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By Naomi Creason, Sentinel Reporter

Last updated: Friday, January 11, 2008 3:10 PM EST

Prodding Ardis Featherman’s arm with her finger, Megan Bettinger looks for that perfect vein n the one that will yield a pint of blood quickly and with little discomfort to the woman in front of her.

It only takes Bettinger a few seconds to find what she’s looking for, and a minute later, she starts getting the needle ready.

This is the moment where many people turn their head, and sometimes the moment that causes potential volunteers to avoid giving blood altogether.

Featherman is used to it. The Wellsville woman knows all too well how the process works, and while this is the first time she’s given blood in a while, the prick is nothing new for her.

“Since I’ve given before years ago, I knew basically what it is about,” Featherman says while squeezing her fist together every so often.

The scene is fairly typical for what usually happens at a blood drive, this particular one located in one of two Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank trailers outside the Capital City Mall’s food court last week to participate in National Blood Donor Month.

There’s no crying, no screaming and no heavily bandaged arms.

Putting a donor at ease and extinguishing rumors is all part of a job for the blood bank’s phlebotomists n the assistants who handle the blood in the donation process.

Trained professionals

Training is key for anyone who takes part in handling blood donations, starting from the people who work the registration table to those in the donation trailer.

Each phlebotomist goes through two levels of training before getting to this stage, according to Sue Billet, who arranges special events for the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.

“Those who apply go to our mobile staff,” Billet says. “They first start out as what we call stationary, which is the part inside [the mall]. They enter information into the computer and take people’s vitals n blood pressure, temperature and pulse.”

The registration process is extremely important to the blood bank, which must determine the blood that is OK to use and those people who should wait in order to give blood. Registration isn’t necessarily a short process, with 30 to 35 questions listed on the form.

Those who have no medical history with certain diseases or heart problems move on to a more personal evaluation with the next level of workers at the blood bank.

“They go over all of the medical information,” says Billet, indicating two small rooms on the bus that are closed off from everyone else. “They clarify any answers and if there is a question of where a person has traveled to, they’ll handle that. They also check the iron count for a donor to make sure they have a high enough level of iron so they’re able to donate. If you’re under that level, you’ll be deferred, but you can try the next day, it’s just a temporary thing.”

If iron levels are satisfactory and travel destinations did not include areas dealing with Malaria or exposure to Mad Cow Disease, the phlebotomists take over the rest of the job.

Simple process

To phlebotomist Bettinger, the process is quite simple. Working at the CPBB for a little over a year, the steps become all too familiar.

“When they’re done being screened, they come out here and we verify who they are,” Bettinger says. “Then we pretty much set up everything n we get the tubes ready, we cover they’re arm with the iodine. It’s really not that complicated.”

Similar to first-time volunteer donors, Bettinger didn’t know what to expect when she accepted the position.

“I went to school for medical assisting and I was applying for a job, and they called me,” she says while lounging on one of the chairs during a break and watching another phlebotomist prep a prospective donor. “I wasn’t sure at first, but I like it now that I’ve been doing it. I was kind of nervous about sticking people all day, every day. But it’s really not that big a deal.”

Brian Mader of Harrisburg agreed. After almost 12 years of donating blood, the donation itself does not intimidate him.

“I’ve just been doing it every two or three months, when I can,” Mader says. “It’s just something I’ve always done. It doesn’t hurt ... too much. A little. I just want to help other people out.”

Similar to other donors Bettinger has seen, Mader wasn’t quite so confident the first time he faced the needle.

“I was scared to death,” Mader says. “I didn’t know how it worked, and I had friends that were just making it a lot worse. I was afraid of the pain, and just the whole not knowing what’s going on.”

Handling the first time donors is something Bettinger is used to.

“You’ll see once you do it, it’s not bad at all,” Bettinger says. “I try to ask other questions about them n like where they work or about their family. It kind of keeps their mind off of what’s going on.”

Fainting and dizziness are common side effects for those who feel anything at all, according to Bettinger.

“It depends on where we are,” Bettinger says. “Blood drives at high schools are more common to have people faint.”

That initial fear has worn off for Mader, and the side effects never were much of an issue for him.

“When you do it over and over again, it becomes routine, and you become more relaxed,” Mader says. “Now I don’t even pay attention to what’s going on.”

Billet plans on having more blood drives soon in honor of National Blood Donor Month and in order to pick up some of the pace after the holiday season.

The restrictions of donating

Being over 17 years old and weighing more than 110 pounds are just two requirements to be able to donate blood. To ensure the blood is usable, there are many more restrictions based on personal medical history and lifestyle.

Allergies

Donors with active allergies are asked to wait until they are symptom-free. Allergy medications are acceptable.

Asthma

OK if asymptomatic. Inhalers and non-steroid oral medications are acceptable.

Blood Pressure

There are no restrictions for blood pressure medication, however, blood pressure must be within the acceptable range when tested before donation.

Cancer

Individuals with a history of melanoma, lymphoma or leukemia cannot donate. Individuals with a history of basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell cancer can do so. Those with a history of other types of cancer will be referred to a hospital.

Diabetes

There is no restriction as long as it is controlled by diet, oral medication or insulin injections.

Piercing/Tattooing

Ear and cartilage piercing is acceptable when done in a sterile environment and there is no sign of infection. If it is done in a non-sterile environment, the donor must wait a year after the piercing. Potential donors who receive body piercing or a tattoo must wait a year before donating, even if the equipment was sterilized.

Heart Attacks/Heart Disease

Anyone who has had a cardiac event will be referred to an area hospital.

Hepatitis

Donors who have had hepatitis after their 11th birthday cannot donate. Donors who have been in close personal contact with someone with hepatitis must wait for one year.

Pregnancy

There is a six-week waiting period after a normal delivery or a C-section. There are no restrictions on nursing mothers.

International Travel

Those who have traveled to an area with the risk of malaria must wait a year after leaving that area before donating blood. Those who have traveled to certain areas in England and northern Europe from the 1980s to 1990s may need to wait as well. Call 1-800-771-0059 for questions on which areas are of concern and for any other questions about restrictions.

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On the Net:

www.cpbb.org