How to donate blood when you can't stand the sight of it

It's safe to say that hardly anyone likes to see blood, especially their own. The mere thought even makes some people feel faint.

After all, "seeing your own blood generally means you've injured yourself," says Stephan David Küpper, spokesman for the German Red Cross Blood Donor Service.

If you can't stand the sight of blood but would still like to be a blood donor, he suggests trying what psychotherapists call cognitive reframing, which is shifting your mindset to view something in a more positive light.

"You can get clear in your mind that you won't be hurt and will be doing good with your blood donation, since you'll be helping people who are ill or in life-threatening situations," Küpper says. This sometimes helps to reduce the anxiety.

There are some people, however, who react with sheer panic at the sight of blood or medical needles. Their heart races, they break out into a sweat and feel faint - perhaps even to the point of losing consciousness.

"If you have blood phobia [also known as haemophobia], you shouldn't force yourself to donate blood," says Küpper. This advice also applies if a number of your co-workers decide to give blood during the lunch break and group dynamics are in action.

But if you don't get panicky at the sight of blood, and "merely" have a certain aversion to it, there are things you can do to get over your reluctance to be a blood donor.

Tip 1: Put out feelers first

If you're not up for making an appointment and donating a half-litre straight away, you might try putting out feelers first to allay your fears. You could go to a local blood donation drive and simply ask questions like, "How long does it take to draw blood?" or, "What do they do with the drawn blood?"

"This exchange can help you to change your viewpoint," Küpper says.

Tip 2: Don't go alone

You don't have to be unaccompanied when you give blood. It can be easier if you take along your best friend or partner - not only for moral support, but to distract you when the needle is in your arm. "You could talk about a good cinema film, or about your plans for that evening," suggests Küpper.

If you can't find someone with time to accompany you, and you're afraid to be alone, tell the staff on-site. You can chat with them to take your mind off the blood-drawing process.

Tip 3: Eat well, drink plenty of fluids

While some blood tests require that your stomach be empty, a blood donation is different. "Never donate blood on an empty stomach - you definitely should have eaten something that day," says Küpper. Even if your appointment is in the morning, you should at least have had a small breakfast.

It's just as important to drink plenty of fluids beforehand. To be on the safe side, 1.5 litres - ideally water, tea or juice spritzer. "Good hydration is instrumental in keeping your blood circulation stable," Küpper says.

Being well hydrated can even shorten the amount of time it takes to draw the blood to just seven or eight minutes, he says. Normally it takes about 10.

Tip 4: Speak up if you feel unwell

If you think there's no going back once the needle is in your arm, you're wrong. Should you feel unwell or queasy, don't hesitate to say so, Küpper advises. "The donation will then be broken off and your legs elevated so that your blood circulation restabilizes," he explains.

Tip 5: Don't watch the procedure

You may take comfort in knowing that even some veteran blood donors don't watch the needle's insertion and drawing of blood. "To be perfectly honest, I never watch when I'm being punctured," Küpper says.

To distract yourself, look at something else, such as a book that you've brought with you. You could also listen to music or a feel-good podcast over headphones.