How to donate blood for newbies and needle-haters

Background: I’ve been working at the American Red Cross for nine months and 15 days, and during those nine months and 15 days, I’ve adamantly told myself I’m going to give blood. Yet I haven’t because I, like so many others, prefer not to be poked in the arm with a needle. This serious, full-blown, irrational, paranoid fear of needles is exemplified in the two experiences with shots below. 1. The immunization shot. This shot was no big deal, I barely felt a pinch. Afterwards, while my mom was chatting with the nurse, I was trying to get her attention. She kept consistently nudging me away thinking I was trying to interrupt her. No, I was only momentarily taking a pause to conveniently pass out! 2. The wisdom teeth. I was making a big fuss of the whole thing, when the nurse pulled a sneak attack and stuck me with the shot to knock me out. I was so upset and blubbering, “YOU LIAR! YOU LIAR! YOU LIIIaaa…..” as I passed into dreamland. Needless to say, I wasn’t in any particular HURRY to be poked again. But I soon came to the realization that we’re in a pretty serious blood shortfall, man – so I sucked it up and marched myself over to the Red Cross blood donation center (with my friend, Molly Graham, to hold my hand, of course). Let me break the whole top-bloody-notch (pun intended) experience down for you. Prepare: Before you donate, do yourself a favor and visit redcrossblood.org. There’s helpful advice about what to do before, during and after giving bloo...
Source: Red Cross Chat - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Blood donation hydrate needles red cross scared Source Type: news