Through Romain Le Bris
Published on
–
“Remember to hydrate yourself well! And don’t come on an empty stomach! »When making an appointment for a blood donation, in particular when it is the first, the employees of the French Blood Establishment insist that the donor is in good shape and does not run out of fluid. Because they withdraw anyway between 450 and 500 ml of our 5 L of blood ! It can cause vagal discomfort, “but it’s really exceptional”.
On the occasion of world blood donor day, this June 14 – birth of Karl Landsteiner, discoverer of blood groups – so I took the plunge to the House of the gift of Pasteur hospital, at Cherbourg (Some). As this is my first donation, I am registered in the donor register, before having to complete a medical questionnaire.
Confidential interview
This questionnaire is then read by Dr Chantal Giguet, responsible for the donation house. The aim is to ensure that the donation “does not harm the health of the donor or that of the recipient”. The questions relate to travel in recent years, family history or sexual activity in recent months. The interview is of course confidential.
A small blood sample, a drop on my middle finger, is then taken in order to know my hemoglobin level and to make sure that I do not have anemia.
Make sure you don’t run out of hemoglobin before giving it to others!
Also note that the vaccine for Covid-19 does not prevent you from being able to donate blood:
The #DonDeSang is possible after an injection of #vaccine anti #Covid19, without any postponement period to be observed. ????
Join us ???? https://t.co/pqa4UQ8b7z#Take the Relay pic.twitter.com/yXb58VvpiD
– French Blood Establishment (@EFS_dondesang) June 15, 2021
“The best nurse in the service”
Everything is OK. I can go to the donation room. Two men donate by apheresis. A longer process, 45 to 90 minutes since it is necessary to separate the components of the blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells).
For my part, I will only have 10 minutes. “The best nurse in the department,” in the sweet words of her colleague, then comes to take charge of me.
“Don’t look at the needle,” she tells me. This one can indeed impress. But I don’t feel anything. I contemplate almost instantly my blood which begins to fill a bag, which rocks on a machine in order to mix the vital liquid well with an anticoagulant. “Otherwise we would give blood clots transfusions!” “
Twenty minutes of rest and restoration
During the operation, it is necessary to perform small physical exercises by moving the ankles, scraping the soles with his toes and breathing deeply, in order to fluidize the circulation of the blood. But the machine beeps, a way for it to ask me to shake myself because the speed is not high enough.
The pocket is finally full. Once a bandage is on, I slowly get up and head for the snack room. Because the nursing staff require you to remain in rest and observation for twenty minutes. You are then offered sandwiches, fruits, desserts and drinks so as not to come back on an empty stomach too quickly.
My blood bag will be scrupulously analyzed. If I fall ill within a fortnight, I must immediately contact l’EFS. Finally, I will be able to receive my donor card and my blood type, which is still unknown today, during my next donation. But this cannot be done before eight weeks and I will not be able to give more than six times in a year.
–
