January is National Blood Donor Month.

Blood needed for medical purposes is always in short supply and many blogs had posts related to this important activity. 

Got Blood?

Donate Blood This Month

Give a Pint

Many people are hesitant to donate blood…the idea of having a needle stuck in your arm is bad enough…then the thought of blood being withdrawn from your body adds to the anxiety.

And if having blood drawn is unpleasant for most adults, imagine how little children feel about it.

But sometimes it is necessary for kids to have this procedure done to them.  Earlier this year, I shared some simple tips to help parents whose children need to have blood drawn.  I thought since it is National Blood Donor Month, it might be helpful to repost those tips.  Who knows, they might help adults make the decision to donate blood this month!

1.     Your attitude is contagious!  If you are tense, your child will get tense as well.

• Be positive!
• Be honest with your child that it might hurt!
• Talk about where or what you are going to be doing when you leave!

2.     Your child could sit on your lap during the blood draw.

3.     You could stand behind him or her and give a shoulder rub during the draw.

4.     You could hold his or her other hand.

5.     You could tell his or her favorite story.

6.     You could leave the room…sometimes older kids would prefer this…it makes them feel grown up.

7.     When it is all over, tell your child that you are proud of him or her…no matter how he or she acted during the draw.

8.     Things NOT to say:

• Don’t say it won’t hurt!
• Don’t say just think of something else!
• Don’t say just act like a big boy or girl!

As a parent, I appreciate how hard it is to see your child being stuck with a needle.  If you have a child who needs to have blood drawn just once in a while for a particular test or on a regular basis because of some ongoing health problems, I hope these suggestions will be helpful.