It’s This’n’That Thursday, a blog hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Ruckus the Eskie! Hop along!
Have you saved a life lately? How exactly does one save a life? I’m sure there are plenty of ways to save a life. Rescue a drowning person. CPR. Emergency surgery if you’re a doctor or medical professional. Donate money to a cancer or other medical fund. Stop at an accident scene. Call 911. Inject an epi pen.
I’m not very good at saving lives most days. But about every three months I like to go give blood through the Red Cross. And giving is easy, but not everyone can do it. Can you? Sometimes my iron is too low and they send me home. I wonder if I should acquire a taste for the Jones Beef Liver Taffy, since liver is a great source of iron?
One pint saves three lives. The Red Cross likes my blood, since I’m AB+, a universal recipient. So If I’m in dire need, pretty much any blood will do. Or something like that.
Here’s what it takes to give blood and save a life:
- If you’re a woman, iron may or may not be an issue – a couple of days before giving, start eating raisins, or dark leafy greens, even red meat, to beef up your iron count
- Drink plenty of water before giving so it’s easier to find your veins
- Wear comfortable clothes and a short sleeve shirt
- Know all of your medications you’re currently taking
- BRING YOUR ID – a driver’s license is great, but I just take my donor card
- Don’t look when they stick you with the needle
Here’s what to expect when you arrive:
- You’ll sign in and be asked to see your ID
- You’ll be given a booklet to go over, making sure you’re eligible to give
- The tech will take you in a separate booth to ask the questions you just read
- The tech will take your blood pressure and temperature, check your iron levels with a finger prick, check your pulse
- You’ll lay on a comfy lounge chair with your feet up and the tech will put a cuff on your upper arm, then check for a vein – the cuff is snug and makes the actual stick less painful (the finger stick for the iron test is the worst part)
- The tech will clean the SNOT out of your arm with a swab and probably iodine
- You’ll be asked to squeeze a stress ball of some sort while they stick you – makes the vein stand out and you don’t feel the stick so much
- Takes about 8 to ten minutes for the pint bag to fill, according to the Red Cross site, but yesterday I filled a bag in less than five minutes, making me a WINNER
Y’all, giving blood is one of the safest procedures there is. The techs ask a million and one questions. There’s a book to read before you give. You can’t give if a variety of things apply to you – certain medications, trips out of the country, blood transfusions within a certain time frame, piercings and tattoos in 12 months time. All kinds of things. But plenty of people CAN give.
And there’s juice and cookies!
Okay, true story time. When I was in college, the Red Cross came to campus twice a semester. I was there every time. For the juice and the Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies. I kid you not. I’d walk across hot coals for oatmeal creme pies. And I gave blood for them. OM NOM NOM
Imagine my disappointment when, once I’d done having children and could give again, there were no more Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies. That’s like telling my dogs to do tricks and giving them Milkbones instead of Jones Chicken Taffy. It’s just WRONG.
I give anyway. I love it. You should try it, too. Give blood. Save a life.
Oh! Have you entered yesterday’s giveaway? DO IT NOW! All you need to do is comment on the post. The book I’m giving away was a very good read!
Until I write again …
Flea
