Phlebotomy courses prioritize the safety of blood donation patients. For many years, American health experts have been concerned about the risk of AIDS and HIV viruses being transmitted via blood transfusions. It was for this reason that they ultimately banned gay men from donating blood in the 1980s.

In those days, HIV had only recently been discovered, and remained poorly understood. Without any treatment methods, the virus killed thousands. Fear of the disease ran through every level of the healthcare system, from phlebotomy courses to the Mayo Clinic. For doctors and policymakers, the ban made sense at the time. Many countries followed suit.

Now, more than two decades after the ban was passed, lawmakers are beginning to reconsider.

?Today it?s not a question of passing judgment on this [ban], which was made in an era marked by the dramatic development of AIDS and contaminated blood, and in which only safety of the blood was taken into account,? says Marisol Touraine, the current French health minister. ?Yet today no one can deny that this exclusion is seen as the presumption of homosexuals being HIV-positive.?

France recently became the latest country to lift the ban on gay men donating blood. Advances in medicine revealed much more about the nature of HIV than doctors initially knew. Although phlebotomy courses emphasize patient safety as much as ever, many are beginning to accept the idea of homosexual people donating blood. The FDA states that blood donations from gay people are not inherently unsafe.

In countries like France and Australia, the ban on gay men donating has been replaced with a deferral period. After 12 months without a homosexual relationship, men are allowed to donate if they desire to do so. France believes the waiting period to be a necessary precaution against the transmission of disease.

Some countries have a shorter waiting period, but every nation that allows gay men to donate requires them to abstain from sex for a set period before donating. For Americans, the ban remains in place in most states, but many hope it will be lifted soon.

Phlebotomy courses will continue to prepare students to safely draw blood. The FDA is currently reviewing data that it has collected over a yearlong survey. After concluding that the blood of homosexual men posed no great health threat, they ran opinion polls across the country about the issue.

In coming years, Americans of all sexual persuasions may be able to donate blood. Until then, donations remain vital for those involved in accidents. Everyone that is able to donate blood should do so regularly.

Putting Blood Donation Patients at Ease

It is not uncommon for even the biggest, toughest guy in the room to be afraid of needles. Virtually nobody likes to get poked with a sharp needle, and watching blood drain out of the body can make some people feel very uneasy. Helping blood donation patients feel at ease is a necessary skill for phlebotomists.

Although phlebotomy technicians are highly trained through comprehensive phlebotomy classes, making patients feel a little better about blood donation is just as important as the procedural skills themselves. After all, a nervous or anxious patient will have a harder time donating blood than someone who is relaxed.

Making Blood Donation Patients Feel Comfortable

One of the most important lessons learned in phlebotomy classes is how to be calm and confident during a procedure. Simply talk to a patient calmly and assuredly, and the patient will be much more relaxed than if the phlebotomist was acting in a nervous manner.

Another good skill for phlebotomists to know is how to identify patients who may be uncomfortable donating blood. If a person is uncomfortable, a phlebotomist will need to be more patient and comforting than for someone who is unperturbed by needles.

Working With Nervous Patients

A tactic taught in phlebotomy classes in Denver and across America is the three-count. When dealing with someone who is nervous, counting to three can help alleviate apprehension. Instructing patients to take a long, deep breath can also help. Distracting the patient allows the phlebotomist to find a good puncture quickly and more easily.

It is important not to hesitate. The quicker the procedure is done, the less painful it will be for the patient. The three-count and deep breath techniques can also be used during the removal of the needle. Once the procedure is finished, all that is left is to thank the patent and ask if he or she needs any help or has any further questions.

Many people know how important donating blood can be. The blood phlebotomists extract can save lives, help cure the sick and so much more. This being so, many people are willing and ready to donate blood.

However, before you donate, there are same facts that you should know to keep you healthy and help the donating process run smoothly for you and the phlebotomist.

Phlebotomy classes teach their students how to help donors prepare to give blood. Here are some of the tips that are often shared in these classes to help you before, during and after your blood donation.

Before Your Blood Donation:

• Make sure you have enough iron in your diet. Iron rich foods include, but are not limited to, meat, beans and spinach. Also, make sure you eat a healthy meal before you donate.
• Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before you donate.
• Drink an extra 16 oz. of water.
• Make sure you have a valid ID.

During Your Blood Donation:

• If you decided to wear clothes with longs sleeves, make sure the sleeves can be easily rolled above the elbow.
• Let your Phlebotomist know if one arm is better than the other for drawing blood.
• Remember to relax. You can listen to music or read during the donation. If it helps, you can talk to other donors as well.

After Your Blood Donation:

• Avoid alcohol for the next 24 hours.
• Avoid exercise or intense activity for the rest of the day.
• To avoid a rash, clean the area around the bandage with soap and water.