American Red CrossReviews 74

I came in this morning, 9/11, to donate platelets. I hate needles and have a phobia of them but donate anyways. 2 years ago I asked about making donations via a single needle method for platelets because I hate needles, but after just 1 out of 3 donation attempts being successful via the single needle method told them to remove this note from my file because it was obviously not working. Now it seems that every other time I come in to donate platelets between my whole blood donations my file is screwed up and they try doing the single needle method, I'm hooked up to a machine for maybe 20 minutes and then it starts dinging and they tell me there's some kind of "flow" issue with the machine, and that's its the machine's fault. This has happened at multiple machines at the only location I go to and have been on different machines. It is utterly frustrating, disappointing, and heartbreaking to get up the courage to go in and face the needles and have this issue recur every other visit, especially when I have asked REPEATEDLY to have my file updated so that it stops reoccurring. But magically it does and it's a horrible feeling trying to donate with the Red Cross.

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.

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?

We had everything we owned stolen. Apparently not worthy to receive help of any kind, not even a bag of clothes or a bag of food. Their "help" consisted of giving us a handful of phone numbers to call. These phone numbers were outdated and out of service mostly, or completely inappropriate such as a number to cancer survivor place that has nothing to do with anything. I can't believe I ever donated to this bogus charity that cares nothing about individual families and only goes out to high profile natural disasters where they can smile for the cameras for free advertising.

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

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!

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

I've spoken with red cross and a supervisor about help with a fire if you are a single male don't expect the help because they will turn you down and say they gave funds to the landlord without any documentation or form of identification from single males especially if you had a job even if it's been on hold due to the fire you have to pay for everything oh they have a couple resource numbers also the supervisors are rude and nasty I was called back after denial and questioned about a lie he stated I was on someone else case and I asked him did he have and form of ID or social security card on file he stated no the supervisor

The beginning of my experience was good but when the needle went in no blood came out. Another worker had to assist and they put the cap of the needle against the needle with tape. The blood started to flow. After I was done the phlebotomists basically told me to leave, not stay there for the 15 minutes that are recommended. When I got home I kept the wrap on for 6 hrs which was recommended by the worker. When I took it off, blood shot out from my arm. The next day I had a big bruise which lasted 3 weeks. Called the 800# got little help from nurse. Will never go back here.

My interviewer decided to interrupt me in the middle of my credentials endlessly. How does one do a background check if you can't be patient to listen to my background. I have many qualifications and examples of my work ethic, and I'm even a homeowner at 18. Yet, as I was giving an example of having a communications degree to tell her how I used that in a situation at work, she Interrupted me telling me that it wasn't relevant information. This happened multiple times. She was not professional or speaking clearly. I find it interesting that you are picky when hiring, yet that is your candidacy leader. When I told her I was enrolled in a college just as background information, she argued with my the same facts I had repeated to her three times. This was one of the worst interviewers I've had yet, just based off of the fact that she basically threatened me with not giving me the job opportunity when I told her that I wasn't going to be able to go to the college she thought I was going to. I had to explain three times that if it's not online I can't go.
Her questions were similar to, "how would you leave state while working when we need you for every other weekend." That is paraphrased, but like I said before, she was not able to effectively communicate with me so I ended the call without any questions and told her that I had transportation and was willing to drug test and get my CDL at 18.

I wish I had looked further into Red Cross before I donated. When I donated, they told me the finger prick would hurt more. Didn't even feel the prick, but the needle draw was 8 minutes of pain. I almost gave up because it was so bad and I started crying. When they put it in, I told them it stung, so they moved it around and it hurt more. Then 8 minutes of pain as I broke out into a sweat, felt extremely nauseous, and my whole body was struck with pins and needles. When it was done, I sat there for about 10 minutes as my entire body was numb. Worst experience ever. While I really like to donate, this first experience is keeping me from doing so. I hope Red Cross tries to get better trained phlebotomists, as the one I got was just a trainee, and left after about 3 minutes for their lunch break.

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.

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

This is one organization I will never give money to or recommend. I've called 3 times and can't even get a call back and I'm down here where the hurricane hit! They don't care about anyone but themselves and what money they can get people to donate.

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.

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.

The Red Cross wants donated blood but they make it hard
Had to drive 80 miles to find a place to donate
No one will answer the phone out side the 800 Number
I confirmed walk in was acceptable
Made it right when they opened at 11:00 am
No one at the Recpt desk
Walked to back
No a single customer in the place
They tell me I have to wait 45 mins to give blood
Employees are all brain dead and sitting in there thumbs doing nothing

What a joke

When called to schedule a donation, I requested a nearby location. They assigned the catholic church that I had gone to previously. That day I arrived and parked in the church lot. I proceeded to the basement, where they had set up shop on my last visit. There was no one there. I had seen some awning-like tents set up on the lawn in front, so I walked around. NOPE, not there. They pointed across the parking lot, (a distance of the length of a football field?) "See that building facing the road? It's in the farther building, the one back behind that one." I walked back to my car and drove over. There was no one at the check-in desk, so I walked around the partition to get their attention. A lady came over and explained they were only required to wait 5 min, and I had arrived 2 min after that. -so they were packing up and refused to take my blood. I explained that if they had furnished accurate directions, I would not have been late. Made no difference. Due to the incompetancy and inflexibilty of their procedures, I probably won't be back... NPR, Propublica, and Congress had investigated their practices several years ago and found them inept, inefficient, and also misleading in some of their accounting.