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Some people disagree with the idea of a "contract"
since it makes things too formal, or puts things on paper that perhaps shouldn't
be, or even because it sounds idiotic to have a contract done for this type
of situation.
Honestly, I happen to agree.
However.... I live in the USA, a country full
of people who tend to sue anyone or anything at the drop of a hat, and
over things that would have never been an issue if the person had simply
exercised common sense. If you are more levelheaded in choosing your
donor - and not just thinking with your anatomy :) - then this will
likely not be necessary.
For donors you do not know very well, I'd recommend drawing up a contract.
It doesn't have to be complicated, but it does have to say that your donor is
willing to give blood to you through whatever method you put in the contract.
Make sure both your names are mentioned in it, and that you both sign it. This
may not keep you entirely out of trouble, it will prove you did not commit what
is legally considered assault by forcing yourself upon an 'unwilling' donor.
Make a copy of it, keep the original and give the copy to your donor.
If your donor is unwilling to sign a contract, beware! They may be out to get
you in legal trouble, or they may not truly understand what they are getting
into (and probably shouldn't be your donor in the first place, in either case.)
They may also be generally leery of signing a legal document (which is understandable),
if so, take the time to explain what it entails. The wording here is designed
to be in "plain English" rather than lawyer lingo so that it's easier
to read. If the terms used in this version here are confusing, a visit to dictionary.com
should clear them up.
The second paragraph is optional - if you already are dating or married to
the donor in question, it's irrelevant and feel free to delete it.
I am not a lawyer, someone who is can probably come up with a more thorough
wording, but possibly at the expense of clarity. That said, here is a suggested
contract wording - replace the {stuff in wiggly brackets}
with the actual names involved:
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I, {donor's first/middle/last
name}, being of sound mind and body, certify that I am of legal age
and have provided {vampire's first/middle/last name}
with appropriate proof of age. I certify that I am donating blood to {vampire's
first/middle/last name} for the purposes of consumption. Blood will
be drawn by {insert method(s) used here}, applied
to {insert body area(s) here}, and is not intended
to cause permanent damage. I understand that each donation will cause a small
scar that may be visible to other people. I understand that testing will be
necessary to verify I have no contagious blood-borne diseases, and willingly
agree to these tests. The person paying for these tests will be {determine
who will pay for the tests and insert their full name here}.
[This paragraph is optional - if printed and not
needed, cross out and have all people involved initial the change.]
I {Donor's first/middle/last
name} certify that I am not looking for sexual or other intimate relations
with {vampire's first/middle/last name} as a
result of this type of interaction, and will not pressure or force {vampire's
first/middle/last name} to do so. I understand that s/he is within
his/her rights to not see me anymore or any reason and have legal charges
brought against me if I do so.
[End optional paragraph]
Although all precautions will be taken, I understand
infection and serious injury may occur in spite of all precautions and will
not hold {vampire's first/middle/last name} responsible
for any unseen complications.
I, {donor's first/middle/last
name} agree not to press any charges, civil or criminal, against {vampire's
first/middle/last name} in relation to this activity, or events arising
from this activity.
This contract may be ended by either party
at any time by written release.
Signature lines:
___________________________________________
date_________________
{donor's first/middle/last name}
___________________________________________ date_________________
{vampire's first/middle/last name}
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PRESCREEN YOUR DONOR!
Make sure your donor doesn't have contagious blood-borne diseases such as
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, etc. Their doctor can run a barrage of tests, but the
most convenient way is to have your donor donate blood. If there are blood-borne
diseases in the blood, or other problems in the donating process, the donor
will receive a letter or other form of contact from the agency indicating
there's a problem if they are not told on the spot. (In the USA, it's the
Red Cross.) If the agency cannot accept them as a normal blood donor due
to past or present diseases, you shouldn't either. (Not accepting someone
because of sexual orientation apparently does happen in some places, but that,
by itself, is no reason to not accept them as a donor for you.
Check the medication(s) your donor is taking. If you are allergic, or if
any of them can have unpredictable effects on someone who doesn't need them,
you run the risk of having side effects just from the residue in their bloodstream.
If you have severe allergies, such as peanut allergies, consider what your
donor has been eating or drinking as well. You don't want to have to go to
the hospital for allergic reaction care and explain how you ingested the substance
you're allergic to. :) If you do have an allergic reaction, that requires
a trip to the hospital, take an allergy pill before going. You'll probably
have to wait a long time in the waiting room, and it'll reduce the symptoms.
PRE-TREATING
The absolute basics: Washing, preferably with disinfectant soap. Clean everything
that will be used in the process - skin, mouth, hands, and the knives or other
tools you intend to use for bloodletting. Areas to pay particular attention
to are as follows:
Mouth
brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth. Use a toothpaste/mouthwash
that won't have a strong flavor when mixed with blood
Skin/hands
The area being fed from also needs to be cleaned. Wash with antibacterial
soap and water, then wipe with a surface disinfectant such as alcohol.
Those individual alcohol pads are convenient, but have a nasty aftertaste,
especially if you don't let the area dry first - rubbing alcohol will
most likely be the most convenient all-around thing to use. Vodka or other
clear, strong alcohol can be used as well (and will probably taste less
like "chemical crap") if you have it, but I realize this isn't
practical for anyone under the drinking age.
Blades or other tools
Blades should be soap-and-water cleaned, then at least wiped with
alcohol for a quick cleaning. I've heard hydrogen peroxide can be used,
but also I know running a blade through an open flame (candle, lighter,
etc.) will generally kill most germs, and is less obnoxious to the skin.
Additional tip
Antibacterial soap is always clearly marked in the stores. Warehouse-style
shopping clubs tend to have them in bulk packs or very large (I've seen up
to gallon size!) containers fairly conveniently, and relatively cheaply compared
to small packaging. Food service stores may have it as well, but the other
places are easier for the average consumer to find.
DRAWING BLOOD
NOTE: Unless you have an excellent relationship with your donor, have them
cut themselves instead of you doing it. This makes charges of "assault"
much more difficult unless they're amoral enough to lie in court (and if they
are, why are they your donor, hmmm?)
The two easiest methods for anyone without medical training are:
Lancet devices
This is the pen-like device used by diabetics to test blood sugar
levels. These can be purchased from any drugstore, or major discount store
(Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.), and in the USA generally do not require any medical
proof of need. (Outside of the USA your mileage may vary - the recommendation
is to say that you are buying them for someone else if asked.)
Razor blades
These are the simplest to get, but can get messy if you're not
careful. It is recommended that you learn where the major veins and arteries
are in the body so you can avoid those areas. This might be found online
if you know where to look, but your best bet is a medical book that illustrates
them. I've seen them in science discovery type stores as well as normal
bookstores if they're large enough. (A single-owner small bookstore probably
won't have them in stock, but if they deal in new books, might be able to
special order them.) If there's a college/university campus near you that
has a medical school, their bookstore will have medical books of this nature,
as well as books on many many many other medical topics.
The location I personally recommend is the
top of the shoulder, where the palm of your hand would naturally drop if
you put your hand on their shoulder. In my experience, this is fairly safe
and easily hidden under just a T-shirt, provided it's not that close to
the neck, or the T-shirt is see-through. Your donor may have other locations
in mind, as long as they're away from any major arteries or veins and won't
cause other permanent damage, feel free to use them.
AFTERCARE - MINOR CUTS / SIMPLE WOUNDS
Minor cuts and scrapes generally don't require a trip to the emergency room
(and if the advice and recommendations above are followed, emergency room
trips should not be necessary.) Here are some basic guidelines for the care
of simple wounds.
Stop the bleeding
Minor cuts and scrapes will usually stop bleeding on their own.
Make sure the wound is clean so nothing gets trapped inside. If it doesn't
appear to be stopping, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or bandage.
If the blood spurts or continues to flow after 20-30 minutes of pressure,
seek medical attention.
Cover the wound
Exposure to air speeds healing, but bandages can help keep the
wound clean long enough for any necessary scabs to form and help keep bacteria
out. There are various medicated bandages you can use on the wound (Band-Aid
brand has several). There have been studies showing that wounds covered in
antibiotic cream or ointment heal slower, so I don't -personally- recommend
them, but you can use them if you like. Be aware certain ingredients in some
ointments can cause a mild rash in some people - if a rash appears, stop using
the ointment as it's most likely some type of allergic reaction.
Watch for signs of infection
See your doctor if the wound isn’t healing or you notice any
redness, drainage, warmth or swelling. (Don't be afraid to go to the doctor,
but remember, bloodletting is not well accepted and could easily be used against
you if someone wants to ruin your life. Find a good excuse for why you have
a cut in that particular place. Climbing a fence or a tree, working on the
car, cutting something braced on your leg, scratches from your cat or dog
or your friend's cat or dog, etc.)
AFTERCARE - SEVERE BLEEDING
You shouldn't be cutting so deep, but sometimes accidents happen unintentionally.
Here's some advice from the Mayo Clinic:
Have the injured person lie down. If possible, position the person’s
head slightly lower than the trunk or elevate the legs. This position reduces
the risk of fainting by increasing blood flow to the brain. If also possible,
elevate the site of bleeding.
Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Don't remove any objects
pierced into the victim. Don't probe the wound or attempt to clean it at
this point. Your principal concern is to stop the bleeding.
Apply pressure directly on the wound using a sterile bandage, clean cloth
or even a piece of clothing. If nothing else is available, use your hand.
Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops. When it does, bind the wound
tightly with adhesive tape or a bandage. If none is available, use a piece
of clean clothing.
If the bleeding continues and seeps through the gauze or other material
you are holding on the wound, don't remove it. Instead, add more absorbent
material on top of it.
If the bleeding doesn't stop with direct pressure, apply pressure to the
artery delivering blood to the area of the wound. Pressure points of the
arm are on the inside of the arm just above the elbow and just below the
armpit. Pressure points of the leg are just behind the knee and in the groin.
Squeeze the main artery in these areas against the bone. Keep your fingers
flat. With your other hand, continue to exert pressure on the wound itself.
Immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped. Leave the
bandages in place and get the injured person to the emergency room as soon
as possible.
This article is presented as part of an ongoing
effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online
vampire community. As such, the views and attitudes contained in this
article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily
be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update
or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most
importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or
any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - use
your own reasoning and judgment.
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