This is me giving once in 2011. I’d already been doing it for YEARS by then.
Today, they called me to ask for my blood again, on account of the fact that I’ll be eligible to do so again starting this Thursday.
I set my appointment for 5 p.m. next Tuesday, May 27 — double red cells, as usual, if my iron is good enough.
And as usual, they asked me that question that always sounds kind of odd — asking me if I could bring a friend.
But not really so odd, when you think of how much blood is needed in this part of the country. We almost never have enough, and have to import from other regions. So the more, the better.
So… for once, I’m asking well ahead of time: Would any of y’all join me in giving, either on Tuesday when I go, or at your convenience.
It’s important. It’s worth doing. Which is why I overcame my “Room 101”-level horror of having blood drawn from my body to become a regular giver, like clockwork.
So join me.
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No thanks.
I use to – but once the lady drawing my blood said she had trouble- and that my arms had some scar tissue from previous times- and it was a problem.
No idea why- but decided them I wouldn’t do it again.
“decided then”
How long does it take?
To give whole blood — the way you’d probably want to go if it’s a first time — can take half an hour to, at the outside, an hour.
Most of that time would be spent in screening — reading various materials and having your BP and temp taken and your blood tested for sufficient iron and answering questions about how long it’s been since the last time you were paid money to have sex (like I’m gonna be able to remember that — “Let’s see; what’s today — Tuesday…?”). The actual blood donation takes much less time. It would take maybe 15 or 20 minutes. I’ve done it myself in just over 5 minutes, by compulsively flexing my fist and making it pump faster. But that’s unusual.
I do the double-red-cells thing, which takes longer. They pump out blood, take out red cells, and pump it back in, with some saline as filler. You do several cycles of this, so it can take close to half an hour. Or at least it seems that long.
And does your inquiring indicate that you might give?
I have my hand poised over the button, ready to cue the “We got one!” clip…
I was going to do a “We got one!” gif, since those seem to be all the rage these days, but I preferred something with sound.
I prefer the old way; it was really odd feeling to have the chilly recirculation going on. But it does give more blood with less hassle (the whole front end process is a drag – maybe if they had a frequent giver bypass line…)
All in all, giving blood is an easy way to help humanity.
In a way, there IS a frequent-giver bypass, although it’s unofficial. The first time, I read the full folder of facts, warnings, instructions and explanations that you’re required to read. Since then, I just skim to see if there are any new pages, and turn it back in. I read so slowly, that saves a lot of time…
It’s really kind of a redundant element, since you have to answer the litany of questions anyway. They let you do that on a computer, and it goes pretty quickly. The only thing to watch out for is not to get in TOO much of a rhythm clicking NO to all the questions, since on a couple of them (such as, Are you feeling well today?) the correct answer is YES.
I would gladly give if they would take it. I mean, I am disqualified because I lived in England in 1980-1! Seriously, people are dying for lack of blood, and they are squeamish about my blood?
Too blue.
Well, I used to give regularly in my twenties and early thirties, after I lived in England but before the Red Cross decided my blood was tainted, but often could not because my hemoglobin was too low. I think my blood must indeed be blue….
Moi aussi, à mon grand regret…
Sorry, that was my blue blood talking.
I mean, I have the same problem if low hemoglobin is the same as low iron. Which I think it is.
I supplement with pills. Which reminds me, I’d best go take one right now, since I’m to give in two hours…
Just took it. That should fool the test into thinking I’m not anemic.
My Dad used to have the opposite problem — too much iron. The cure for which is to give blood…
Too much iron is far worse!
Yup, it is. Iron pills are only somewhat effective, and gave me GI issues…..
Just got a thank-you from the Red Cross for my recent donation, along with a reminder why it’s important:
It’s good to have the encouragement, because I think I’ve been feeling some side effects from my donation.
I’ve been wondering all week why I’ve been tired all day, and why it’s been hard to push myself through my nightly workouts on the elliptical. It just hit me this morning — my blood is somewhat depleted of red cells. That could be it.
Maybe I should have eaten some of that liver and onions that was on the buffet at the Cap City Club this morning…
Absolutely, if you can stomach liver and onions at breakfast….liver has the more bio-available form of iron.
I find it tolerable with plenty of ketchup.
Urp. For breakfast?
I am a fan of liver dumplings with Ketchup, or liver and bacon.
But only chicken livers at breakfast….