By CHASITY WEBB
Features Writer
With a deathly fear of needles I have avoided giving blood ever since I turned 17. However, when I checked my e-mail last Monday, Feb. 8, and read that the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center was teaming up with the Red Cross that day to do a blood drive, something told me I had to give blood. So, although I tried to bail out a couple of times, I walked into the Morgan University Center Ballroom C and signed up.

The process was quite simple. In fact, The Red Cross’ Web site (www.redcrossblood.org) breaks it down into four categories:

Step one: “Our staff and volunteers will sign you in and go over basic eligibility and donation information. You will read information about donating blood, and will be asked to show a donor card, driver’s license, or other form(s) of ID.”

First, my signature went on a sign in sheet and you enter the room and take a seat. After waiting for a good little bit, drinking a bottle of water, and being passed by an over anxious person, I was called into a cardboard cubicle.

Step two: “You will answer some questions during a private and confidential interview about your health history and places you have traveled. We will check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level present in a sample of blood.”

Next, I underwent a series of medical examinations. They took my blood pressure and my temperature, pricked my finger and asked me a series of questions including my weight, my age and my address. Next, my “nurse” left the cubicle and left me on the computer to answer questions about my travel history and my sexual history. Once I finished answering the questions, my nurse came back in and made sure that with all my answers, I was still eligible.

Step three: “The actual donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you will be seated comfortably. The process is safe and sterile. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be available if you have any questions. Certain donation types, such as platelets, red cells or plasma, can take up to two hours.”

When everything cleared I was brought back into the main room and told to sit in a chair that could lie back when necessary.

Then, my nurse gathered the materials and sterilizes my arm. She told me when she was going to stick the needle in my arm and that I could look away. Yes, it stings.

The nurse walked away and left my body to do its thing. Obviously, I started to look sick because several of the Red Cross workers kept asking me if I was OK. I obviously wasn’t doing too badly because another student donating next to me asked if it was my first time and when I responded yes, she said, “You are doing really good. I cried my first time.”

Of course when they asked I was perfectly fine but when they turned away and left me alone long enough I went through a plethora of feelings. I started feeling nauseous and then when that passed I began to feel like I was going to pass out. I was sweating profusely.

Soon the feeling passed but I guess the strange coloring hadn’t left yet because they began asking me again if I was all right. By that point, I was. A few minutes later, another nurse came to me and said I was finished.

She took the needle out, bandaged my arm and made me hold it over my head for a few minutes, and gave me a paper to read about what to do afterwards if I had certain symptoms.

Step four: “After donating, you should have a snack and something to drink in the refreshments area. You can leave the site after 10-15 minutes and continue with your normal daily activities. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment knowing that you have helped save lives.”

When I was steady enough to get up, I was welcomed to the snack table and I filled out a survey about my experience.

Needless to say, I did enjoy the experience despite the anxiety and sick feeling. It absolutely made me feel amazing to help a good cause and I definitely understood the blood drives slogan “The Need is Constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.”

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