Evening star., 1941-09-05
Navy's Grid Coach
Says Donating Blood
Is Just Like Resting
Maj. E. E. Larsen Laughs
OFF Idea of Pain in
Adding to Plosmo Store

A steady trickle of blood was
flowing from the arm of Maj. E. E.
Larsen, coach of the Naval Academy
football team.
What does it feel like?" he was
asked.
"I don't even feel it," he replied.
The only thing 1 feel if this rub
ber cuff around my upper arm"
There's no fiuttering of the heart
or anything? No pounding in your
ears?"
Mai. Larsen laughed. Nope, not
even thrill. It's just like might
lie down to rest a few moments" !"
He was on a table in the base
ment of the American Red Cross
Building, where doctors were ex-
tracing a pint of his blood for the
collection being gathered for the
armed forces. Coach Larsen is a
major in the Marine Corps.
Novacaine Injected.
The first step, after Maj. Larsen
removed his coat and lay on the
table, was for DR.. Lloyd Newhouser
to put the rubber blood pressure cuff
around the upper part of the donor S
right arm. This cuff is a long
rubber balloon affair that is pumped
full of air so that it acts as a
tourniquet. A persons blood pres
sure gives the physician an idea on
how fast the blood can be ex-
tracted.
Then DR.. Newhouser rubbed a
little alcohol over a small surface
of the skin at the inner crook of
Coach Larsen'S elbow and inserted
drop of novacaine with a fine
needle.
A moment later, with a quick,
sure movement, the physician in
serted in a vein a larger needle
through which the blood immedi-
ately began to flow.
Did that hurt?" the coach was
asked.
mot even as much as a pin prick" ("
was the reply.
The blood flowed through the
needle and into a rubber tube about
18 inches long that led to the pint
bottle.
Donor Sees No Blood.
The only thing Maj. Larsen could
see was the ceiling of the basement
and the faces of the doctors and
nurse at his side. The receptacle
that was. rapidly filling with the
dark red liquid was held below his
eyes.
I'VE never show them their blood"
said DR.. Newhouser. "Of course,
there's nothing to be afraid of, but
it gives some people funny feeling
to see it."
All Maj. Larsen could smell was
a little alcohol or possibly iodine
that was on a nearby table.
IF you spill a single drop OF
blood, which might be smelled
you've done a bad job," said DR..
Newhouser, adding the mistake is
rarely made.
A few moments later, the physi-
clan Strengthened up. The bottle
was brimful. 1t was all over, ex-
cept Coach Larsen had to continue
lying down for about 10 minutes.
The doctors didn't even put ban
dage on his arm, only a drop OF
iodine.
Maj. Larsen's body will replace
the liquid portion of the blood he
gave within IL hours, and the red
cells within 10 days. For the first
few hours, the doctors advise the
drinking of considerable liquids
water, milk or orange juice.
Strong exercise for the first few
hours is advised against but Coach
Larsen Immediately returned to An
napolis, Nd, with the intention OF
putting his team through work.
out.
The blood given by the coach was
rushed to laboratory for reduction
to plasma form for storing at Army
and Navy centers or on board ships
The Red Cross has been asked to
provide 100000 pints. Washington
already has provided about 1000 OF
its quota of 5000 pintS.
Rear Admiral Ross T. Mcintyre
surgeon general of the Navy and
President Roosevelt's personal ply
sician, supervised the procedure yes
terday. He and Chairman Norman
H. Davis of the Red Cross spoke
over a hookup of the Mutual Broad
casting System during the taking OF
the blood.