I CAN think of hundreds of excuses not to give blood, writes Emily Bridgewater.

Among the lame excuses is the fact that it might hurt, and quite frankly, like a lot of people, I am petrified of needles.

I am also part of the most 'common' blood group in Britain, O positive, which surely means I am not much use anyway. There must be thousands of donors who gladly part with their O positive blood.

And then there is the all-important time issue. Can I really spare an hour of my precious time?

But recently I cast my fears and excuses aside and plucked up the courage to visit a National Blood Service session at Bromsgrove's Labour Club - a venue which hosts 20 sessions per year.

Butterflies surged in my tummy as I walked through the doors of the Worcester Road club. But when a nurse named Iris greeted me with a soothing voice and beaming smile I immediately felt calmer.

As a first-time donor, I was asked to fill in a form which would assess my general health and ensure I was eligible to give blood. I was then given a comprehensive information pack to sit and read while I waited to be called by a nurse for an informal chat.

All donors who register with the National Blood Service receive a notification of forthcoming sessions, around 16 weeks after they have last given blood.

This letter will also include a registration form so donors can fill it out before a subsequent visit. There is most definitely an emphasis on making this as much of a pain-free experience for donors as possible.

I was then called to see a nurse and, as it was my first time, I was called to a private booth so she could go over the answers I had given on my registration form and check my haemoglobin levels.

A haemoglobin test, consisting of nothing more than a sharp prick to the finger, checks the blood's iron levels and ensures the donor is not anaemic.

Unfortunately, on this rare occasion, the test proved inconclusive and I had to give another blood sample, through my arm, which could be more accurately checked.

Luckily, my iron levels were within the required criteria and I was deemed OK to give blood.

I was nervous again but taking a look around the room I noticed people of all ages, shapes and sizes who had decided to take an hour of their time to help bolster local blood stocks and I felt a lot better.

Upbeat pop music was being played and many of the donors were chatting to the nurses or taking a few moments to reflect.

A short, sharp scratch and before I knew it I was giving blood. The very friendly nurse informed me some of my blood would be tested for HIV, Hepatitis C and B and syphilis. This would ensure the blood was safe to supply to patients.

The rest of my blood, just under a pint of it, was collected in a pouch which would be taken off to boost stocks. I was surprised to learn my blood would be separated and components of it used to help up to five people.

The nurse also informed me that having O positive blood was not so much 'common' as 'popular' and a lot of people need it - more so than the rarer types of blood.

Actually giving blood took about 10 minutes and after a brief rest it was time for a biscuit and a cup of orange squash.

I also had the opportunity to talk to some of the regular donors. All of them said the first time was a bit nerve-racking but when you realise how pain-free the whole experience is, they had been encouraged to come back.

And, with biscuits and company like this, I would most definitely be returning in the future.

For further information on giving blood log on to www.blood.co.uk or call 08457 711 711.