From California to the farthest reaches of America?s East Coast, blood clots claim the lives of 300,000 people every year. As students quickly learn in phlebotomy courses, blood is essential to the human body. When a clot restricts the movement of blood, the health consequences for the victim can be severe. Fortunately, not all blood clot victims die. In fact, the majority of embolisms are eminently preventable.

As with everything in life, knowledge is power. Phlebotomy courses teach students extensively about the human circulatory system, but not everyone has the opportunity to attend such classes. In the absence of professional instruction, take a look at the truth behind some of the more common blood clot myths.

Myth 1. Blood clots only happen to older patients and those with poor health.

Perhaps the most prevalent myth is that blood clots only happen to patients who are older or in ill health. This is simply untrue. Everyone is at risk of embolism, even those who live an active lifestyle and are in their physical prime.

Myth 2. DVT??? What?s that?? It can?t be that serious.

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious and underdiagnosed medical condition resulting from a blood clot that forms in a vein. Blood clots generally originate in the legs. They can be exacerbated by long periods of inactivity. Travellers who regularly make long journeys on cramped airplanes can be at a higher risk of blood clots than those who don?t.

Blood clots deep in the legs (DVT) can be painful and inconvenient, but they don?t typically result in death. If caught early, doctors can treat them with relative ease using blood thinners. Most patients recover fully. Problems arise when an embolism breaks apart and moves from the legs to the lungs. Although phlebotomy courses can help teach ways to prevent blood clots, a resulting pulmonary embolism (PE) can be potentially fatal.

Myth 3. Me? Get DVT? No way!

About 900,000 people are affected by DVT or PE each year in the United States, and up to 100,000 of them die of DVT/PE. DVT can strike anyone and can cause serious illness, disability, and even death. Risk of DVT increases for those having major surgery, for those with cancer or heart or lung disease, for those on birth control pills, and for those with a family history of DVT.

Myth 4. I don?t need a blood thinner! I?m not having a coagulum!

Another common myth is that blood thinners only need to be administered to those currently experiencing a coagulum. Unfortunately, this too is false. If a recovering patient goes off blood thinners too quickly, the clots can remain or even break up further. In fact, new clots can form as a result.

?A patient I just saw this week had a history of blood clots when she was on birth control,? says Dr. Andra James, a professor at Duke University Medical School. ?She had factor V Leiden (a genetic blood clotting disorder), but at eight weeks pregnant, she was not on an anticoagulant (blood thinner). This patient should have had a plan in place. She didn?t,? says James, ?and she had a DVT.?

Myth 5. Blood clots most often occur at home or during travel.

Many people believe that blood clots most often occur at home or while traveling. Students in phlebotomy courses know differently. In fact, blood clots occur more often in hospitals than anywhere else.

Myth 6. I stay active, and am in great shape. I don?t need to worry about DVT.

The truth is, just about anyone can be affected by DVT, no matter age or level of activity. Athletes are actually at increased risk after a recent physical injury, when dehydrated, or are traveling long distances for events.

Myth 7. Birth control pills will give me DVT.

There is definitely a higher chance of blood clots for those on contraceptive meds (this is because of a boost in estrogen), but most women on birth control don?t have any complications. Obese women, those who are older than 40, and those who smoke actually have a higher risk of developing clots. Managing weight, maintaining a healthy diet, and consulting with a physician about birth control medications can be a huge help.

Myth 8. Women are at greater risk of DVT.
Women do have an increased risk of blood clots while on birth control or pregnant, but it is actually men who have greater occurrence of DVT and PE.

Doctors and scientists alike have always been fascinated with blood. The thin red, water-based fluid can easily determine life or death in humans.

How can such a simple concept bare such significance? From the world?s earliest shamans and medicine men to lecturers in modern-day phlebotomy classes, researchers have sought to delve into the mysteries surrounding life?s second-most precious liquid.

In phlebotomy classes around the country, students learn about the biological processes that ultimately result in the creation of blood. For students in places like Van Nuys, Calif., this knowledge finds a direct application in the plasma donation centers and blood drives where they begin their career. The human body is full of fascinating processes?the creation of blood is only one of many.

Most parts of the human body are not capable of regeneration. For instance, it is impossible for people in Van Nuys to grow new spinal tissue. However, other parts of the body do experience regeneration?blood fits into that category. As long as you are alive, your body is producing new blood cells.

As students learn in phlebotomy classes in Van Nuys, blood consists of two primary elements:  plasma and platelets. Plasma is a clear liquid that courses through the veins. It makes up a little more than half of blood?s ingredients. Composed primarily of water and salts, it carries platelets throughout the circulatory system.

Platelets?small, disc-shaped cells?float along in the plasma. Depending on the type of cell, platelets are either responsible for fighting blood-borne pathogens or carrying essential oxygen to the body?s organs. Red blood cells carrying oxygen make up 99 percent of platelets. White blood cells are the larger of the two cells, attacking diseases and keeping the body healthy.

The plasma creation process begins when the body absorbs water through the digestive tract. As opposed to the plasma formation process, platelets are born deep in the body.

On the interior of human bones are composed of bone marrow. Bone marrow stem cells differentiate into all formed elements of blood, including red blood cells. The new red blood cells then make their way into the bloodstream, joining their older brethren. Human bone marrow stem cells create two million red blood cells a second.

Red blood cells, after separating from erythroblasts in the bone marrow, enter into the bloodstream and survive in circulation for about 3-1/2 months, though this lifespan can vary between 70 and 140 days. Different estimations of a cell?s lifespan have ranged from 5 to 200 days.

Interestingly enough, a person?s health has a lot to do with how long his or her red blood cells survive. For example, the red blood cells of patients on dialysis die live significantly shorter lifespans than the cells of healthy persons (only about 70 days, on average). There is still little information regarding the main causes for the significantly shorter lifespan of the red blood cells in less healthy individuals.

Blood cells reach the end of their lifespans in the spleen. Here dead cells are stripped of iron and disintegrated. The body then uses the iron to produce new red blood cells. Phlebotomy classes in Van Nuys and elsewhere help students understand the lifecycle of blood so that they can go on to save lives.

James Harrison, otherwise known as The Man with the Golden Arm, isnt just typical, good-hearted blood donor. Harrison has donated blood weekly for the past sixty years, specifically blood plasma from his right arm. He is famous at phlebotomy schools from Denver to the East Coast. So why is he donating so much blood?

First, Harrisons blood is special. Few individuals from Denver to Australia have Harrisons rare blood. When Harrison was age 14, he had a chest operation for a lung removal and received a thirteen-liter transfusion. Struck by the kindness of the strangers behind this act, and touched by all the people involved to help him, Harrison decided he must reciprocate later in his life. So, he began donating blood weekly when he was 18-years-old. Harrison is one of only about 200 people in Australia (and less than .1 percent of the population worldwide) known to create this antibody.

Individuals enrolled in phlebotomy schools anywhere from Denver to Australia would agree that Harrisons blood is not normal blood. It just so happens that Harrison holds a rare antibody in his blood. Luckily, doctors figured out how to leverage Harrisons rarity and use the antibodies to create Anti-D, an injection which saves lives from rhesus disease by preventing the antibodies in pregnant women with rhesus-negative blood.

Those enrolled in phlebotomy schools learn that rhesus disease occurs when a pregnant womans blood attacks an unborn babys blood cells, which can cause death or brain damage for the baby. More than 17 percent of mothers in Australia are at risk, so its no exaggeration to say that Harrison has helped save a lot of lives.

This occurs when women have rhesus-negative blood and their babies have rhesus positive blood. Because of the opposition, the mother produces antibodies that fight to destroy the babys blood cells because they are seen as foreign and dangerous.

Harrison was one of the first humans to hold the valuable antibody that fights the antibodies of these pregnant women. Australia is still seen as revolutionary for pioneering the science behind
antibodies. In fact, Australia was one of the first countries to discover a blood donor with this antibody, so it was considered quite revolutionary at the time. Phlebotomy schools in metropolises like Denver still learn about this topic.

Harrisons weekly donations are not simply blood donations, they are medication, too. In 1999, Harrison received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his amazing attitude and continuing support of the Blood Service and the Anti-D program. It still remains a mystery as to why Harrison possesses this rare and extraordinary blood type.

In 2007, Harrison criticized plans to open up Australias plasma donation to foreign corporations, claiming that opening up the trade will discourage volunteer donations. This opening of trade came as a result of a review of the countrys free trade agreement with the United States.

Over the course of his giving lifetime, Harrison has donated plasma more than 1,100 times. Interestingly, according to an interview with CNN, Harrison never watches the needle enter his arm. Apparently, he actually hates pain and the sight of blood, which makes him even more of a hero.

In 2018, Harrison, at age 81, retired his golden arm. Harrison is considered a pioneer of the Australian Red Cross Anti-D program, with more than 3 million doses of Anti-D containing Harrisons blood being issued to Australian mothers with a negative blood type since 1967. His generous blood donations have saved over 2.4 million babies lives. He has created an incredible legacy, and he challenges the Australian community at large to top him.

From Denver to LA to the East coast, coming up with a unique Halloween costume that has never been done before always seems to be a challenge. Either someone else has already had the idea or your costume is so arcane that no one really gets who/what you are.

Halloween can be fun for phlebotomists!

But you?re a phlebotomist! Blood is typically a common theme for many Halloween parties, so why not incorporate that into your costume. Below are some phlebotomy-inspired costumes to get your blood going.

Coming up with a costume that no one else has can be extremely difficult. It may seem like each year you and all of Denver are wearing the same thing that you thought was a clever idea. With these phlebotomist-inspired Halloween costume ideas, your favorite night of frights will definitely be much more unique than anyone else?s.

? PhleBATomist

To the Bloodmobile! This one might need some explanation for other Halloween partiers, but hey, Halloween only comes once a year. What could be more fitting for Halloween than bats and blood? Well, a bat that draws blood as its occupation as a phlebotomy specialist, naturally.

For this costume, all you need is a bat costume, scrubs, and some fake blood. You just might win the prize for ?most original costume.?

?I want to draw your blood!?

Vampire Disguised as a Phlebotomist

Imagine a vampire attending phlebotomy classes in order to cause havoc in booming cities like Denver.

To cleverly be a vampire in disguise, start with a pale face, slicked-back hair, pointy teeth, and scrubs. You could even walk around dropping cheesy one-liners like, ?I want to draw your blood.?

? Sexy Phlebotomist

When all else fails, you could go the low-maintenance route and try to make an unforgettable crash at your Halloween party as the ?sexy phlebotomist.?

When it comes to drawing blood, there seems to be a never-ending list of concerns faced by phlebotomists. Tricky veins, screaming children and other not-so-fun issues can make drawing blood feel like a lot more of a hassle than it should be. Of course, finding meaningful employment in the medical field?thanks to one?s training in phlebotomy?makes these issues manageable.

Of course, every phlebotomist must also be prepared to deal with the various questions and concerns that are brought up by those in their care. And often, patients become concerned when bruising occurs around the area where a blood draw took place.

While patients may be somewhat alarmed at the sight of bruising after a blood draw, in most cases, this is far from unusual. ZocDoc explains that bruising generally occurs because ?when a vein is accessed for a blood sample, a small portion of blood may leak into the surrounding skin as the needle is withdrawn.?

ZocDoc also explains that this bruising is more likely to occur when a large-gauge needle is used for the draw, or when a phlebotomist experiences what is often referred to as a ?difficult stick??when multiple pokes are attempted before the blood sample is successfully collected. The NHS notes that damage to the blood vessel or even a lack of applied pressure at the venipuncture site can also contribute to the bruising. Even simple, everyday activities like lifting heavy objects after a blood draw can put pressure on the venipuncture site and dislodge the internal clot formed.

In most cases, the bruising experienced by patients after a blood draw is nothing to be concerned about?much like the minor pain associated with a venipuncture. However, phlebotomists can do their patients a service by explaining the importance of applying pressure to the venipuncture site with a cotton pad after the blood draw (as this helps avoid bruising), and by employing another phlebotomy best practices to ensure that the entire process goes smoothly and is less likely to result in bruising or any other uncomfortable experience.

With time, the familiar blue-black discoloration of the bruise changes to green, then yellowish, and then it eventually fades and disappears. This can take up to two to three weeks if the bruise is large. Note that it is normal for bruises to spread out before fading.

The U.K. National Blood Service also notes that it is common for the bruise to spread or for bruising to occur ?away from the donation area.? This is (once again) typically not a cause for concern, though it is recommended that patients avoid heavy lifting with the bruised arm and possibly apply compression and ice as needed to help the bruised area heal.

Prevent bruising during blood donation:

• Clothes with loose-fitting sleeves are the best choice for donating blood. A tight sleeve can function just like a tourniquet, causing congestion in the vein, and increasing the likelihood of bruising.
• Applying firm pressure to the venipuncture site after donation until the bleeding has stopped will also help. Cover the venipuncture site with a band-aid or taped cotton ball that should be kept on for at least six hours.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects for a few days after donating blood. As mentioned, this can exacerbate any bruising. Gentle movements are recommended while the bruise is healing.
• If bruising has developed, apply ice or a cold pack to the area to help alleviate any pain or discomfort.
• Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen for at least 24 hours. If you still require pain relief, acetaminophen (like Tylenol) is recommended.

Typically, the bruising will go away after a day or two, but in the unlikely event that the pain becomes severe, that the area begins to swell or become inflamed or other unusual symptoms occur, it is best to contact a medical professional immediately. However, such occurrences are quite rare. As many a phlebotomist has already learned, blood draws are a safe and important part of the medical process with minimal risk?even if mild bruising sometimes happens.