OK, this is completely not on topic, but I’ve decided to share it with you all.
Paul and I decided to donate blood to the Red Cross a few months ago. Seemed harmless enough and a really good idea. We rocked up at 11:15 or so and went through the filling in of forms and the interview to see if we were suitable donors. We were, so we joined the queue to donate blood. It was my first time, and Paul's first time since he was 16. They put me up on the bed and jabbed my arm and started to "suk my blud". I seemed fine but for an odd tingling in my feet after a while, but Paul, a few beds over, suddenly had a commotion around him. I heard the word "faint" and thought to myself, oh no.
They ripped his bed back and his feet up into the air, and the needle out of his arm. I peered over towards him, and got told off for staring. I politely explained he was my husband and the man who accused me looked suitably apologetic. They said he was OK though...
I finished my donation 10 minutes after that and they took the needle out and strapped my arm up. I stayed on the bed for another 5 minutes or so before they said I could get up. I went to talk to Paul (still lying on his gurney) and then as I turned to go to the recovery room, my vision went funny and my hearing started to go, and I knew I was starting to faint (having done it before I knew the signs). I turned to stagger back and the nurses grabbed my arm and dragged back to my chair/bed/embalming table and gave me a cold face cloth. I didn't faint in the end (and neither did Paul) but I came real close.
In the end, they wheeled me, bed and all off to a separate little room to rest. Paul came too, but he was feeling a bit better by then. I felt really crappy for quite a while, not quite like throwing up but close. In the end (I guess it was about 1/2 an hour) I was allowed to get up and have a sandwich and a juice box (hmm juice box).
While we were sitting quietly in the cafeteria/recovery room, a girl behind us decided to throw up a little and then keel over. She ended up laying on the floor with her feet on a chair, lucky her. Another guy was being giving a fresh shirt with the nurse saying to him she though it would fit. He mentioned something about loose veins and I thought this was very strange thing to say until he turned around. He had blood sprayed all over him from when the needle had been removed. Not a good look for work after all.
By that time we thought we really should get out of there so we walked slowly back to work, arriving just 3 hours after I left.
What a fun day.
OK, sure this sounds like a horror story but you shouldn’t let it put you off from giving blood. All I’d say is even if you had a big breakfast (like we did) make sure you have a reasonable snack and a sweet drink about an hour before you go.
I haven’t been again, but that’s just because I got a new tattoo which makes me ineligible for 12 months. I don’t know what Paul’s excuse is ^_^
Donate blood and help another person out. In Australia contact the Red Cross. If you know international contacts let me know and I’ll post them here or share your own blood giving stories.
Dean tells us that in Australia blood is used for
- 30% Cancer patients
- 15% Stomach & bowel disease
- 15% Heart patients
- 12% Burns treatment, vaccinations & immune disorders
- 12% Accident patients
- 6% Liver & Kidney patients
- 5% Haemophilia patients
- 5% Expecting mothers & new babies
So get out there and donate!
5 chic comments:
Giving blood is one of the best things anyone can do. I did it for years, every 6 weeks and never had a bad experience, until I ticked the "gay" box. From that moment on I was ineligible to give blood, no matter that I was in a long term monogamous relationship. After 15 years that's 130 times I could have given blood which equates to 390 people that could have been helped! So it's not only important to give blood, but speak up about the discrimination against those who the government deems not suitable because of sexuality. I await the day this changes, then you'll see me there every 6 weeks.
I've never fainted AT the site of blood donation. I do, however, have a tendancy to faint the next morning, usually while in my bathroom getting ready for the day. I have similar signs as you: my hearing starts to go, my vision goes black starting from the periphery and working inward. I've at least gotten to the point I can properly seat myself on the floor before fainting, to avoid whacking my head on the vanity.
I haven't donated in about a year - I really need to get back to a donation center.
Having needles stuck in your arm is always icky, however I do recommend people give blood especially as I can't any more!
New rules have disqualified people who lived in Great Britain for a certain time period, which makes me ineligible (due to threat of Mad Cow Disease).
I really appreciate people giving blood, especially since my wife needed 3 bags of it after the birth of our first child - if that good red stuff hadn't been available then it would have made the whole experience much less enjoyable (not that she liked having that much blood pumped into her anyway).
So please keep giving blood, but do make sure you're blood sugar's up beforehand! ;D
Hey Icy, I found some stats from the Red Cross as to how the blood is used:
30% Cancer patients
15% Stomach & bowel disease
15% Heart patients
12% Burns treatment, vaccinations & immune disorders
12% Accident patients
6% Liver & Kidney patients
5% Haemophilia patients
5% Expecting mothers & new babies
Dean, it is unfair, especially as I think they always test donations for all possible desises. And thanks for the great stats!
Neller, ooh, that doesn't sound fun. A big meal the night before, or a have breakfast in bed first before you get up ^_^
Falkyn, lots of people at work have been caught by the mad cow thing as well and can't donate (I'm not sure if they're really that unhappy about it though). I'm going to convice Paul to donate again.
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