American Red Cross

This was to Presbyterian Church in Newton NC 9/29. As usual my 5:45 appointment turned out to be 6:30. That didn't really bother me, I'm used to a long wait and once they called me up I went through pretty quick. David from Uganda and Darryl from Charlotte were awesome. They were warm caring, informative, knowledgeable so there was no problem. Darryl from Charlotte had to pull off and as soon as my bag filled up another worker was there to finish me up. I didn't catch her name but she was a tiny little girl with a squeaky voice, she was awesome too, Good service out of the three. So my biggest problem is that once I was finished there were no hosts to serve drinks, food etc. If they are going to host a blood drive be there.

I been donating for the last years every month and never had any problem put one time. The regular people who there at the Springfield MA were not there so they had worker from another site helping them that day so I had someone I never seen before call me and start to set me up for my blood and ended up blowing my vein and my arm become swollen and bruised. I was unable to donate that and had to reschedule. After that day I was always try to reschedule when the regular worker their until today when I show up everyone their today were people I never saw before. I decide to try and do my donation and ended up with 3 blow up vein because they were try to go ahead with the platelet donation when I keep telling them their were hurting me. I'm think my days of donating are coming to end. I love doing the donation to help people who need the help but I'm not willing to put my health on the line.

I am sick and couldn't finish the online portion of the class in time nor did I feel good to attend class so I called in, explained this to all 5 agents I was transferred to a 6th person and to make matters worse they refused to reschedule. The class had to be rescheduled and I have to pay again and wait 3-5 business days for the first payment class of fund.

Wish I had checked comments here before giving blood. Hard to schedule & find parking. No one in charge. Very long wait. Tech staff had rock music blaring- couldn't hear to answer questions. Poked both arms, kept moving & adjusting needle AFTER insertion to increase flow. Oww! Bruises. Unprofessional; I'm not willing to risk my health there.

Today I gave what I thought was a power red donation but it happened to fast for the process. I'm not sure it but it probably was just a blood donation only. I have donated the power red several times so I know the extra time it takes. Not very impressed! As a O Negative type maybe I should just say the hell with donating! Donation #W*******378 also I have tried to donate at this location and the Mouse lodge in Manahawkin,NJ were you didn't have the the proper supplies to accept donations! I feel you have poor management and I find it very difficult to participate! It should be EASY! Jonathan Cripps *******739

Tami S. At the Walnut, CA was extremely rude myself and another male donar. She had a bad tone and behavior before we even were allowed ro enter the building. I ended up not being able to donate blood, because she was upset that I mentioned her rudeness to us donors. I guess people will end up not getting my B positive blood after all. Such a sad situation.

Made an appointment for a Red cross blood donation and came early with my husband who's appointment was before mine. They wouldn't let me sign in early and said come 15 min before your appointment. I did exactly that. Then they directed me to do rapid pass check in on my phone. When I was done they put me in line as a walk in! I didn't realize this right away and waited almost an hour seeing people go ahead of me. I even went to the desk and they told me they couldn't do anything about it because the computer system decides who goes next! After seeing another person walk in and go head of me I just walked out. Such disrespect and waste of time. Their loss is my universal donor O- blood. They need to stop whining about blood shortages or get their act together.

We are so impressed by the services of socially instructive and such necessary materials, which are provided and taken into account for the population during the period of difficulties in getting sick on COVID on your website. I am very grateful for the advice received from your specialists and for the purchased medicines. A significant contribution is made by your online platform.

Paid $37 to take the online Adult AED written test then was supposed to take a skills test with the local Red Cross only to find out they don't teach it here any longer. Called Red Cross.org only to find out they won't refund my money because it's passed 48 hrs. What a shame! I would not recommend classes from the Red Cross. Find another program don't use the Red Cross.

I called trying to get help to get to my marine after a motorcycle accident they tell me that they can't help me sorry! But if I was his wife they would get me there I sure hope they don't ever call me for blood or donations cause they can kiss my $#*!!

It doesn't look good by these ratings for such an important and lofty/historic organization important to all of us. Add my name to the list of unhappy would-be donors. Giving in the name of a fallen firefighter, with an appointment and questions answered beforehand with a speedy entry voucher in hand. Nope... 45 minute backup. The nice lady who was clueless about how things operate told me to come back in half an hour. I did and the other lady said I wasn't allowed to leave and come back- and anyway the line was still backed up 45 minutes and no, they weren't staying late to accommodate any of the people who worked their schedule to be there. Don't be angry at her, she said, she's just a volunteer. But so are we! I've given 47 gallons to an important organization that couldn't figure out how to call HQ and get a replacement for someone who hurt their finger bringing equipment in (that was the excuse)
I had always aimed for 50 gallons, not sure I want to go back.

Aug 21 2020 I show up for my 230 appointment at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville Pa and after waiting my time reading and filling out the rapid pass and saying no to conditions I really dont even know what are and answering very personal and in appropriate homophobic questions. I get inside to donate. 3 screening and temperature checks later. I am denied because of a small hardly noticable scratch on my arm. Not a cut or hole. Paper cut is what we are talking about. Why wasnt that in all the fancy questions in the rapid pass. At least i know what a f@#& ing scratch is. I will not donate ever again. And hard working healthy young people need not donate either. Because they apparently dont need the blood that bad if a paper cut is a determining feature to fail a donation. Thanks for wasting my time and putting my health in jeopardy with the Covid at a hospital just to send me away mad over a scratch...

The Red Cross is now, and for decades has been, using disasters to raise money. The organization will only help if there's media coverage.

In 1970 there was an earthquake in the mountains of Peru. I was one of two US Air Force CCT sent into Anta, Peru to turn a road into a landing strip to bring in supplies and take out injured. For the first 16 days the only ones allowed in were relief support folks.

When I was finally relieved after 16 days, I went to my hotel in Lima. I stopped by the bar to get a drink to take up to my room with me. Now, sure, I was pretty dirty and my uniform unkept after 16 days.

There were several men in some sort of uniforms sitting at the bar. One of them told me what a disgusting example of US military I was in my filthy uniform.

I asked who in the world he was and he told me that they were from the Red Cross.

I then asked why they weren't in the mountains helping and I'll always remember the answer;
"We don't go in until the media can"

After I recovered from Covid in late July, I decided to donate my platelets. After determining that the closest facility was in Princeton, NJ, which was 2 hours away, I made the appointment. Overall the experience went fine. Based on that, I made another appointment to return. They called me the night before to confirm and after driving 2 hours in a major rainstorm, I arrive at the facility only to be told that the machine had not been functioning. I did not receive an excuse as to why I had not been notified, nor did I receive an apology. Based on that, I will not be back!
I find it incredible that in this time of such great need, the only group that can perform this service is that incompetent. Very scary!

Just tried to donate blood and am now having to drain my blood in my kitchen sink now. My doctor sent me to Red Cross saying my hemoglobin count was too high which is causing my blood pressure to be a above average. When I went in the told me to get out and go talk to my doctor to try to get my blood pressure lowered because my blood pressure was 2 points over. I told them I did and that's why I'm here, I need to lower my blood count with them per my doctor. They told me to get lost and that maybe if I just sleep one night that maybe my blood cell count will magically drop, so now I'm having to watch youtube videos on how to drain my blood in my sink. Thanks for your help Red Cross

For the past 4 times over the past year and a half, the different phlebotomists have stuck me but have not "found" my vein, so I walk away without being able to donate. Mind you, every time I have my blood drawn at the doctors office, they have no problem finding my vein. In fact, I looked at the phlebotomist at my doctors office and told them about the Red Cross's struggle with my vein and I will never forget the look on her face. She couldn't believe the Red Cross had a hard time with my vein because she said it is very evident and strong in my arm. How can you beg people to donate but be totally inept at your job?

I used to donate to the Red Cross whenever they called and asked. The last year I made a donation by check, I was called the day after I was 1st contacted and asked if I sent the check. I was asked 2 more times during the same short phone call.

The next time I was called I wasn't working so I told them I could not donate. They asked if they sent envelopes and pamphlets if I would distribute them in my neighborhood. I agreed to do that. The pamphlets and envelopes arrived and I discovered I would have to provide the postage for all the envelopes, which I did. I was contacted a few days later and questioned as to whether I put out all the envelopes and then asked to go back to the neighbors that didn't respond and ask them why they didn't. This ended my relationship with the Red Cross and I will not become involved with them again in the future.

Do NOT take any of their online courses. In person only! They are not able to grant me certification in first aid w/o paying and ADDITIONAL $110USD after paying $40 for the online class. Highway robbery! I need this cert for my job and already have such litte $ I am skipping meals. Absolutely disgraceful. Just pay for in person courses via the AHA

The red cross canceled my appointment to give blood tomorrow because I said I would not wear a mask. They dont want the blood of an unvaccinated, no drug using, no alcohol consuming patriot because I wont wear a mask... I guess they dont really need blood then. I mean I figured they would being that there has been so many earthquakes, fires, and storms. But I guess they can only use deoxygenated blood for those victims.

The Red Cross as of today, 12-26-23, I heard on ILTV News (Israel TV News) are REFUSING to provide services to hostages in the Isreal / Hamas war. Please confirm this info yourself then do not donate to them.

I'm not sure I would ever donate blood to ARC again. I had a 3:30 Appointment at the following location. March 25th
Alderwood Clubhouse
******* Baxter Road
Murrieta, CA *******
I took off work early and arrived at 3:40 due to traffic and the guy said they only have a 5 minute grace period and couldn't take me and would need to reschedule. Seriously? This is customer service and caring about people and getting blood to save lives. I took my time off to do a good thing. I had my rapidpass completed that alone would have saved more than the 5 minutes past his deadline that I was. 10 minutes late, not 30. I thought he was joking at first. Don't bother donating to ARC find another place that really cares and appreciates their donors

My house caught fire Thursday 6-15-2023due to my landlords workers working on something with a blow torch! Fire department was very upset because I lost everything my kids bedrooms and belongings included! Red cross came out and gave me a card with $640 which I truly appreciate. I knew me and my girls would need a place to stay so I already planned to pay for a cheap motel. I worked a full-time job plus a part-time job. With CWS in town all motels jacked their prices up so a normal room I would pay $70 for turned into me paying $142 per night so we got 4 nights. I explained this to the red cross and that I actually found a new house just needed a few more days of financial assistance as the lil money I have in my account I will need to move us n try to get beds! They flat out said no more funds! I have heard of them putting people up for weeks so I'm really confused and saddened that they would not help us out a little further until we move into our new house. I am very appreciative of what I did receive but to tell me to take my kids to the Francis house when we weren't homeless before is terrible not to mention the type of people that stay in the Francis house I'm heart broken!

I made an appointment to donate a whole blood at 12:30PM of 12/30/2021 at Hawthorne-Fortitude Mansonic Lodge No. 200 in Ramsey, NJ. I went there 10 minutes earlier. I found nothing was ready to accept bloods. A person who was setting up asked me to wait for 10 minutes. Since I came earlier, I was willing to wait for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I came back and found nothing was ready at all. A person asks me to wait for another 15 minutes. I really think it won't be ready within 15 minutes. Thus, I left. A staff was saying she was not responsible for that. I did not go all the way down to her that nonsense. While American Red Cross states they need more blood donation around this time, the staffs at the donation center do not seem to care the donator's time. Please train staffs at the training center and respect the donor's time. Please remember that we voluntarily come to the donation center to help the sick people.