Blood donation goes high tech

[jethrien]

The blood drive people have new apparatus. Instead of just clipping your bag to the railing, they put it in this little cradle that has tiny robotic arms that tips it back and forth (I guess to keep the blood flowing?) And when it gets heavy enough, the robot thing cheerfully starts cheeping until an attendant comes over and clamps the tube. It's actually ridiculously cute. (The mental image is probably cuter than the actual device. It mostly looks like a robotic swing with a digital display set. But now I'm picturing Pintsize from Questionable Content, rocking the blood cradle back and forth. Wait, no, Pintsize wouldn't be cute, he'd be creepy. Maybe the iPod robot instead. Or Marigold's chibi bot.)

Something must have happened, though - they were far more obsessive about reading you all the directions afterwards and walking you to the table and inspecting your bandage than ever before.

Comments

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Might be. Never seen them before. They were awesome.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Indeed, this is the reason. It's to make the process both quicker and more specific to a given donor while fulling mixing the blood with the anti-coagulants. And donors who bleed fast and otherwise have to beg for attention (like me) don't end up stuck to the machine longer than they have to be.

Personally, I really liked the Y-bag set up even better, where they have one pouch to fill before doing the donation so that they can take the tubes for testing first. That way, when you're done, you're done, and there's no prolonged backed-up feeling in your arm as they fill the test tubes.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I think they did do the tubes first this time, as well. Honestly, I wasn't paying attention. I'm not bothered much by giving blood in theory, and blood itself doesn't squick me, and I don't get faint or anything. But I am slightly weirded out by actually watching my own blood flow out of my arm into a bag. I tend to bring a book and try not too pay too much attention when they're fiddling with the bags. (I never actually watch them stick needles in me, either.)

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

They usually don't let me look when the needle comes near, which is only good at making me more afraid of needles. If I see what they do and how relatively harmless it is, I'm fine. Having to imagine it leads to paranoia and grandiose fears.

But I feel you on not wanting to see the blood flow out. It's the weirdest feeling ever to have your blood be on top of your skin. I guess I don't have to worry about it now that I'm not going to be donating anyway for a while, but still.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

I never look when I'm given a shot or have blood taken. I've had nurses ask me if I'm okay--probably want warning if I'm one of those people who faint on the sight of blood. But I just don't want to tense up. You know how they tell you to relax your muscle before you get a tetanus shot? OMG DON'T TENSE YOUR MUSCLE.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

The part that always feels weirdest is the heat from the tube. It makes my skin feel colder, and feel like the heat from my body is being drained out through my arm.