The ultimate community event, John and Katie donated their plasma to help those who may need it in the future. Katie was donating for an 18th time and John for his 1st.
The dynamic duo registered with their questionnaires dutifully filled in, consuming water as they waited in the waiting area for their names to be called out.
Once summoned, they answered some more health questions. Then, they had their iron levels tested, with what can only be described as a 'stamp like' needle pricking their fingers. This, in turn, drew blood, which was injected into a pipette and placed into a cup of water. The blood floated successfully in water, meaning they qualified for the next stage: the chair.
These were new (according to the nurses), curved, dentist-like chairs with pillows at the bottom part of the chair. Strangely the pillows were loose so you had to hold it onto the chair with you legs. Very new indeed. The donors placed their arm on the arm of the chair. The nurses made sure to inject into donors 'non-writing' arms.
It was time for the needle. John was complimented by his nurse that he had a wonderful blue vein..... on his arm. The arm was swabbed as John relaxed and tried to enter into a sleep-like trance, whilst thinking happy thoughts.
It worked, as the needle (which didn't seem that large, although John wasn't paying too much attention) went in without any trouble.
John and Katie were left in their chairs for a couple of minutes, with the needles left in their arms and their blood flowing from a tube into a bag. They were instructed to ball up the fist on their blood donating arm and open it at regular intervals.
Before long, it was over. Katie and John were bandaged up, like a pair of battle scarred, blood donating warriors. Off they went to the snack area with the other veterans of donating, to consume crisps, biscuits and drink some more fluid.
As they left John and Katie got a picture post donation. John proudly displayed the blood donor guide that he received as a first time donor.
A very worthwhile event indeed. For more information about giving blood, go to : http://www.blood.co.uk/index.asp
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