Public Service Announcement: Blood Donation

Okay, so the Red Cross has many, many problems. But they're more or less the only game in town (though check America's Blood Centers for alternatives).

But, in any event, this announcement is for those of you who've lived in Europe. We used to all be ineligible to donate if we'd lived in Europe pretty much at all! But they changed the rules! Now it's only 3 months in the UK from 80-96, or five years in most of the rest of Europe.

You are not eligible to donate if:
From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK), or

You spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 5 years or more from January 1, 1980, to present, in any combination of country(ies) in Europe, including [most of them].

You are also not eligible to donate if you are pregnant.