RaiderNet

Thinking about donating blood? Think it's scary, gross, or even spine-chilling? Well, you're in luck. As someone who has donated blood, I will tell you in detail every step in the process of donating blood. I hope after reading and becoming more aware of what will happen while donating, you will feel more comfortable and donate next time Red Cross comes to G. Ray Bodley or even sooner at another local blood drive.

The first part of the process is the least scary. It involves just signing up. A member of Student Senate was asking around my Economics class and I decided I would put my name down. That was all.

A week later, on the day of the blood drive, I went down to the LGI room five minutes before my scheduled appointment. When I walked into the room there was a table to my right manned by members of Student Senate. I told them my name, age, whether I have given blood before, and that I already had an appointment.

While waiting, I was given a packet to read about donating blood and water to drink. I was then called by one of the members of Red Cross to go back and answer a few questions for them and get my iron levels tested. To get my iron tested, it was just a little prick to the finger. It hurt less than a tiny paper cut. The questions they asked were questions like whether or not I had been out of the country in the last month.

When the questions were all done they took me to one of the beds to donate blood. They wrapped a band on my right arm above the vein and had me squeeze a stress ball to get my blood moving. This part wasn't bad at all and didn't hurt. The guy who took my blood got the needle and bag ready. The needle wasn't very big, maybe two inches. I do have a small fear of needles so I did look away as he inserted the needle, but it just felt like a poke and I didn't really feel the needle for the rest of the time I was donating blood. I personally thought it was cool watching the bag fill up.

It took about 10 minutes to fill the pint-size bag and when I was done the guy who took my blood took out the needle (this just felt like a little pressure) and untied the band around my arm. He put a piece of gauze and tape on my arm as a bandage.

When I was completely done, I went over to the mats to sit down, eat a snack, and have a drink. I was given my free t-shirt and about 20 minutes later I was on my way.

Giving blood is not as scary as it may seem. It's just a pinch and a poke, a few minutes of waiting, and then a tug. It means a lot to a lot of people. Next time Red Cross comes to G. Ray Bodley, please consider that an hour of your time could help save a life.