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It’s the needles!
By donateblood in donateblood
July 23, 2010

In my personal experience, it’s not that people don’t want to help others… It’s the needles! A fear of needles seems to be a common reason why people are hesitant to donate.

Catherine, an STBTC blood/platelet donor, says she can’t decide what makes her donate so regularly. “It’s a toss up between being able to give something so vital to people in need or simply because of my personal experience of conquering a fear [of needles],” she said.

By talking to many donors and attending several blood drives, I have collected some general tips for our would-be donors out there:

• Distract yourself – bring an MP3 player with your favorite songs or play a game on your phone during your donation. It will help the time pass and before you know it, you may have helped save 3 lives.

• Bring a friend or a loved one to comfort you.

• Just don’t look!

• Talk to others who have conquered their fear, like the Heberleins. Read Kevin Heberlein’s inspirational story here.

• Ask your technician as many questions as you want. You may be able to ease your fear by educating yourself and knowing what to expect.

• Most importantly, stay focused on the lives you could be saving. A patient, maybe 3, will be grateful you overcame your fear.

Did you overcome your fear of needles to help save lives? Share your tips with others by leaving a comment.