But so the other day, I was trying to draw blood from this guy who had the thickest arm hair I’ve ever seen. I was convinced I’d need a machete instead of a needle! It got me thinking: does hair help cushion the blow, or is it just a funny distraction for all of us? I mean, there’s got to be a joke in there somewhere about the ‘hairy’ situations we face in the field.
It’s funny how we find ourselves wishing for an arm hair guide during those tricky draws! Maybe it’s just another reason for us to invest in extra tiny needles — more like acupuncture than phlebotomy. Got any wild stories about hairy situations that ended up being a good laugh?
I remember a draw where I was definitely cursing the hairy situation! I’d recommend using smaller needles like we always joke about, but don’t underestimate the importance of using a good tourniquet to really help you see the vein… Ever had to transcribe a hairy arm into a funny story for a patient afterward?