Journal entry for September 11, 2001

Today's summary: Terrorism... Please donate blood!

In response to today's terrorism, I posted on wetcanvas.com, begging people to donate blood. I didn't really know what else to say or how to express it, at the time. Here's what I said...

After they sent us home from work this morning, I camped out at two different blood donor centers. Things were so chaotic, they didn't know which one would be open or when. So as a result I was staking out the wrong place. I finally found one that was open at 8pm, but by then they were so mobbed, they didn't need me for anything except a smidge of volunteer work.

Although the Washington DC Red Cross is currently overwhelmed with donors... "more donors than needles" is what one worker told me today... she also said they will be needing blood throughout this week at the very least. This is something people all across the country may be able to help with.

The Red Cross has requested that we watch our local news for any mobile blood donor centers that may be able to take donors. Even if you can't donate blood yourself, these centers may be in need of volunteers to help them greet people, hand out flyers, whatever.

Their usual donor information number is swamped with calls... if you're going to have to travel far to a donor center, try to call ahead using the LOCAL number to see if they're open and if they're accepting donors. Their regular hours are all out of whack right now, the donor center I was camped out at is not open at all, and the hospitals don't really have facilities to handle donors.

Donating blood is really not painful or difficult for the vast majority of people. I usually make sure to eat a lot, take vitamins, and drink lots of water for at least a day beforehand if I can -- this helps minimize the impact, if there were a chance of one to start with.

Just, whatever you can do...