ESL Podcast 846 - Donating Blood

Band-Aid - a bandage; a brand name for a small piece of cotton placed on a sticky piece of tape, used to cover cuts in one's skin to keep them clean and help them heal more quickly

When Nolan was learning how to walk, he fell down a lot, so he always had Band-Aids on his knees.

to donate blood - to give some of one's blood to a hospital or an organization that will clean it and give it to other people who need it for medical reasons

When people donate blood, are they able to find out who used it?

needle - a thin, long tube of metal with a pointed end, used to enter one's blood vessel through the skin to deliver medicine or remove blood

The nurse had to try three times before he was able to get the needle into Kirk's vein.

light-headed - dizzy and/or faint; the feeling that one is not balanced and might fall down and/or lose consciousness

When Alycia started feeling light-headed, she knew she had exercised too hard and she needed to rest and drink some water.

to go through with (something) - to do something that is risky, challenging, or very difficult and requires a lot of courage or commitment

Justina says she wants to buy a house, but she's worried about borrowing so much money. I wonder if she'll actually go through with it.

to draw - to take something away or pull something out; to remove something, especially money from an account or blood from a body

Do you know how to draw out the poison when someone is bitten by a snake?

to faint - to lose consciousness; to fall down and seem to be asleep, unaware of what is happening around oneself, usually when one is very frightened or very hungry

If I don't get something to eat soon, I'll faint!

admirable - impressive; something that other people respect and realize is important or worthwhile

Becca thinks it's admirable that Edgar spends so much time volunteering in the local schools.

transfusion - the transfer of blood from one person's body to another for medical reasons

Jim lost a lot of blood in the accident and needed a transfusion at the hospital.

relief organization - a nonprofit organization that provides, food, water, medicine, and shelter (housing) to people who suffer during natural disasters or wars

The relief organization provided drinking water, rice, and dried beans to hundreds of villagers after the earthquake.

disaster area - an area where many buildings have been destroyed and there is little or no clean water or electricity, usually after an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or fighting

The governor has declared the entire county a disaster area as a result of the flooding.

injured - hurt; suffering from damage caused to one's body

It's amazing that nobody was injured in the car accident!

nurse - a professional who has medical training and assists doctors in caring for patients

The hospital is hiring nurses to work in its operating rooms.

bloodmobile - a large van or truck that has all the equipment needed so that people can go inside and donate blood at a convenient place

Each year, the company lets the bloodmobile park in its parking lot for one week while it encourages employees to donate blood.