What’s the deal with donating blood?

Good on you for donating. It's always worthwhile and really helps people. Book an appointment at [www.blood.co.uk](http://www.blood.co.uk) or call 0300 123 23 23 They can help you find the nearest and best session near you - you can either go to a blood centre, donor centre or to a mobile session - like in a church hall. Make sure you've eaten and drunk something first You'll turn up, they will check your details and give you a form - checking if you're on medication, had recent hospital treatment, if you're a needle drug user, and if you've travelled to anywhere high risk etc. They do this to be cautious and not to waste your time and theirs taking an unusable donation - if you're newly back from malarial regions or if you just had a cold. They'll check you've eaten and probably ask for you to drink some water. Then take you into a private area to check your answers and test your iron count - that's the finger prick droplet put in the blue liquid. You don't need to watch and its not very painful and doesn't bleed much. Feel free to explain to the Donor Carer that you're new and nervous and they will treat you very well and carefully. Then they'll take you to the donor chair, check your veins and put the needle in. They're special needles which only flow one way. It hurts like a vaccination injection, but again you don't need to watch and can look away and chatter way - like I do. It's a bit itchy sometimes and there is a plastic tube you can watch the blood in as it goes to the bag if you want - otherwise you can watch TV, look at your phone etc. I know you said that you aren't good with blood - it doesn't look like blood. It's not bright scarlet from when you cut yourself, it's more reddish-brown like coffee or gravy and the packs look like big jelly beans. Other people will be donating around you, but it's easy to ignore them. When the pack has achieved weight - faster than you think, a bell will ring and the Donor Carer will come back, disconnect you and put a plaster on with a little gauze roll to compress it. You can then feel virtuous, and get to pick something from the Trolley of Treats - pack of crisps, chocolate biscuit (Orange Club Bar!) or whatever and have some water. This will replenish your sugars and keep you from fainting. Drink some water and relax for 5 minutes. They might ask you to get off the chair and wait somewhere else, drink your drink, eat your snacks and when you feel rested you can go and get on with your day. They'll advise you against drinking alcohol or strenuous exercise and tell you how long to keep the plaster on. Though I took mine off early with no ill effects. It might ache or bruise but not severely. Then you'll get a text thanking you and telling you where your donation was used - mine made it all the way to Rotherham! They can also tell you your blood type. Some people donate White Blood Cells or Platelets - this is taking the blood out, skimming off the platelets and then putting it back in. You can donate more frequently, but need to have a high iron count and good veins (mine are too crooked!) They usually ask men as periods and pregnancy can complicate frequency of donation. You're doing a great thing and hope it all goes well.