I'm not bothered by a little prick! (National Blood Services (NBS))

Member Name: spankygoodtime

Product:	National Blood Services (NBS)
Date:	03/05/02 (280 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can save someone's life

Disadvantages: None

When I was 18 and in my first job, a colleague roped me in to do something that has been part of my routine ever since. This activity causes me little inconvenience to fit it in to my schedule every four months or so, and although I tend to be a bit tired the next day after doing it, I don’t mind. That’s because my blood can be used to help someone in their greatest hour of need, to save their life. So if you are fit and healthy, why don’t you give blood too?

I was asked to attend a brainstorming session a few years back by the National Blood Service, the object of which was to dream up new ideas to encourage more people to donate. I was shocked to learn that only six percent of people, who could give blood, actually do.

Over the years I’ve tried to convince friends and work colleagues to come with me, with not much success. Ok there are some of us who for health reasons cannot donate, and that I accept. But time after time I get the same excuses from fit and healthy people… “I’m afraid of needles”… “It is going to hurt”… “It might be dangerous”. They are talking nonsense, as any blood donor will tell you.

~~ So who can give blood? ~~

Adults between 17 – 60 that are fit and healthy. Regular donors can keep on until they are 70.

~~ What happens when you donate? ~~

 After giving your demographic details, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire detailing amongst other things, your past medical history, present state of health, and where you have travelled in the previous year. For detailed information on issues that may preclude blood donation by an individual, visit the National Blood Service website at http://www.blood.co.uk

 You will then progress to a private area, where your address and date of birth will be asked for the first of many times, and queries or worries thrown up by
your answers to the questionnaire will be discussed. You will then have the iron level in your blood checked via a simple test. A small amount of blood is taken via a prick to the fingertip then dropped into a jar of bluish liquid, if it sinks without stopping you’ve passed. However if your blood does stop for a few rests on its way to the bottom of the jar, all is not lost. A larger sample will be taken from a vein in one of your arms and tested for its iron content on a special machine. If you do fail this second test, then you will be told that you cannot donate on that occasion, due to the fact that giving blood will probably leave you anaemic. I have had this happen to me a few times and it is nothing to worry about, I have been asked back on a later date and my iron levels have been fine.

 You will then probably have to wait for a few minutes before being asked through to the donating area. You will then be told to remove any long sleeved clothing and lie down on a couch. You will then be asked your name, date of birth and address yet again!! The venipuncturist will then attach a pressure cuff to your arm and inflate it, and give you something to squeeze in your hand to facilitate the blood flow when the needle is inserted into your vein. The needle itself is fitted on to the end of a plastic tube leading to a bag in which your blood is collected. Yes it does look big, but there is no more than a few seconds slight discomfort when it is first inserted into the vein. (If you are right handed the venipuncturist will probably take blood from your left arm and vice versa.) You then lie there bored out of your skull, for around five or six minutes while your donation is collected in a plastic bag on a pair of weighing scales.

 Once your donation is finished a pressure dressing is applied to the puncture wound in your arm, and you will be advised on when you can remove it. After a couple of minutes’ re
st you can go and have a cuppa and some biscuits and that’s it.

 You will be told that you cannot participate in any hazardous occupation or drink alcohol for the rest of the day. As a chef I would concur with that, I wouldn’t dare go and do a shift after donating. I am usually very thirsty and hungry after giving blood, and as I said tired the next day.

So as you can see there is nothing to it. If you want to help too, you can call The National Blood Service on 0845 7 711 711, or visit their website. Alternatively if you live in London like me, then you can call at The West End Donor Centre, 26 Margaret Street, London. For information on times of opening or to make an appointment ring 0207 301 6900

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