I learned today that Dr Charles Drew

[Marthe48]

was an African American surgeon and medical researcher. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_R._Drew


One of my best friends donates blood regularly. I don't know much about blood donation and looked. Another person whose R&D saved countless lives, but is little remarked upon. I shared the link with her on fb. I hope I can learn more, not just this month but from now on.

[elleng]

1. I've known this for a long time.

[Marthe48]

3. I got refused several times trying to donate blood

said it was bp meds I took. I read that I should be able to donate, but guess not around here. So I don't know as much about donating blood as I would if I got to do it.

When I was in school, 50+ years ago, I read so many biographies about famous people who advanced medicine and science. But a bio. about Dr. Drew wasn't on the shelves.

[elleng]

5. I don't know WHY I know it; never have donated blood.

[Marthe48]

8. I'm like that

My friend and I were talking about this the other day. She asked me if I ever knew something without remembering how I learned about it. I used to be a lot better read. I'm getting to the point to be grateful for anything I remember. I'm narrowing down my interests, life I guess.

[Leith]

11. I remember how I learned about him

It was from an episode of M*A*S*H.

[elleng]

12. SURE is possible for me, too!!!

[BigmanPigman]

13. So did I.

[ShazzieB]

15. Was it the episode with the racist soldier who was afraid of being transfused with "black" blood?

Just wondered, because it seems like it would fit.

As I recall, Hawkeye decided to teach that guy a lesson. I can't remember how they did I, but they made him think he was getting blood from a black donor and his skin was getting darker as a result.

Not a very appropriate way to promote healing in a wounded soldier, but that dude SO had it coming!

[aggiesal]

23. 18. See my reply #17 n/t

[Maraya1969]

6. They said the same to me but didn't specify which drugs they didn't want.

I've been on a lot in my life.

[No Vested Interest]

7. I take a number of medicines, but have known for a long time that I'm not eligible

to donate because I take an anti-anxiety drug, along with cholesterol, blood thinner, and heart meds.
I am not AA.
I presume many are not eligible, considering all the meds used in USA.

(I knew about Dr. Drew, but I was a librarian and have many off-beat bits of information.)

[aggiesal]

18. See my reply #17 n/t

[No Vested Interest]

22. I believe I knew about Dr. Drew because the public libraries where I worked had biographies of him

displayed, etc. during Black History Month.

I don't care for Mash and the type of humor presented. Never followed the show.
Your point is taken, though.

[oldsoftie]

19. There are LOTS of drug & other restrictions. All mandated by the FDA

Even living in certain countries for a certain amount of time in the 80s

[LoisB]

2. I am very glad you learned that.

[brush]

4. And in keeping with this being Black History Month. There is Lewis Latimer.

Carbon Light Bulb Filament, Invented by Lewis Latimer in 1881.

The light bulb itself was perfected by Thomas Edison, but the innovation used to create longer-lasting light bulbs with a carbon filament came from African American inventor Lewis Latimer.

[Marthe48]

9. Thank you.

Another inventor I didn't hear of before today.

I did learn about George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington in grade school.

[monkeyman1]

10. We learned that in graduate school ! I'm 72 yr's old ! ------- WTF ?

[brer cat]

14. K&R

[jmowreader]

16. The story of his death is not really true

According to a popular myth, Dr. Drew died because the hospital he was taken to refused to treat him.

In truth, the hospital did treat hm - he was well known and liked there - but he had been brought in with unsurvivable injuries from a car crash.

[aggiesal]

17. If you ever watched the TV series M*A*S*H ...

An episode called "Reverse Prejudice" was about a soldier needing an operation and asking the doctors not to give him blood from a black person.
So while under anesthesia, they darkened his skin just a little bit and the staff made innuendos about turning black and maybe he was given the wrong blood.

Then they told him about Dr. Charles Drew. I'll let you watch what happened in this 5 minute snippet from the show.

[Marthe48]

20. Thank you for posting

We watched M*A*S*H* when it was prime time. I think I remember this episode, but don't remember details.

[aggiesal]

21. You're Welcome ...

I used my superpowers for good today!