Blood Drive

I went to a blood drive that my school was having today because I haven't been to one for awhile. I thought it wouldn't be to bad since my veins have never been missed and I tend to give the record finish times a run for there money.

Today, things changed.

I went in, found out that since I have never given blood in this district, that I need to be hand lead through the Y/N Q's. This didn't bother me to much, but it was annoying. Then I get through the Q/A part and end up at the lawn chair on stilts. I end up getting the n00b nurse. That wasn't to bad, her supervisor made sure she had my vein and everything. She did miss a few things though, she forgot to take the turnikit off after locating the vein. So while my arm was getting ready to fall off, she started applying the ID stickers to the bags (this took her even longer than normal since she got the draining tubes tangled). Then she notices that my arm is some funny blue color and scolds me because I was to stupid to say anything.

Now, at this point the St. L. People would have mapped my vein with magic marker (or some surgical equivalent). Not Milwaukee, they put a giant X across your arm with the iodine swab, and then smear the center with the same colored swab so that they have some crappy blob site to guide there final sting.

The final thing she missed was my vein. Had one of her supervisors come over and try to "relocate" it. After he found it, she regained control of the needle and made a second jab at it, but to no avail. The blood that came forth was caused by the forming bruise.

Take 2

Another nurse was assigned to stick my other arm (right). She followed all the same procedures except that she labeled the bags BEFORE (small wonders never cease) locating my vein. She got the needle and I started my controlled bleeding. Shortly after she is called to do the booth thing and I'm assigned yet another nurse. This new nurse decides that I'm not flowing fast enough, so she takes it upon herself to dig deeper. After much grief she finally gets a good flow. Finally something goes right.

I finish, get my food, and leave with two butchered arms.

Next time I'm going to fly back to St. Louis and have them do it.