Very aware of blood donation, Marine Cathelot regularly mobilizes to save lives.
What prompted you to donate blood? What were your motivations?
I came across a poster promoting the French Blood Establishment last year. It highlighted the fact that donating blood once could help 3 people. The ratio seems enormous: if we can help 3 people with 1 blood donation, it is important to do so!
I didn’t think about it too much, then one day I came across a collection point. I said to myself: it’s now or never. Sometimes we are a little reluctant to go. Not because we are afraid of the needle or of the gift itself, but because we do not want to wait. The fact of waiting 1 hour to make a donation does not seem an attractive option.
I can understand, between lessons, homework, friends to see … That’s why I think we should not postpone until the next day when we see a place of collection.
“Today I don’t have too much time, I will go tomorrow”. This is the best way to avoid going there the next day. Once it’s done, you feel proud!
Can you explain to us how a blood donation works?
First, we register for the EFS, that’s pretty fast:
-
give his personal information to obtain his donor card for future donations.
-
wait for a doctor to talk to us, to be sure that donating blood is not dangerous for yourself or for others.
-
complete a questionnaire on their lifestyle.
-
the crucial step: the donation. We just have to lie down, and a nurse takes care of everything. At the end of ten minutes, the needle is withdrawn and it is already finished.
-
And finally, the coolest part for those who like to eat well: the snack. It allows you to rest a little after the donation and regain your strength. And there’s something for everyone !
Do you have specific fears or fears? If so, how did you overcome them?
Unlike some, I don’t have a phobia of needles, but I would be lying if I said that the feeling of the prick and the prick is super pleasant.
In fact, it’s slightly bothersome, but not at all painful. And it’s fast! The sample itself does not take long (only about ten minutes to take 430 ml of blood). But if you really don’t like the sensation, so that it goes faster, the nurses advise you to drink a lot of water before taking it: it thins the blood, which makes it possible to take it even faster. And the medical staff are very gentle, understanding, reassuring: they are generally volunteers, so everyone is happy to help, and it shows!
They do not experience the levy as a burden. In fact, the only fear I had was mostly the wait, but in the end, 45 minutes of his time to save lives is not much.
If it had to be done again, would you do it again?
Yes, I know that at the moment it is the Printemps du sang, and that therefore many ephemeral collection places have been created.
As soon as I come across one of them in Lyon, I promised myself: I’m going, and without delaying until the next day!
A big thank you to Marine for her testimony.
–
