Monday
Nov072011
How to Save a Life
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 8:58PM
Not as in the song by the Fray, but an actual, real life way to make a difference in someone's life.
Give Blood.
It's something I had always wanted to do, but never really the found the time. A completely rubbish excuse, I now realise. Then when the opportunity to actually donate came up, I'd conveniently be unable to attend, too nervous, and honestly a little scared to have a needle shoved into me and blood drained out of me.
But of course, it's nothing like that, and is seriously one of the best ways to spend 30 minutes of your day. I successfully gave blood for the second time on Thursday, and just as painlessly (literally and figuratively)as the first time, it was incredibly worthwhile.
For all you nay sayers out there, those who are perhaps like I was, a little scared and nervous, a little worried about what might happen, a little squemish perhaps, I want to tell you about my experiences, and how simple it really is. Some people cannot give blood, for various reasons, but there is no reason, none whatsoever, not to at least try. No matter how old you are, how long you've put it off. Do it. You'll thank me for it.
The blood drive was just down the road from home, a 2 minute drive. I stopped in on my way home from the dentist. All I'd had to do before hand was fill in a little basic health question, which just ensures that you won't make a wasted trip. Very kind of the Red Cross to do that for you really. It's also simple to fill in the form on the day too. Anyway, I hand in the form, grab a glass of water, and take a seat. Out comes my book, and I wait for a maximum of five minutes.
A nurse calls me over, and we have a little chat about my health, making sure I'm feeling well, that everything is in order, and that I'm comfortable with the whole process. Basically, it boils down to "right everything is OK on the form" and "Do you have a cold? No? OK good."
After a quick pin prick of my finger tip, to make sure my iron levels are high enough, I get a huge plaster on a tiny little mark on my finger, and sit down to wait to be called up. Two minutes later, I'm lying back, making myself comfortable on the bed, arm outstretched, ready to donate. You even get to pick which arm you use, in case you need to keep one arm in tip top shape for something afterwards.
A nice informal chat with the nurse, a very chatty one this time, and my arm is cleaned, sterilised (basically a wet wipe), blood pressure taken, and a sharp scratch later, that just feels like a pin prick again really, and my blood is sliding down the tube, ready to give life to someone in the future.
Ok, so this time I had a Donor Carer look after me, and, as she was training, she wasn't as skilled with needle, and had to do a slight rearranging once it was in. No big deal at all. And the first time you donate you get an experienced nurse, who takes extra special care, and talks you through every stage.
Once the needle is in, you just lie back and relax. If you're good like me, you can squeeze out a pint in 5-10 minutes- all you have to do is keep crossing and uncrossing your legs, and squeezing your fist together every now and then. And in no time at all, the needle is out, cotton bud and plaster/bandaid on the minuscule hole in your arm, and you slowly sit up from the bed, the nurse carefully watching to make sure you're not light headed or feeling unwell.
I felt exactly as I did before I gave blood, only there was a slight warming feeling inside me, a natural high, a sense of pride at what I had just done.
After it's all done, you get to sit down and have a drink, a biscuit/cookie, and a little natter with other folks, before you're free to leave whenever you feel like it. All said and done, less than 30 minutes.
30 minutes, to save a life.
A good half an hour well spent I would say, wouldn't you?
Give Blood.
It's something I had always wanted to do, but never really the found the time. A completely rubbish excuse, I now realise. Then when the opportunity to actually donate came up, I'd conveniently be unable to attend, too nervous, and honestly a little scared to have a needle shoved into me and blood drained out of me.
But of course, it's nothing like that, and is seriously one of the best ways to spend 30 minutes of your day. I successfully gave blood for the second time on Thursday, and just as painlessly (literally and figuratively)as the first time, it was incredibly worthwhile.For all you nay sayers out there, those who are perhaps like I was, a little scared and nervous, a little worried about what might happen, a little squemish perhaps, I want to tell you about my experiences, and how simple it really is. Some people cannot give blood, for various reasons, but there is no reason, none whatsoever, not to at least try. No matter how old you are, how long you've put it off. Do it. You'll thank me for it.
The blood drive was just down the road from home, a 2 minute drive. I stopped in on my way home from the dentist. All I'd had to do before hand was fill in a little basic health question, which just ensures that you won't make a wasted trip. Very kind of the Red Cross to do that for you really. It's also simple to fill in the form on the day too. Anyway, I hand in the form, grab a glass of water, and take a seat. Out comes my book, and I wait for a maximum of five minutes.
A nurse calls me over, and we have a little chat about my health, making sure I'm feeling well, that everything is in order, and that I'm comfortable with the whole process. Basically, it boils down to "right everything is OK on the form" and "Do you have a cold? No? OK good."
After a quick pin prick of my finger tip, to make sure my iron levels are high enough, I get a huge plaster on a tiny little mark on my finger, and sit down to wait to be called up. Two minutes later, I'm lying back, making myself comfortable on the bed, arm outstretched, ready to donate. You even get to pick which arm you use, in case you need to keep one arm in tip top shape for something afterwards.
A nice informal chat with the nurse, a very chatty one this time, and my arm is cleaned, sterilised (basically a wet wipe), blood pressure taken, and a sharp scratch later, that just feels like a pin prick again really, and my blood is sliding down the tube, ready to give life to someone in the future.
Ok, so this time I had a Donor Carer look after me, and, as she was training, she wasn't as skilled with needle, and had to do a slight rearranging once it was in. No big deal at all. And the first time you donate you get an experienced nurse, who takes extra special care, and talks you through every stage.
Once the needle is in, you just lie back and relax. If you're good like me, you can squeeze out a pint in 5-10 minutes- all you have to do is keep crossing and uncrossing your legs, and squeezing your fist together every now and then. And in no time at all, the needle is out, cotton bud and plaster/bandaid on the minuscule hole in your arm, and you slowly sit up from the bed, the nurse carefully watching to make sure you're not light headed or feeling unwell.
I felt exactly as I did before I gave blood, only there was a slight warming feeling inside me, a natural high, a sense of pride at what I had just done.
After it's all done, you get to sit down and have a drink, a biscuit/cookie, and a little natter with other folks, before you're free to leave whenever you feel like it. All said and done, less than 30 minutes.
30 minutes, to save a life.
A good half an hour well spent I would say, wouldn't you?
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