Something to Add to My To Don't List

I learned a couple of things today.

I enjoy donating blood at blood drives. I also like to joke around. I found that there is at least one time when I shouldn't joke at a blood drive.

Everything had gone smoothly. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) even made it easier by making the pre-donation questions available online.

One small hiccup, which was my fault, was that my heart-rate was 105 when I got there. I had run up four flights of stairs to go donate in the OSU Student Union's Starlight Terrace. A guy needs exercise, right? I had to sit and wait for a few minutes until my heart slowed down to normal.

The first to add to my To Don't List: When going to give blood, don't run up stairs or you'll have to sit, negating the time you thought you'd saved by getting there quickly.

My next opportunity to learn came when the lovely and talented OBI blood taker person was adjusting the rubber hose thingy that connects the big needle in the vein to the bags that catch the blood. You see, I was joking with the OBI people and just as the gal was getting ready to tape the tubing to my arm, I made her giggle. Not only did she giggle, but she jiggled. The needle. Ouch!

The second thing to add to my To Don't List: After they poke you with the needle, don't crack jokes before all the tubing is secured to your arm.

I hope I remember these things in a couple of months when I'm eligible to donate again.

I Gave Blood

   Yesterday I gave blood at a local blood drive being run by the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI).  I try to give as often as I can, although circumstances sometimes delay things.  For instance, the last time I was eligible to give, I was in the midst of fighting a nasty cold, which may have actually been pneumonia.
   Yesterday morning though, I was running an errand (which eventually multiplied into four errands) before heading to Tulsa in the afternoon, when I saw the Blood Mobile sitting in the parking lot of a shopping center in Stillwater.  I kept it in mind as I went about my tasks, and wound up back at the Blood Mobile before heading back home. 
   Nobody seemed to be around, and I never saw any advertising, but being curious, I went inside and found three OBI people waiting for donors.  It was almost noon and I signed in as the third donor of the day.  Less than half an hour later, I was heading home, having donated a pint of blood (I'm A+, by the way) and getting some cookies and Gatorade.
   As usual, it was a pleasant experience.  Many people don't like to donate blood.  I read somewhere that only about 5% of potential donors actually give blood.  I know people have lots of reasons why they don't want to donate, but I blow right past the biggest reasons, because: 

• I'm not afraid of needles.  Yeah, I was as a little kid, until I accepted the fact that doctors and nurses were trying to help me.  The people who draw blood are professionals and very good at what they do.  They also use sterile needles, and they make sure the area is clean and sterile before poking.
• It's not that painful.  I've had sprains, broken bones, jammed fingers, bee stings, mosquito bites, paper cuts, cat scratches, dog scratches, stubbed toes, paper cuts, and many other little injuries that hurt far, far worse and for a longer time than a poke for giving blood.
• I may not have the time at a given moment, but I will make the time when I can.  My donation may be the one that helps save a life.  I hope that if I'm ever in need of blood, somebody else will have donated the type I need at the time. 

   Oh yeah, I also got a T-shirt and a pass for two to the zoo.  That's not the reason I gave blood, though.  I gave because it seemed like the right thing to do.