Im sure that you life flowie juices are well used and liked by the Men and Wemon over seas.
Nope, Blood for the military can only be gotten from military organizations.
Thats part of the problem, we can't get blood from the general toniculation easily. I mean, the VA does drives, and so does the VFW, but not many people attend them. Usually when we need blood overseas, they just call everyone with the needed blood-type to an aid-station ask us questions, take the blood, then take a test-tube which they USUALLY test before giving the blood out. I mean, there was one time after a really bad attack on the IZ that they came by the building I was working in and pulled blood from everyone for immediate use. They just asked the questions WHILE drawing the blood. It pretty much straight into the people who needed it.
But then again, that was a REALLY bad day...
Your story also motivated me to give one of my "needlepoint" stories as my NCO used to call them.
You see, I have been diagnosed with Vaso-vagal Trypanophobia, which basically means I have a "Irrational fear of needles" or something like that. ANYWAY, we had CLS class, which meant we had to Give and receive "Combat IV's" Thats a bit different then a regular IV. It uses a little bit bigger needle and it a LOT more painful. Well, lets start at the beginning:
First day we read the books and learn how to do it: I was fine.
Second day we "practices on dummies" I didn't want to do it, but didn't really have a choice. I eventually succeded and passed the first test.
Third day was generic medical knowledge about other stuff
Fourth and last day was the final test: We had to give and receive an IV.
This is where it gets fun. Because I was paired with a SGT who outranked me he was going to give me the IV first. I went totally pale and the medics checked my bloodpressure (which had actually skyrocketed). At first, it was too dangerous to do it because of the blood-pressure so we waited a bit. Once it was safe, he started getting it ready again, and I re-paled and blood pressure rose again. Well, this time they said to just go ahead and do it. The medic held my arm down, fearful becuase of stories about what happened the day we received vaccinations (story for another time). Well, they put the needle in and my blood shot out of the back of the cathiter (i think it's called?) across the table and onto the flood in a quick spirt. The medic quickly connected the tube from the liquid into the back of the catheter which was now overflowing with my blood and held it up so that it would put fluids in. At this point, I was EXTREMELY woozy and when he released my arm and I looked and saw the needle, well, A combination of my extreme DISLIKE of needles and the phobia kicked in and I was unconcious seconds later.
Next thing I remember is the medic standing next to me waking me. Then, it was my turn to give an IV, which went slightly better (there was no unconciousness) but was equally intresting.
First, they had put a band-aid on the spot on my army they did the shot but it was still bleeding a little (apparently, my high blood pressure was stopping clots from forming??). Well, I started to get his arm ready and got to the point where I had to put the needle in.
Now, one of the WORST things about needles for me is watching them break the skin. I can't even watch it on TV without turning away at least once. Well, I COULDN'T turn away, or I might break the vein or cut his arm open or hurt him. So, while turning pale, I put the needle in and then hooked up the cathiter. During this time, I felt a warm liquid on my arm. I figured I was just sweating or something and ignored it (We were wearing BDU tops at the time, which are long-sleeved) After we were done, I pulled out the needle and put a band-aid on his arm. The medics actually said I had done much better then they expected. Thats when I noticed that my arm had a bloodstain on it where they had given me the IV, we took off the BDU top and saw that the blood hadn't clotted and it had been bleeding, which resulted in a trip to the AID Station and NEARLY a trip to the hospital (Luckily, I recovered enough to FLEE from them)
Later, they told me that the problem was my blood-pressure was high, and since they had put the IV into a Vein, the speed the blood was traveling was pulling the clots away before they could take effect. Needless to say, It was NOT my favorite day...
You know, maybe I'll write a book or memoirs or something about all my crazy experiences in the Army. I could DEFINATLY write a WHOLE LOT just about the funny circumstances where I was injured/bleeding/unconcious...