Exam Info

Are You a Shallow Person?

I hope so.

Because being shallow is the best way to avoid painful blood draws.

There are other things you should do, of course. But the best all-round way of not hurting is to barely enter the skin. Go absolutely no further than you have to.

My 3 step plan:

1. Locate the spot. Look at both arms first.

2. After cleaning and drying the spot, pull the skin back toward you. Make it as tight as you can. Obviously, as tight as you can without hurting them.

3. Instead of going head on into the vein, go very slightly (this is a relative thing, but you'll see what I mean) to the side of the vein. Barely enter. You want this to feel like a pin-prick.

If you have a good spot, you'll easily get the blood, and the person you're examining will marvel that, "Hey, I barely felt that."

They won't complain about you, and they just might even praise you. Agents will love you, and you won't go around all day feeling guilty because people are hurting so bad when they see you.

posted by Jim Huffman @ 3:58 AM