So every year we have a blood drive here at work. After all, the red cross main bldg is right across the street from me! Even though I am a big chicken with needles, I know that this is a life saving cause that truly directly affects people. So I have donated for 3 years now. Each year promptly passing out after donation! Once I concked out in the mailroom on the floor, once I made it back down to the room to tell them I didn't feel so good, and last year I made it back to my desk only to be out of conciousness with my eyes glased over passed out in my chair! How embarassing?!
But still, what's a little embarassment for me when I could be saving 2 lives with each donation?! So 3 years ago when I passed out they told me I needed to drink my 8 8oz glasses of water before donation. So 2 years ago I did that, and ate normally, and still passed out. Then they said you need to eat huge meals that day, your 8 8oz glasses of water, and no coffee
before donation. So last year, I did that.....and still passed out! And had to be carried downstairs to a stretcher! Then they said, well, you really need to be way overly hydrated.....so you should: drink 16 8oz glasses of water the day before donation, drink 8 8oz glasses of water the day of donation, no coffee before donation
, and eat a huge breakfast and a huge lunch before donating.
This seems like an awful lot of work for my good intentions! So I am donating on Thurs Sept 21st, tell me oh wise cat ladies (and gents!), am I going to pass out again this year?! If so, I think this may be my last attempt at giving blood. I end up a wreck the whole rest of the day!
