Be nice to me...

[magid]

....I gave blood today.
(I know, there are political reasons to be unhappy with the Red Cross, but with a blood drive at work, this was the most convenient option.)

Things that struck me as different this time:

• I asked the nurse about this wording (from the New England Red Cross website, describing who can give):
  

  Tattoo within the last 12 months with clean needles in a licensed establishment in CT, ME, RI, or VT. Tattoos done in MA, NH and NY require a 12 month wait period before donating blood.

  
  Turns out it's due to the states regulating (or not) tattoo places. I hadn't realized that when they became legal in MA they weren't officially regulated.
  
• No one asked me whether I had breakfast. That used to be very important to them.
  
• Being told to breathe in deep then exhale through my mouth when the phlebotomist took the needle out. It worked, too; I didn't notice it going.
  
• There's tons more cross-checking and reconfirming, now even more so with little hand-held things at the donation tables.

Comments

[rethought.livejournal.com]

I really must give blood soon. I keep meaning to, but every time they have a drive at the music hall I'm up to my elbows in writing.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Is there a donation center near you? I find that there's less wait and they tend to have donation chairs that are more comfy than the portable tables.

[rethought.livejournal.com]

I'm flailing to remember the name of the people that do blood in Scotland. (I know where they are. Hmm.)
It is close but they are only open for a few hours on Wednesday and Thursdays in the early evening. By the time I remember it's the day for it, it's past the opening hours.

*sigh*

I was so good about giving in the US.

[magid.livejournal.com]

D'you use any kind of calendar? You could choose whichever Weds/Thurs works best for you in advance and just go.

(And if you don't make it for a bit, don't beat yourself up, 'k? You've got a lot on your plate.)

Also

[magid.livejournal.com]

No stickers!

Re: Also

[fairdice.livejournal.com]

Sometimes they have stickers but don't put them out unless you ask...

(I ask :-)

Re: Also

[magid.livejournal.com]

I didn't think to ask.
*note to self*

This was a fairly low-intensity drive, with no interesting snacks after (hotel ones often have much better food, like fresh fruit and pastries), nor swag (I've gotten T-shirts and such sometimes), though there was the opportunity to put in for a drawing to get Red Sox tickets. I'm not holding my breath :-)