

 

I got an email at work requesting blood donations, so I thought I would refresh my memory on the eligibility criteria for blood donation.   Note that I lived in England from 1977 – 1980, Turkey from 1982 – 1984, Germany from 1986 – 1989, and Austria from 1996 – 1997. 

Here’s the link to the American Red Cross donor eligibility rules related to VariantCreutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD).

In summary, you can’t donate blood if you met any of the following criteria:

1) 3 or more months in the United Kingdom from 1980 – 1996.

2) 6 or more months at a military base in Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany from 1980 through 1990 or 6 or more months at a military base in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece from 1980 through 1996.

3) 5 or more years in European countries since 1980.  The list includes Austria, Germany, Netherlands (Holland) and Turkey.

I strike out on all three accounts.  Even if I am older and could fill a bag within 20 minutes (previous reasons for not being able to successfully give blood), I don’t think I’ll be allowed to donate blood anytime soon.