Happy new year folks, we made it! As the new year hangovers fade, and resolutions remain intact (for now), I ask the slightly daunting question: “What scares you?!”

If you said something like fear of water, heights or spiders - then you wouldn’t be alone. All featuring in the UK’s most searched phobias of 2020. For me, I have a few: China dolls and their creepy eyes (shudders); Spiders… obviously (YouTube ‘Camel Spiders’ for free nightmares); whilst the other is (gulp) needles!

Yes that’s right, I’m a fully avowed Trypanophobic - so terrified of anything to do with injections or needles! Throw veins into the mix and that’s me fully freaked out (think hiding behind a cushion when any of the above are on TV). With that in mind, giving blood was never on my radar… until recently.

Donate rhymes with great
It was only a few years ago, I learnt by accident a number of my mates were registered blood donors. I guess it’s not something that usually pops up in conversation down the pub, so it was a bit of a surprise when I made the discovery whilst aimlessly scrolling Insta; footy, food, faces… arm-needle-tube-blood!

It was a pic of my mate giving blood. What an amazing thing to do I thought, picking my phone back off the floor. As I double tap the heart icon; reading the comments, I realise another friend had recommended they do it, then see other friends are obviously donors too. Wow, I had no idea!

Feeling slightly guilty of my ignorance; I had no idea of their heroics. This gets the wheels turning as I consider braving it up and registering. I visit blood.co.uk and feel great as I arrange my first donation… now I just need to get past the whole needle thing (cue some sort of confidence building montage).

Let’s do this
A few months pass and the big day arrives. I give myself a pep talk before setting off, armed only with anxiety and some bangers on my iTunes to gee me up (Kenny Loggins - Dangerzone, anyone)…!

The donation centre is at Brighton Race Course, so naturally I imagine crowds betting on who can donate the quickest, and the day ending with a podium finish. No bets are being taken; instead I’m greeted by a nurse who gives us a warm welcome. She takes my details and gives me a leaflet to read, and a massive glass of squash (being well hydrated is a big thumbs up when donating). 

As I sit down in the makeshift waiting area, some crazy sounds take my attention hostage! I peer over the floor, past the pop-up banners and nurses with their dangly watches, they’re coming from an area where the donations are being taken? The inner gamer can’t help but hear anything other than the sound you hear when you collect coins on Super Mario Bros. Weirdly this sets me at ease! 

As I finish reading the leaflet, the nurse calls out my name: “Luis Florez. Is it Lou-ee or Loo-is?”. This is it, don’t get scared now! We head over to a booth, where she asks a few questions before pricking my finger to test a drop of blood for iron levels in a test tube. As the droplet sinks to the bottom, I’m told this is good and the test is passed. We then head over to the seats those sounds were coming from.

As I take my seat, she tilts it back like a La-z-boy recliner in Friends, before putting a bloody pressure thingamajig on my arm. As she squeezes the thingamajig to find a good vein to extract from; I peer away fully expecting some horror movie like pain, instead she tell’s me its done and I’m already starting to give blood… result, all that worrying for nothing! As I start doing the bumcheek exercises (lol) that the nurses leaflet advises to keep circulation flowing… we’re off!

Ten or so minutes pass of fist clenching, bum squeezing and foot twirling! Those Nintendo sounds are back - apparently indicating the bag of blood is almost full! As the nurse removes the tube and patches me up with a plaster, I head to the final part of the session: the goodies table. It’s like a little snack heaven with biscuits, chocolate and crisps on offer to help raise them sugar levels (I opt for Cheddars), and have another drink (Squash, pint of) before bidding farewell.

Mission complete
Walking home, I feel good! It’s only cost me an hour or so of my evening, and will really help someone out there. That winning feeling only grows, when I realise my favourite Pizza joint is on the way home too; 10 minutes later I’ve acquired the biggest pizza known to man (whilst simultaneously starting my own bloody treat tradition).

A few days later I receive a text: ‘Thank you so much for donating. Your donation has now been issued to the Good Hope Hospital, Birmingham. Every donation counts.’ That feel good factor hits me once again, triggering me to I book in my next visit (and a reccy on the latest pizza specials)…!

With almost 5,000 donations required daily, the need for blood never stops. It could be used to help treat victims of accidents, mothers in difficult childbirths, or cancer sufferers to name just a few. Do something amazing, #GiveBlood and help save lives.

Check out the NHS Blood Donation Website, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for further info.

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