My Blood Donor Experience

Author's Note: This article was originally published on January 21, 2022.

Earlier this month, one of the churches that I go to was hosting a blood drive, which I eagerly signed up for, even though I had to work later that day. I’m not good at math, but if I’m counting correctly, 2022 will mark 12 years since I started donating, and it’s a decision that I’ve never regretted.

After this recent donation, I’ve been looking back on past donations and felt like sharing my experience as a blood donor in the hopes that it will encourage others to consider donating, specially right now when there is a national blood shortage.

How It All Started

I was near the end of my high school years when I first learned that I could donate blood. I can still remember when a coordinator from United Blood Services (now called Vitalant) came into my U.S. Government class to talk to us about saving three lives three times a year by donating blood.

At this point in my life, I had just given up on the idea of getting into the medical field and studying to become a doctor. I knew I was going to college, but becoming an English major hadn’t crossed my mind yet and this was also before I started working as a food service worker in a nursing home.

My future was still uncertain at this point and I was genuinely lost and confused about what I was going to do with my life. If there was one thing that remained clear to me was that I wanted to help people, which was why I had wanted to become a doctor in the first place.

So when the coordinator emphasized what a difference we’d be making by donating blood, I jumped at the chance and went to the blood drive that they hosted later at the school gymnasium. I don’t remember too much about my first time donating, but it was clearly a positive experience, because from that point on, I would try to go and donate blood whenever I could, whether it was at local libraries, colleges, etc.

It was through donating that I discovered that I was O+, which I’m often told is the most sought after blood, giving me all the more reason to go.

The Downsides to Donating

Over the years, whenever I talk with someone about my experience with donating blood, I sometimes get the occasional person who isn’t willing to donate because they can’t handle the needles, which is understandable, they can be uncomfortable. That being said, I can’t say that I’ve ever felt like I was in any danger or had any bad experiences with needles, to the point that I don’t even look away anymore when they insert it into the vein in my shoulder.

If anything, it actually hurts more when they take off the tape holding the needle in place, since I have a lot of body hair.

Another thing that I think is worth mentioning is that it can sometimes get cold when donating. Once, when they were hosting a blood drive at my college, I got so cold that I needed a blanket and these hot packs to keep me warm.

It also doesn’t help that in most of the places where I’ve donated, the air conditioning was set to cold, so if you would like to donate but can’t handle the cold, I strongly recommend bringing a jacket or a sweater.

The Benefits of Donating

In the end, I can safely say that the benefits of donating blood far outweigh the negatives, which have been few in my case. For starters, there’s the obvious reason: It helps people.

My favorite part after every donation is getting a text a few days later letting me know that my blood has been sent to a hospital that is in critical need of blood. Another benefit to donating are the mini-physicals that are performed when you go and donate.

When I get called in, my blood pressure, vitals, and temperature are taken, along with the level of my hemoglobin, to ensure that it’s safe enough for me to donate. I’ve actually been unable to donate a few times before because my blood pressure was too high, and have found it beneficial to know so that I can bring it up with the doctor when I go for my routine check-ups. After donating, if you have an online account, they will also share your cholesterol levels with you.

Another benefit to donating, at least in my experience, are the rewards you can get. Vitalant uses a point system and rewards donors with points every time they donate.

With these points, I’ve been able to purchase gift cards from their store. They also give away free tickets to shows here on the Las Vegas Strip or vouchers for free food from certain restaurants, although I’ve never been able to use them.

Plus, there’s always the free snacks you can get when you go and donate. I personally try not to eat sweets anymore, but I always help myself to their chocolate chip cookies!

So, if you’re the sort of person who needs an incentive to donate, organizations such as Vitalant have got that covered, although for me, donating is a reward in itself.

Final Thoughts

It’s been twelve years since I started donating blood, and it’s been a rewarding experience that I hope can continue for years to come. To anyone reading this who is able to, I strongly encourage you to get out there and donate blood, specially at this time when there is a critical shortage. While I’ll admit that it can be an uncomfortable experience, the benefits more than make up for it.

If you would like to learn more about donating blood, here are some organizations you could check out.

1. https://www.vitalant.org/

2. https://www.redcross.org/

3. https://www.blooddonormonth.org