Why does the red cross use a 16G needle?

TNH · Aug 31, 2011

bigoso said:
if you are giving RBC's it's a good idea to use a larger gauge so the rbc's are not lysed (sp?) rendering them useless. When blood is transfused in the hospital it is preferable that an 18 g or larger needle is used for this reason

I must have skimmed over your post when I read this thread. Good answer, I hadn't thought of that.

end thread

pumpkinhead · Aug 31, 2011

littlebill said:
Quite an easy answer- they have a number of "reject" phlebotomists trying to find veins(which cannot be missed with a 16) and could not get hired anywhere else where they would make twice the amount$.

HAHAHAAH... when I went in for my last surgery, they missed one in my hand. The Saline solution balloned up in my hand so it looked like a 3 inch tumor. all she could say was, "Is that normal"...NO YOU DUMBASS.

The second tech who came in even said, "how the hell could she miss on you" LOL

KWADZ · Aug 31, 2011

Yea those 16 G are big m-fers remind me of the old preload sustanon for cattle. LOL ouch

musclehead33 · Sep 1, 2011

Massive G said:
It's like a knife going in I agree but 8 minutes later---hematocrit is down 1.5%.

and everyone needs to pay attention to this.i talk to to many peeps that are like whats hemocrit?.keep everything under control best possible.if you juice you need to give blood!!!

maldorf · Sep 1, 2011

xD3A7Hx said:
Seriously! My 18 gauge looks intense, but 16 ga going into my veings? Fuckkkk that!

Ive been doing it once a month and you get used to it. Its really not that bad. Its even more rough for me when I get mine done because they have had to resort to using my forearms now because the veins in my antecubital area (right in front of the biceps) are ruined from all the sticks I got when I was in ICU 2x for 6 days each. The skin in the forearm is a lot thicker and harder to penetrate. They say mine is especially strong and like poking through thick cowhide, yeee haww!