To the editor:

The other day I was thinking about my recent visit to the RI Blood Center. It might seem surprising, but my thoughts focused on regret and embarrassment. I am approaching 70 and have only donated blood three times, all in the past year. These donations were made not because of a sudden urge to help others, but because of my doctor’s recommendation, after some bloodwork indicated a thickening of my blood (which I took to mean "I could use an oil change”).

I have avoided donating blood in the past due to a perception that it would be an uncomfortable, potentially traumatic, experience. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The most traumatic part of donating blood was the drive over the Washington Bridge. The staff at the RI Blood Center go out of their way to make it easy to donate. Unlike my last doctor appointment or actual oil change, the whole process took less than an hour. The staff are very friendly, professional, appreciative, and focused on the comfort of their donors. Other than the bridge traffic, the RI Blood Center is easy to get to, with its own parking garage. For people concerned with the pain, I have felt more discomfort having bloodwork done for my annual physical. You do not have to be brave to donate blood.

As I sat thinking about the good I could have done if I had been donating blood over the past fifty years, I felt the need to suggest that, for most of us, our reasons not to donate blood probably involve inaccurate perceptions and baseless fears. Don’t be like me. Donating blood is one of the easiest things you can do to make a real, tangible difference in peoples’ lives when they need help the most. 

Also, you get free Oreos and pretzels!

Bob Peterson

Barrington