FIRST PERSON
donations as possible in the time available.
The donation itself was uneventful, but I felt such a sense of satisfaction afterward that I knew I would donate again.
I found out later that my blood probably didn’t help any 9/11 attack victims, given the limited number of survivors. Still, I knew that I had helped someone, somewhere, in a concrete and personal way. Whether that someone was a child with leukemia, a crash victim or a heart patient didn’t matter.
My dad used to give blood regularly. I remember him receiving calls at night, asking him to donate. He always did.
Dad was a quiet guy, never one to talk much about himself or what he did. He led by example. After I felt the satisfaction of my Sept. 12 donation, I understood why he donated.
Yes, the donation process involves a needle and needles make some people uneasy. But there are tricks to easing the process.
A longtime donor once told me to drink a caffeinated beverage (nondiet) before giving blood. The hydration, caffeine and sugar help the body overcome the loss of a pint of fluid. (So I always drink a full-powered Coke before a donation.)
The process begins with registration. You will read some eligibility and donation information and be asked to show a donor card, driver’s license or other form of identification. You will answer several questions about your health history and about places to which you have traveled — information that’s kept confidential.
The staff will check your temperature, pulse and blood pressure; they’ll check your hemoglobin level by taking a drop of blood from a finger. The mini-physical ensures that you are healthy enough to donate.
Then comes the actual donation. A staff member will clean an area of one arm
before using a brand-new sterile needle for the draw.
I have never seen the needle actually being inserted into my arm. I always look away. But you will feel a little pinch.
A regular donation usually takes about 10 minutes. The needle comes out (also something I haven’t seen) after about a pint is collected, and a bandage is placed on your arm.
The Red Cross recommends that donors hang around for about 10 minutes and have a drink and a snack. You are also encouraged to double up on your nonalcoholic liquid intake for the next 24 hours.
You might receive a Red Cross T-shirt or a coupon to a Columbus-area restaurant.
Whether you leave with any swag or not, though, you will certainly walk out with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at having helped someone in need.