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View Full Version : So...American Red Cross nearly killed me today.


TangoWedding
05-16-2008, 09:34 PM
We had a blood drive at work today. I'm always one for helping, so I gave. It wasn't my first time, by any means.

Well, everything was going well, the actual giving was over fairly soon. But then the guy drawing my blood turned into a complete moron.

When he clamped the lines and took the bag off, he was supposed to clear the lines into the little vials. Well, he couldn't find the vials...then he couldn't find the little pad things...he was just rummaging all through things, walking around, saying he didn't know where anything was. Well, that whole time he was di*king around, the pressure in my veins was getting really tight. I touched my arm and it felt like a rock. It was highly painful and I was kicking my legs because it felt like my arm was about to explode off.

After he finally got it all together and all the right stuff done, he took the needle out of my arm. I don't watch the inserting or removal of the needle, so I didn't look until he said, "WHOA!!!!" I turned my head and looked to see my arm COVERED in blood....everything was covered in blood. It was gushing out of my arm like I'd been shot.

He kept putting new pads on, but it was just soaking through them in less than a second. At this point, blood was running all into the chair and puddling on the floor. He said, "Good lord, do you normally bleed like this?!" and I said, "UHhhhh...NO!"

At one point, he took the pad off and blood started SQUIRTING into the air...it went all over him, all over me, and all over the floor. I looked later and it'd squirted out about 4 feet! It looked like a crime scene - no kidding.

Other people giving were starting to freak out...I heard one lady whisper "Why is she bleeding like that?!" :rofl: (She was about to give, too. Hahahh! Poor woman.)

Wellllllllll, after about a minute of bleeding all over the place, another man ran over and pulled my tourniquet off.

:bbeek:

He'd forgotten to take my tourniquet off before removing the needle, making all that blood that was pressured into my forearm go wild! Of course, I didn't notice that fact because, um, hi, I was bleeding to death.

After we got that off, it stopped bleeding like that and he was able to kinda clean me up and get me bandaged.

However, THEN the guy, with blood all over himself, started doing his normal routine...grabbing clip boards, picking up clean bags, etc. Uhm...my blood was all over his hands!!! How disgusting! Does he not realize that's a HUGE risk?!


So yeah.

Then later, when I looked at my bruised arm (which hurts so bad now I can't straighten it out), I noticed that I had red marks all over my arm and hand. When he was letting all that pressure build up, he busted a TON of little capillaries all over my arm! I look like I have little mumps on my left arm or something!

My boss (the pharmacist) said I'd probably still have them in 2 weeks for my wedding...plus a big green bruise.

:irked:

I'm gonna get that guy. GAH!

But then I came home to what FH bought me (see other thread) and he made it all better.

:panda:

TangoWedding
05-16-2008, 09:57 PM
I just took off my bandage. Blech! He did a number on me! And this is just day one.

D'oh!



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/zennymountain/Stuff.jpg

smileyone2002
05-16-2008, 10:16 PM
WOW!! While I was reading this my jaw dropped all I can imagine is your blood squirting in the air!! How horrible! That guy could have really hurt you and he sounded like a dumba$$!

Im glad you are ok...hopefully it wont be too noticable on the big day! Im glad you are still alive:D

bichonlvr
05-16-2008, 10:19 PM
Straight out of TV!!! Bummer..I hope it clears up...ice it maybe a ton!!!

Makes me want to run out and give blood :bbconfused: !!!!

cassiopeia
05-16-2008, 10:46 PM
Oh honey!

You are such a story teller. It's not at all funny and I am going to hunt that guy down FOR you but I couldn't help giggling thinking of you telling that story. I agree with the icing, and get some Arnica ointment first thing tomorrow at a health food store if you don't have some already, if you can, it's a MIRACLE on bruises (Adin bruises horribly and is as graceful as me so you can imagine he's always working on something; Arnica is the only thing that has helped). It works best the sooner after injury you apply it but it will speed healing no matter when you do it.

I love you oodles and your arm could be bandaged from fingertip to shoulder and you'd still be the most stunning bride!

WebLady
05-16-2008, 11:23 PM
:bbeek: OMG, what a story!

So did you feel faint or anything after all that?

Nekochanpurr
05-17-2008, 12:52 AM
OMG thats crazy! Where there any kind of 'higher ups' there to notice?! o.o;

Measha
05-17-2008, 03:12 AM
Oooh that would freak me out. I'm ok with wounds, and such...but when it's my own blood and there is a lot of it, I'd have been screaming and/or crying at that idiot! Eeeeek!

Kirby
05-17-2008, 03:55 AM
Oh my!! :bbeek: That is so scary! I would have freaked.

MrsDM
05-17-2008, 10:52 PM
You are soo brave....

I always thought I could never give blood. And after your story (which was well told BTW), I never will.

Enjoy your new chair!

TangoWedding
05-17-2008, 11:25 PM
:bbeek: OMG, what a story!

So did you feel faint or anything after all that?


Not faint, which I was very surprised at. I did stay in the trailer longer than I should have, though, just to make sure I wouldn't pass out. And I drank a whole thing of orange juice before I left. LOL

I was SOOOOO wiped out after that, though...I was so ready to go to sleep. I just wanted to take nap, but I had to get back to work. Hehe!

It was strange though...after I got back, I started craving fruit like crazy. And I NEVER crave fruit. I guess my body was telling me I needed some good stuff in me to replenish!

grapefruit
05-18-2008, 04:54 AM
You are so brave.

I would have flipped out or break down or faint or do something of that sort.

I never give blood. I am terrified of something like that happening so it's good to see that my fears are not unrealistic.

Kudos to you. Hope your arm feels and looks better.

BamaBride
05-18-2008, 07:19 AM
OMG! I almost passed out just reading that, i can't even think about blood. They're always at school and try to get me to donate, last time i was going to b/c my mom is one of the people who get the blood, i remembered i hadn't eaten so i didnt. I'M NEVER CONSIDERING IT AGAIN lol. when i was looking for a job it said all you had to have was a HS diploma or a GED lol no experience necessary!

sidenote: they stuck my mom in a nerve and she had to go to physical therapy b/c she couldnt move her fingers

I just dont trust people, needles, and my veins.....you are a very brave girl! are you ever going to give blood again??

bichonlvr
05-18-2008, 02:57 PM
TWO WEEKS from today...how are you feeling? How is it looking?

TangoWedding
05-18-2008, 05:22 PM
I just dont trust people, needles, and my veins.....you are a very brave girl! are you ever going to give blood again??


Oh yeah...I'll totally give blood again. I've given several times and never had anything remotely like that happen before. It was just a moron behind the wheel this time around. :grinhappy:


And I KNOW!!!!!!! Two weeks! I can't believe it. I'm not nervous anymore like I was a few weeks ago...I'm pretty much 1) excited about the party and seeing friends who I haven't seen in awhile and 2) ready to get this d@mn planning over with and just be married to the man of my dreams!

And the arm looks a little less red...a little more light purple. This is a good thing.

:D

brendalin
05-19-2008, 01:52 PM
OMG! How crazy! What a dumba$$! Glad to hear that you are okay!

mandaj10
05-19-2008, 03:44 PM
You tell it so that it sounds like it came out of a horror story... AHHHH!
The first time I gave blood the broad poked me through the one side of the vein and out the other, then proceded to suck half a pint out of my arm before it went dry. THEN the superior lady comes over and starts jabbing around in my arm trying to get it in where it should be, which was completely unsuccessful. I had a massive bruise and big red spots where the needle was. And they didn't even get to use that blood because it wasn't a full donation. I was P-Oed.

southern*belle*
05-19-2008, 10:30 PM
OMG!! He should be in serious trouble for that!!

I always TRY to give blood, but it never works! Last time I tried, the lady pulled out this MASSIVE needle, and I kept telling her, you have to use little needles (i have super fragile veins) and she kept argueing with me. She was like, I'm a professional, i know how to draw blood! yeah, OK! after the like 10th stab, I was like, did you think I don't know my own veins! she managed to find some small needles, then stuck me AGAIN, and only got enough blood to fill the small test bag first (you know little one that only fills a small circle). Boy was i in a bad mood after that!

I hope your arm heals FAST FAST for your wonderful day! and even if not, you'll still be a beautiful bride!

FFC
05-20-2008, 11:25 AM
Dude.. he does not belong in his job!!! How can he FORGET why your arm was bleeding? What an idiot!

Krimangel
05-20-2008, 11:40 AM
Did you not rip his little pin head off?

You are a better woman than I, I would have so chewed him up and spit him out, all on the simple fact hes a moron, but even more because your wedding is 2 weeks away.

I would have been known as the crazy lady by the time I left that bus.