I SAVED 5 LIFE'S IN ONLY AN HOUR ~ SO CAN YOU

I got a call the other night from the Red Cross asking me if would come in and donate blood. By doing so, I would save 5 life's.

I have O negative blood. It's called the Universal blood because it can be given to any other blood type without causing problems. It's what they give to people in hospitals when they don't have time to type their blood.

I figured why not go and help out. I've donated before and I know it's quick, easy and painless.

Do you donate? If you have never donated because you are a bit scared at what happens I thought I would take you all along to show you how easy it is.

Warning though, if you can't stand the sight of blood then you may want to pass up this post.

I have deep and skinny veins. It's often hard for them to find my veins when I have to have blood taken.

I've learned that it's good to drink a lot of water before you go as it helps to pump up the veins and makes it easier to find them.

So this morning I drank a few glasses of water before I left my house.

I found the location without any problems. Went inside and started the process of donating.

They give you a little package to read which explains who should not donate and why.

Things like being in certain countries, taking certain medications, having certain illnesses and getting a resent tattoo can keep you from being able to donate.

After you read the package and find out you can donate (most people can) you then wait in the waiting room for a nurse to call your name.

Once your name is called the two of you go into a private office when the nurse will ask you a few questions, check your temperature, blood pressure and iron level in your blood.

Then you answer a few more questions on the computer and once everything is done you go into the main room to donate.

The have nice comfortable chairs to sit in.

They will clean your arm, put iodine on you and a blood pressure cuff. You are given a little ball to squeeze every five to ten seconds and then they stick you with a needle and tape it to you.

That's it. Now you just sit and wait until you are finished. You don't feel a thing.

It took me only 7 minutes 41 seconds to fill up my bag.

They finish the paperwork, pack it all up and then it's on it's way to be processed and given to sick or injured people.

You then go over to the table where there are cookies, crackers, juice and water and wait 15 minutes to make sure you don't have any problems.

It's a great excuse to "have" to eat cookies.

My nurse got a bit carried away with my bandage. She used red self stick tape and wrapped it in a large X for "Red Cross" and then she put a little bit of green self stick tape on that she folded into a bow. She said it's to remind me that I have just given the "Gift" of life to others by donating blood at the Red Cross.

So that was it. Easy and fast. I was in and out within an hour.

I hope that anyone who has been scared about giving blood will think about it again now that you know how easy it is.

Other then a little stick you don't feel a thing.

Oh, I also got a coupon for a free chicken dinner and a free T-Shirt as well as the free cookies and juice. Not bad huh?

You can donate blood every 6 weeks. Think about how many people you can help out in a year.