How to Give Blood

You hear about it all the time, how you can do good things for other people. And while you know there are a number of different options, there is one that will help the most – giving blood. If you’ve been a little worried about giving blood in the past, or you aren’t too keen on needles, here is some advice about how you can give blood without any issues.

Go to a Blood Bank

While you’re probably not going to go to just anyone that’s taking blood from folks, it doesn’t hurt to remind you to go to a professional blood bank. Most counties have one, or you can talk to your doctor about recommending the right blood bank for you and your worried mind. If anything strikes you as being ‘off’ when you arrive at the facility, then look for a new place.

Talk about Your Worries

Once you arrive at the blood bank, it’s a good idea to talk about your worries with the nurse or other staff member. They have experience dealing with people who feel the way that you do, which means they know how to deal with the common issues. Let them know that you’re worried about needles, about pain, etc. Once you let them know, they can respond to you differently and they will help to make things as simple as possible.

Don’t Look at the Bag

If you’re not someone who likes the sight of blood, try to find ways to keep your eyes occupied and away from the bag you’re filling up. Get a magazine, bring a friend, or do something other than dwell upon what makes you upset and even more anxious.

Eat Ahead of Time, Take It Easy

It’s also a good idea to eat the day that you will be giving blood, as having too low of blood sugar can cause you to have a higher likelihood of passing out after you are done. Also, you will want to make sure you haven’t done any extensive exercise previous to heading to the blood bank, and that you disclose all of the medications you might be on when giving blood.

Once you’re done with giving blood, it’s important that you eat a small snack and take it easy for the rest of the day. While your body will be fine without the blood that you have given up, you might feel a little weak, which can be disorienting.

Giving blood is a way to help others get the vital blood cells they need in times of medical crisis. And once you give blood once, you will find that it’s easier every other time to go back. Plus, if you have a rare blood type, you might find that the blood bank wants to see you as often as possible. When you’re helping people at the same time, why not go back? Especially for the cookies.