interesting, though will see if the technology makes it near me
years ago (40) they took blood from the earlobe, no pain, but harder to stop the bleeding and
if it drips it messes up the shirt.
But that was the days of the harpoon, not the controlled egg piercer they use today
I once had a phlebotomist who was so afraid of hurting me, she needed to actually stick me 4 times
The finger stick is the most painful part so eliminating that would be awesome.
(for late yesterday afternoon)
And a free tshirt today.
13.2 hemoglobin.
Enjoying my nutter butters
(Actually yesterdayā¦ I knew I forgot something! 
)
I assume it may be the same for you there: if you donate platelets between 6/1 and 6/15 you get a pair of red cross flip flops. I am not into completing the ensemble, but you might need this item. I am also willing to give you my red cross umbrella if you need the full set.
Well shucks, Iām eligible again on 6/17!
Ooh wait nvm I see you said platelets. Iāve donated those several times over the years, Iāll look into doing it again soon (and not just for the flip flopsā¦). Since I have O+ blood itās not the best use of my blood, but since you can donate so often I still do it here and there.
I am also O+, so I donate blood rather than platelets. They are constantly asking me to donate platelets too, but Iāve never done that.
+ 
Also reminds me of @Lucy ās husband.
I got an email today that my donation on Tuesday will be finger-prick-free.
My husbandās last donation was finger-prick free. Some nifty new technology with a ring, i gather.
Youāre going to miss out on the Red Cross sunglasses for donating in the first half of July. How will you complete the ensemble?
Trying again tomorrow! Heart rate was 103, needs to be under 100, shouldnāt have scheduled it for right after a lunch a half mile walk away.
They accepted my blood today. Gave in just over 6 minutes, got the good cookies, feeling invincible.
There must be some glitch in the Red Cross system. From last weekās donation, I have received four separate gift card emails, totaling $70:
I declined all of them!
In the chair now. I got the sunglasses. @NerdAlert you can have them to complete the ensemble
@NerdAlert the glasses are Goodr brand. They are red frames with gray polarized lenses. They include stickers so you can customize your glasses with both Red Cross branding and your blood type.
