(no subject)
I've discovered that there are certain stories that are very hard to bring up in normal conversation. Since I think this particular story deserves telling I choose to use the medium of livejournal to disseminate it.
On a certain Friday approximately a week and a half ago I headed off to the Red Cross in Perth to donate blood (as I do every 12 weeks when possible). We have a bus organised through work, and generally we have around 10-15 people heading down there when the time comes. (Note, I encourage everyone reading this to donate blood if they can. I'm aware that many people here can't, and many others are highly unlikely to follow my suggestion due to issues regarding needles/blood).
Anyway, after filling in the appropriate questionnaire (to determine any risk factors), and having my iron levels tested (136, which is apparently "good") I went off to actually do the deed. As a brief comic interlude the nurse who was hooking me up managed to put the chair in the wrong position (first time at that particular venue, their usual location had different chairs apparently). This was easily fixed.
The nurse started hooking me up, which for those unfamiliar with the process involves sticking a needle in a vein (usually on the inside of the elbow). This was accomplished quite easily, however the nurse must have failed to adequately tape the tube from the needle to the donation bag in place. As a result, the needle came out of me. Fortunately I'm not squeamish about seeing my own blood, however it was still a little disconcerting. I rapidly got the attention of the nurse (who was taking samples of my blood for testing), and a bandage was fairly quickly applied. However, in the hasty attempt to stem my bleeding, the tube was not sealed, thus my blood quickly exited the tube (since one end was now open) onto the floor. No-one panicked (which was very reassuring), but it must have been an interesting sight for the other donors present.
At this point the nurse asked if I was OK, and if I wanted to continue. I was happy to offer my left arm (which usually takes longer, but no biggie). The nurse eventually decided on a vein (commenting that none of my veins on the left arm were nearly as good), and hooked me up again. Unfortunately his assessment of my vein quality was accurate, and after about a minute it was established that I wasn't bleeding nearly fast enough, and that they were going to have to abort.
I thus left the Red Cross about an hour after I arrived, having bled less than I expected (usual donation is 470mL, I would guess I ended up losing about 50-100mL), but none of it usefully; and with bandages on both arms. Their policy also means that it is another 12 weeks until I can donate again, despite not losing nearly as much as usual.
I realise that this is a fairly strange story to tell while encouraging other people to donate blood, but to be honest it is the first time that anything untoward has happened to me or anyone around me while I've been there, so I'm more than happy to put it down to the 1 time in a hundred or a thousand when something goes wrong.
In work related news, for the next 5 months I will be working on preparing the state of WA for the Duties Bill 2007 (which will be the Duties Act 2008 if/when it becomes law). Mostly it will involve rewriting forms, fact sheets, rulings and other publications. It looks fairly intense (and started on Friday with being handed a copy of said 150 page Bill along with a similar length explanatory memorandum), but I'm looking forward to it (one of the things I wanted to do at work this year was learn Stamp Duty, it appears that in 5 months I will know it rather well).
Anyway, I feel the urge to go to Utopia at some point in the near future. Not for any special reason, just because it's been a while and I like the food. I also feel like organising a poker night at some point (very low stakes). Expressions of interest in either of these things are welcome.
Finally, paperishcup and I will be hosting a Jane Austen video and High Tea day on March 8. More details will follow in due course.
On a certain Friday approximately a week and a half ago I headed off to the Red Cross in Perth to donate blood (as I do every 12 weeks when possible). We have a bus organised through work, and generally we have around 10-15 people heading down there when the time comes. (Note, I encourage everyone reading this to donate blood if they can. I'm aware that many people here can't, and many others are highly unlikely to follow my suggestion due to issues regarding needles/blood).
Anyway, after filling in the appropriate questionnaire (to determine any risk factors), and having my iron levels tested (136, which is apparently "good") I went off to actually do the deed. As a brief comic interlude the nurse who was hooking me up managed to put the chair in the wrong position (first time at that particular venue, their usual location had different chairs apparently). This was easily fixed.
The nurse started hooking me up, which for those unfamiliar with the process involves sticking a needle in a vein (usually on the inside of the elbow). This was accomplished quite easily, however the nurse must have failed to adequately tape the tube from the needle to the donation bag in place. As a result, the needle came out of me. Fortunately I'm not squeamish about seeing my own blood, however it was still a little disconcerting. I rapidly got the attention of the nurse (who was taking samples of my blood for testing), and a bandage was fairly quickly applied. However, in the hasty attempt to stem my bleeding, the tube was not sealed, thus my blood quickly exited the tube (since one end was now open) onto the floor. No-one panicked (which was very reassuring), but it must have been an interesting sight for the other donors present.
At this point the nurse asked if I was OK, and if I wanted to continue. I was happy to offer my left arm (which usually takes longer, but no biggie). The nurse eventually decided on a vein (commenting that none of my veins on the left arm were nearly as good), and hooked me up again. Unfortunately his assessment of my vein quality was accurate, and after about a minute it was established that I wasn't bleeding nearly fast enough, and that they were going to have to abort.
I thus left the Red Cross about an hour after I arrived, having bled less than I expected (usual donation is 470mL, I would guess I ended up losing about 50-100mL), but none of it usefully; and with bandages on both arms. Their policy also means that it is another 12 weeks until I can donate again, despite not losing nearly as much as usual.
I realise that this is a fairly strange story to tell while encouraging other people to donate blood, but to be honest it is the first time that anything untoward has happened to me or anyone around me while I've been there, so I'm more than happy to put it down to the 1 time in a hundred or a thousand when something goes wrong.
In work related news, for the next 5 months I will be working on preparing the state of WA for the Duties Bill 2007 (which will be the Duties Act 2008 if/when it becomes law). Mostly it will involve rewriting forms, fact sheets, rulings and other publications. It looks fairly intense (and started on Friday with being handed a copy of said 150 page Bill along with a similar length explanatory memorandum), but I'm looking forward to it (one of the things I wanted to do at work this year was learn Stamp Duty, it appears that in 5 months I will know it rather well).
Anyway, I feel the urge to go to Utopia at some point in the near future. Not for any special reason, just because it's been a while and I like the food. I also feel like organising a poker night at some point (very low stakes). Expressions of interest in either of these things are welcome.
Finally, paperishcup and I will be hosting a Jane Austen video and High Tea day on March 8. More details will follow in due course.