Holiday Gift Idea – Be a Blood Donor this Christmas Season

Still searching for that perfect gift?  Roll up your sleeve. You’ve had it in you all along.

Giving blood is a really simple act that will save lives.   To help out, just click on this link to the American Red Cross Website, enter your zip code, and make an appointment for a time and location that is convenient for you.

I’m actually pretty new to the whole blood giving thing.

I gave blood last week at the Pleasanton Blood Center in Pleasanton, California.  It was only the second time in my life that I had given.  My usual excuse for not giving in the past was that it would tire me out.  Let’s not go overboard beating up Paulano for his lame excuse.  He’s seen the light.

Did it tire me out?  No

Does it hurt?  No.

Does it take a lot of time?  No.

Actually, the whole experience is pretty interesting.  And by definition, the people you meet in the Donation Center are givers, not takers, so the atmosphere has a positive, cheery, pay it forward, good karma feel to it.

One thing that surprised me was that the extensive screening process did not ask any questions about alcohol use.  As I sat in the chair with a needle in my arm, I asked my attendant about this.  Technically, she said, I could actually be drunk and still donate.   They would just filter the blood.  However, she went out of her way to advise against this.  Paulano agrees.  So take a rain check on that holiday beer, and give blood today.

If you are looking for a way to say thanks to a blood donor, a red cross volunteer, a phlebotomist, geneticist, hemotologist, pathologist, nurse, doctor, physician, or physician’s assistant, check out Kyle Designs.  She has gifts for nearly everyone, including many medical and science related professions.