Blood Bank

One of the more interesting parts of my work here is with the blood bank.  In a normal hospital you call down to the blood bank and have blood sent up.  Usually it is either red blood cells or plasma.  Here the crew are the blood donors.  They fill out a medical questionnaire and agree to be a blood donor.  We draw a small sample of blood and run HIV, Hep A, Hep B, and RPR.  If all the tests come back negative the crew are placed on our board as potential blood donors.  Patients are admitted every day.  If the dr thinks that they might need blood the amazing ladies in the lab test the patients blood and match it with crew blood donors to make sure it is a good match.  There is a bunch of science and smart people stuff in there too, but I don't know it.  Here is the good part.  If the patient needs blood the O.R calls to let us know and we call the crew member.  They leave work (or bed if you are laura and just worked night shift) and come to the hospital to donate.  This involves a large needle but we give them oreos and soda after so they don't mind.  The blood then is tested by the smart lab ladies once again and walked into the O.R to be transfused into the patient.  No spinning or separating.  It isn't random donation to who knows where.  You know that when we take your blood it is going to someone who really needs it only a few feet away.  After you donate you can meet the patient and it is an amazing connection when you give someone your blood.  Most of the crew like to donate (except for the needle part) and it is great to always have blood available if needed.  I have some pictures of a few friends donating but they aren't uploading so I'll add them later.