Blood donation in Russia: the self and the body in the donation practices

In addition to this idea, one more interviewee emphasized the importance of following the instructions for the purpose of further usage of the blood. As she argued about the risk of rejecting blood because of inappropriate results:

My analysis were normal. The level of hemoglobin was low, but fitted the lower threshold. So that I could donate blood. It is very important, otherwise your blood will be useless. (female, 21 y.o., #15) Причем мои анализы были нормальными, уровень гемоглобина был невысокий, ну он был на нижнем пороге, входил в этот интервал, чтоб можно было сдать кровь. Потому что это очень важно, иначе твоя кровь будет бесполезна. (женщина, 21 год, #15)

Among the recommendations, several donors mentioned the maintaining of the correct sleep mode. For example, one interviewee told about the importance of a sufficient sleep because of the risk of a bad state during the blood giving. As he said:

I will try to get a good night's sleep, because once I gave blood being sleepy. It was very difficult for me. (male, 26 y.o., #11) Постараюсь хорошо выспаться, потому что когда-то я сдавал сонным, мне было очень тяжело. (male, 26 y.o., #11)

In general, two reported practices of preparation for the procedure, proper nutrition and refusal from bad habits, reflect the idea of representation of self. As it has already been mentioned, following a particular image, people commit actions that reflect their self to society (Goffman, 2002). In the present case, the informants try to build a donor-image. For that reason, they properly follow all the requirements, because any ban on donations call into question their self of donor. As for other recommendations, donors follow them for supporting their state of health after the procedure. That fact is closed to the idea of “body work” (Shaw, 2014), when donors improve their blood for its further fitness and usage.

3.3.2 Visiting of the donation centers

The process of visiting donation centers should be thoroughly examined. All the donors had a common description of the process, which consisted of leaving clothes in the wardrobe, registration, taking tests, talk to a therapist, drinking tea with cookies, blood giving, getting compensatory payments. As for the donation procedure, it was usually described as lying down on the chair, inserting the needle from the gamecon and draining the blood.

Despite the similar reports about the procedure, preparation and waiting processes should be taken into consideration. As for the preparation to blood giving directly in the donation center, it is manifested in the choice of clothing. Primarily all the informants stated the choice of their clothes as practical behavior. To make it clear, the participants chose loose clothing for the purpose to wrapping up their sleeves easily and prevent from passing a hand. What is more, all the informants stressed comfort as the main reason for wearing such clothes. For example, one interviewee commented:

I always had clean, comfortable clothes. <...> I put on blouse or t-shirt. (male, 22 y.o., #12) У меня обычно всегда чистая уютная одежда была. <…> у меня была обычная кофточка или футболка. (мужчина, 22 года, #12)

Four informants emphasized that a particular choice of their clothes for the donation is caused by a negative experience. For instance, one donor described inappropriateness of some types of clothes with a high collar, which increased the risk of faint. As she reported:

I came to give blood in a sweater with a high collar. I could not breathe. I was one step away from fainting. The workers kept opening the window. This sweater just made me feel hot and cold all the time. (female, 26 y.o., #7) Я пришла как-то в свитере под горло сдавать. Мне было очень душно, я чуть не отключилась. Но мне постоянно открывали окно. От этого свитера тебя просто постоянно то в жар, то в холод кидало. (женщина, 26 лет, #7)

Additionally, other interviewee mentioned about the experience of getting blood on his shirt. That also made him more thoroughly choose clothes for further donations. As the person reported:

I got a bloodstain on my white shirt. <...> After giving blood, I realized that it is better to wear clothes with short sleeves. You should not wear any jackets or shirts. (male, 22 y.o., #10) Правда я испачкал белую рубашку, пятном от крови. <…> в этом плане после сдачи крови я понял, что лучше всего надевать вещи с короткими рукавами. Не нужно надевать никакие пиджаки, рубашки. (мужчина, 22 года, #10)

Another significant moment in the donation process if waiting. It happens twice. The first moment is standing in a queue, while the second one is lying on the chair during the blood giving. As for waiting in a turn, a big share of interviewees mentioned getting stuck in a smartphone and listening to the music as the main time spending. For example, one donor mentioned smartphone usage as the main activity during waiting. He said:

<...> you are getting stuck in smartphone and trying to spend time somehow. (male, 21 y.o., #3) <…> сидишь в телефоне и пытаешься как-то время убить. (мужчина, 21 год, #3)

No one informant reported feeling fear before donation, what can be caused by their getting used to the procedure. Additionally, nobody described any preparation to the procedure during the waiting. However, one of the participants mentioned a ritual of rubbing finger, which was caused by the feature of her body, in particular, cooling of body parts. This interviewee commented:

My palms are sweating so much. My hands are getting cold. I worry that the blood will not flow during the test. I am sitting and rubbing my finger on the palm of my left hand, to warm it. (female, 20 y.o., #2) Сильно потеют ладошки. Еще холодеют руки. Когда анализ нужно взять, я переживаю, что кровь не пойдет. Сижу, тру палец о ладонь, всегда безымянный на левой, чтобы согреть его. (женщина, 20 лет, #2)

As for waiting during the procedure, different techniques were reported there. Many individuals mentioned quizzing the special ball as the main time spending, which is recommended for improvement of blood flow. Supporting this idea, one interviewee put it:

You are given a ball in your hands, what is great. Otherwise, you just squeeze your fist. You are lying and taking pleasure. (male, 25 y.o., #4) Тебе ещё шарик дадут в руки-это отлично. Если нет, то просто сам руку нажимаешь, то есть кулак сжимаешь. Всё, лежишь, кайфуешь просто. (мужчина, 25 лет, #4)

Among other activities, speaking with the medical workers, using smartphone, reading, relax, thinking were also reported. For instance, an individual mentioned talks with the nurses as the main activity during his blood giving. As he said:

I did not think much about it, because I was talking to the nurses. They asked me about my study. Of course, I was interested in the end the process. (male, 19 y.o., #16) Особо не о чем думал, потому что меня сильно занимали разговором. Меня спросили, где я учусь. Конечно, интересовался, как скоро пройдёт процесс. (мужчина, 19 лет, #16)

Supporting this idea, other interviewee reported reading book as the main hobby at the donation process. He put it:

If I have a book, I read it. If do not have it, I am just sitting and thinking. (male, 22 y.o., #9) Если есть книга, читаю. Если нет, просто сижу, думаю. (мужчина, 22 года, #9)

In general, the visit of a donation center was commonly described by all the participants. What is more, the informants reported the same choice of clothes for the blood giving that is caused by the desire for comfort and prevention from negative consequences such as squeezing of hand or loss of consciousness. In addition, the practices of waiting were also describe in the same way. The informants usually mentioned using smartphone, reading, thinking as the main activities of time spending. Only one interviewee emphasized the ritual of preparing her body to the medical tests. As for waiting during the blood giving, the set of activities was the same such as smartphone usage, listening to the music, reading book, talking to medical workers, thinking.

Thus, it may be supposed that the same set of actions, presented by all the informants, is caused by the familiarity of the procedure and the routine process. Only one informant prepared her body to the procedure. That may be described by the fact that the main preparations happens a day before the visiting of the donation centers. Additionally, nobody reported feeling of fear or setting up psychologically, what is also caused by feeling of familiarity to the procedure.

3.3.3 Recovery after the procedure

The informants reported two polar points how they recovered after the procedure. On the one hand, one part of the participants mentioned no changes in the regime of their life. These donors did the same activities as they committed in the period without donations. For instance, one interviewee put it:

I overcame it easily. Sometimes I went to sport after the donation. (male, 22 y.o., #12) Ну я переносил это всё очень легко. Даже сразу на спорт шел после кроводачи. (мужчина, 22 года, #12)

Similar to the previous idea, other informant stated no difference in her daily life after the blood giving. As she commented:

I quickly donated blood, counted the money and went home or to work. Usually, after giving platelets, I go to college or to work. Thus, I do not sit at home. (female, 20 y.o., #2) Ну вот все, быстренько сдала, денежки посчитала и пошла домой или на работу. Чаще всего после сдачи тромбоцитов я иду либо на учебу, либо на работу. Ну то есть дома не сижу. (женщина, 20 лет, #2)

On the contrary, other group of individuals described special day and eating regimes after the procedure. As for the regime of the day, the donors mentioned a quiet day without stress on the body. Additionally, sleep was also reported as the way of recovering. Supporting this point, an informant described the importance of the special regime after the procedure for further blood renewal:

After the procedure, you should follow instructions, which are lack of exercises, prevention of overloads, so that the body has time to recover. This is taking care of yourself. If you want your body to overcome blood loss normally, get enough sleep and then take care of yourself for 3-4 days. (female, 21 y.o., #6) Но всё равно после этого нужно соблюдать: не заниматься спортом, не допускать перегрузок, чтобы организм успел восстановиться. Это буквально забота о себе. Если ты хочешь, чтобы у тебя организм нормально перенес потерю крови, высыпайся и потом тоже береги себя. Хотя бы вот эти 3-4 дня, и кровь полностью восстановится. (женщина, 21 год, #6)

Similar to the mentioned point, one more interviewee described his time after the donation as the period of relax and slow activities with further sleep. As he stated:

The rest is not voluntary, because I understand I can force myself to do something, but it will be extremely inefficient. <...> So I keep myself busy with something else such as reading books, watching movies. I fall asleep while doing that. (male, 22 y.o., #10) Отдых не по своей воле, поскольку я понимаю, что на волевом уровне я могу себя заставить что-то делать, но это будет крайне неэффективно. <…> Поэтому занимаю себя чем-то другим: чтением книг, просмотром фильмов. За этим делом засыпаю. (мужчина, 22 года, #10)

What is more, a particular way of eating was also described. To make it clear, the donors tried to drink more water and ate all previously forbidden food. For example, one individual told that pomegranate juice is the main element of her recovery. In addition, she allows herself eat products, which were avoided before blood giving. The person said:

I do not like pomegranate juice, but at blood donation day, I buy a bottle of it and drink a whole liter, because I want it. If I want a steak, I buy it and eat the meat. (female, 26 y.o., #7) Я не люблю гранатовый сок, но в день сдачи крови я просто я покупаю бутылку и выпиваю целый литр. мне хочется. Хочу стейк, беру покупаю стейк, ем мясо. (женщина, 26 лет, #7)

Moreover, one informant emphasized eating sweet food after the procedure. As she described her experience:

I do not eat sugar in any way, but, at the donation day, I broke this rule. Both visits, I grabbed a couple of buns from the Donor Day to drink tea at home. (female, 21 y.o., #15) Я сахар в чистом виде не ем и не добавляю никуда в продукты, но в день сдачи нарушаю это правило. Как и в первый раз, так и во второй раз, я схватила с дня донорства пару плюшек, чтобы дома чай попить. (женщина, 21 год, #15)

These behaviors, eating particular products and calm regime of day, can be described by the desire to restore the lost volume of blood.

As for the two different ways of recovery, active and passive, there were no descriptions of the reasons to this difference. A possible explanation of that is a biological difference in endurance of body. One more reason is a more attentive attitude to blood, because those who reported a thorough way of recovery described their state in more details, in comparison with the people who had no regime. For example, one informant presented the idea of a fast work of the body and improvement of health after blood giving. As she gave the reflection of her state of health:

It believed my body was working faster. Some metabolic processes happened. My blood flowed faster. In short, I began to feel better, probably in terms of physical state <...> I became healthier, because I got rid of the old blood. (female, 22 y.o., #14) Мне казалось, что мой организм работал быстрее. Там вот какие-то процессы обмена веществ. Ну и кровь быстрее течёт. Короче я стала себя лучше чувствовать, наверное, в плане физическом <…> что я стала более здоровее что ли. То есть избавилась от старой крови. (женщина, 22 года, #14)

Another aspect in the recovery after donation is wound healing after the injection. Two points were also reported there. A big share of informants paid no attention to the trace after injection. For example, an interviewee stated this idea:

I do not have any traces. A point remains, but it heals quickly. I do not even pay attention to it. (male, 26 y.o., #5) Они [следы] у меня не остаются. То есть там остаётся точка, но она быстро проходит. Я даже как-то не обращаю на это внимание. (мужчина, 26 лет, #5)

Only two informant mentioned a more thorough attention to the traces after the injection, but that behavior was caused by their biological feature of their body, in particular, scarring of the skin. As one of these donors pointed out:

As for scars, I have five scars <...> I do not do anything with them. I just show them others. (female, 20 y.o., #2) А вот кстати по поводу шрамиков. Вот их 5 штук <…> Ничего с ними не делаю, просто показываю другим. (женщина, 20 лет, #2)

Another interviewee described the traces after the injection as the motive to further donations, what made him donate blood, when he is lazy. In addition, he compared the scars with a battle wound, which appeared as a results of his helping to others. He commented:

I like the scar, because, when I am lazy to go to a blood center, I just look at that hand and get dressed. I think of it as a work injury. As soldiers from mercenary army, who also have scars that remind them that they must work to protect their Homeland. I also think that that is a work scar that reminds me of my good deeds. (male, 21 y.o., #3) Мне нравится шрам, потому что каждый раз, когда наступает время идти туда, когда мне бывает лень, я просто смотрю на эту руку и одеваюсь. Я считаю это как трудовая травма, вот эти шрамы. Как у солдат, я имею ввиду наемную армию, у них же есть шрамы, которые напоминают им о том, что они должны работать, чтобы защищать Родину. Также и я считаю о том, что это трудовой шрам, который напоминает мне о моих хороших делах. (мужчина, 21 год, #3)

One more aspect of recovering is moral feelings. In comparison with biological feelings, psychological state was paid less attention to. The donors commonly reported feeling of happiness because of helping others. For example, an individual described the state as feeling of lightness and joy after the procedure. Additionally, some enthusiasm of chance to help others was also reported. She said:

There is a sense of lightness and joy that everything was good, and the old blood, donated three months ago, can now save people. In fact, I feel inspired sometimes that it may help. (female, 21 y.o., #1) Есть какое-то чувство легкости и радости от того, что было все хорошо. И, следовательно, тогда та старая кровь, которую я сдавала три месяца назад теперь может быть использована для спасения людей. И на самом деле иногда такое чувство воодушевлённое, что, а может быть кому-нибудь это все-таки поможет. (женщина, 21 год, #1)

Additionally, one more informant pointed out lack of emotions, which was only reflected through confidence in the good deed. The individual told:

I did not feel any emotions. I was confident that you did something very right, which is rare in our world. (male, 22 y.o., #10) Эмоции….На самом деле никаких. Только уверенность в том, что ты железобетонно сделал что-то очень правильное, что редко встречается в нашем мире. (мужчина, 22 года, #10)

Overall, speaking about recovery after the procedure most participants paid attention to their state of health, especially followed a particular regime of day and food consumption. However, several donors did not care about their state and followed an ordinary regime of life. No vivid prerequisites to such a difference were observed. The two types of behavior may be explained through various biological features of bodies. In addition, the informants described their state from biological point of view to more extent, in particular, blood renewal and body recovery, while some psychological state was only reported in relation to feeling of helping others.

3.3.4 Influence of blood donation on life

The procedure of blood giving influenced the participants in two ways. A big share of informants argued that the activity made their body hardier. To make it clear, these individuals stated that their bodies used to losing blood. Supporting this statement an interviewee emphasized:

If I get hurt, I will stay awake longer than a man who has never given blood. That has already been verified. (male, 26 y.o., #11) Если меня ранят, дольше продержусь в сознании, чем человек, который никогда не сдавал. Это уже было проверено. (мужчина, 26 лет, #11)

What is more, some donors mentioned that they started to feel their body better. For example, one participant told tried to refuse drinking alcohol, when his body was exhausted. As he reported:

I began to feel my body better. For example, when I felt some weakness after giving blood, I realized that I needed to abstain from alcohol in the next few days. Thus, I put some additional requirements on myself. (male, 22 y.o., #12) Получается я стал лучше чувствовать свой организм. Например, когда я чувствовал какое-то бессилие после сдачи крови, я понимал, что в ближайшие дни мне нужно воздержаться от алкоголя. Ну то есть какие-то дополнительные требования себе ставил. (мужчина, 22 года, #12)

In addition, two informant mentioned a global change in their food consumption. In other words, these donors started consuming those products, which improved their blood. One of these individuals explained the consumption of previously hated food as the consequence of a thorough attitude to blood for better analysis in the future. She commented:

What has affected is that I recently learned that I need to drink pomegranate juice and eat liver to increase hemoglobin. I just hate liver. <...> I buy offal and I cook tasteless liver. After the donation, I start buying pomegranate juice to increase the level of hemoglobin. It affected my life, because I became more attentive to my health. (female, 21 y.o., #15) Вот что повлияло: я с недавних пор узнала, что, чтобы повысить гемоглобин, нужно пить гранатовый сок и есть печенку. Я печенку просто терпеть не могу. <…> я покупаю субпродукты, я готовлю невкусную печенку. Я вот после донорства, покупаю себе гранатовый сок периодически, чтобы повышать уровень гемоглобина. Как это повлияло на мою жизнь: я начала более внимательно относиться к своему здоровью. (женщина, 21 год, #15)

Contrary to the idea of health improvement and a thorough body control, several donors mentioned that blood donation improved the attitude to their self, because they helped others. To make it clear, these informants generated better attitude to their self as individuals, which can help someone. For instance, one interviewee commented this argument:

I actually started loving myself after donating blood. <...> It seems me that I become more kind, when I want to help someone else. When I donate blood or platelets, I want to help people. (female, 20 y.o., #2) На самом деле я стала любить себя после того, как начала сдавать кровь. <…> Мне кажется, если ты хочешь помочь какому-то другому человеку, то в тебе отрываются какие-то такие штуки, и ты тоже добрый. В день, когда я сдаю, кровь или тромбоциты, мне хочется помогать людям. (женщина, 20 лет, #2)

What should also be pointed out is that some informants reported no global difference in their life. They experienced some changes only for the donation period. Supporting this point, one interviewee said:

In relation to blood, I did not notice anything at all. I may be inattentive. Or may be nothing is happening. (female, 26 y.o., #7) Конкретно связанное с кровью вообще ничего не заметила. Может быть не внимательная просто. А может быть и ничего и не происходит. (женщина, 26 лет, #7)

To sum up, arguing about consequences for life after the donation, the participants primarily pointed out difference in their state of health, especially, improvement of body insurance to bleeding. In addition, the informants emphasize more attentive attitude to their health, which manifested in their eating habits. Several interviewees noted change in attitude to their self, which became better. Thus, in this case, the individuals also paid more attention to their body and biological health.

3.3.5 Attitude to blood

Speaking about blood, the informants reported two points, which are blood as a part of body and blood as an element of self. On the one hand, most participants perceived their blood as a biological body. It was also observed as an element, which can be renewed and, consequently, can be easily donated. One of the interviewees reported:

It is just a substance, a connective tissue, which allows me to function so that I am healthy. <...> this is a renewable resource. Thus, I give a part of myself from a biological point of view. (male, 22 y.o., #9) Это просто субстанция, соединительная ткань, которая позволяет мне функционировать, чтобы я был здоровым. <…> это возобновляемый ресурс. То есть я сдаю часть себя с биологической точки зрения. (мужчина, 22 года, #9)

Additionally, the informants described their desire of blood giving because of blood renewability. One participant realized that he could improve the quality of his blood though giving it. As he stated:

I understand that it will not hurt me in any way. It might even help me. The body is working at this moment by producing new blood. It renews. (male, 22 y.o., #12) Я понимаю, что это мне никаким образом не навредит. Возможно даже и поможет. Организм начинает работать в этот момент, вырабатывает новую кровь, обновляется. (мужчина, 22 года, #12)

Those who determined blood as a biological particle perceived their donated blood as an external element, which was not belonging to their body anymore. For example, one individual emphasized:

It is not mine. The blood in gamecon is a biological substance. (female, 27 y.o.,#8) Она не моя. Эта кровь в гемаконе- это биологическая субстанция. (женщина, 27 лет,#8)

This attitude to donated blood was described by the fact that this biomaterial was situated out of body. Speaking about that, one interviewee told about lack of feelings to the donated blood, caused by its external location:

In fact, the blood is not mine anymore. I have already gave it. I do not have any feeling to it anymore, because it is already outside of me. When some things are out of you, you do not consider them yours. (female, 21 y.o., #15) На самом деле она уже как будто не моя. Ты же ее как бы сдал уже. У меня уже нет такого, что моя, потому что она как-то уже вне тебя. Когда некоторые вещи уже мне тебя, ты их не считаешь своими. (женщина, 21 год, #15)

Similarly, several informants stressed that they realized that the donated blood was theirs, but they did not feel any link to it, because of its situation out of body. For instance, one interviewee compared his donated blood as a toy, which was presented to other person and, consequently, physically did not belong to him anymore:

In my mind, I know that it is my blood. It is like having a car, playing it periodically. If I asked to let play it, I will give it to this person. It is now in his collection of cars. However, it will not stop being my car. Thus, my car is in his autopark, but I have no desire to take my car back. I know it is my blood, but I do not want to take it back. I don't feel like it's physically mine. (male, 19 y.o., #16) Я головой понимаю, что она моя, что это моя кровь. Это как есть такое ощущение, что вот у меня есть машинка, я в неё играю периодически. Меня попросят ее поиграть. Я, конечно, ее дам. Она теперь в его коллекции машинок. Но она не перестанет быть моей машинкой. То есть его автопарке будет моя машинка, но у меня нет желания забрать свою машинку обратно. То есть я сознательно понимаю, что это моя кровь, но у меня нет желания забрать её обратно. Я не чувствую, что она физически моя. (мужчина, 19 лет, #16)

The mentioned supposition is similar to the idea of body wholeness (Hawkins & Gillett, 2014). In other words, any biomaterial situated out of body is not considered to be a body part, because it is situated out of it. Thus, the reports of the informants support this idea, as their observed the donated blood as an alien object.

As for another point of view, only three informants perceived their blood as a part of self. These people usually described blood in relation to the features of their character. For instance, one of the individuals compared his rare blood type with his extraordinary character. In addition, the person identified some parallel between his need for other people and the need for other blood types to his rare blood. As he stated:

I depend on other people in terms of the fact that I feel withdrawal in communication, if I do not communicate with someone from other people. I need to communicate. This is the concept of "not like everyone else". The fourth blood type is the same. It is different. It cannot live without other blood types. (male, 21 y.o., #3) Я завишу от других людей в плане того, что вот я не пообщаюсь с кем-то из других людей, у меня начинается ломка в общении, мне надо общаться. Вот это и есть понятие «не такой как все». И четвертая группа крови- она ведь в точности такая же. Она не такая как все. Она не может жить без других групп крови. (мужчина, 21 год, #3)

In addition, other interviewee compared the blood with her impulsive character. As she said:

There is an expression "hot blood". Perhaps this phraseology suits me, because I am quite active and sometimes I can be quite hot-tempered, if something goes wrong for me, and people do not respond to my calm attitude to them. I have to get fired up. (female, 21 y.o., #1) Есть такое выражение «горячая кровь». Наверное, такой фразеологизм ко мне подходит, поскольку я довольно активная и бываю иногда довольно такой вспыльчивой, если что-то идет не так, как мне нужно, и люди не реагируют на мое спокойное отношение к ним, и приходится воспламеняться. (женщина, 21 год, #1)

As for donated blood, the interviewees reported the feeling of its link with their selves, when it is out of their body. The participants argued that they donated blood because of their intention to share some of their part with others. Supporting this idea, one person pointed out:

When you give a gift, you want to make a person feel good. You invest a part of yourself so that the person feels good. When you donate blood, the same thing happens. I gave it people. I did a good deed. I gave part of myself, part of my blood. (female, 22 y.o., #14) Когда даришь подарок, ты хочешь сделать сделать человеку приятное, вложить часть себя, чтобы человеку было приятно. Наверное, когда ты сдаёшь кровь, то же самое происходит. Я подарила людям, сделала доброе дело, подарила часть себя, часть своей крови. (женщина, 22 года, #14)

The reported idea is close to Koo and Fishbach work (2016), which stated that any biological biomaterial reflects self to more extend than material things. Thus, in this case, donated blood is observed as a part of self, presented to other person.

As for ownership of donated blood, all the informants reported that it belonged to society, in particular, to a recipient. For example, one of the interviewees stressed:

It is not mine. It belongs to a medical center. Consequently, when it is transferred to another person, it will be his. As for me, it is a tool, which can help someone. (male, 22 y.o., #9) Она не моя. Она принадлежит медицинскому учреждению. Соответственно, когда она перельётся другому человеку, она будет уже его. Для меня это сейчас как инструмент, с помощью которого я могу помочь. (мужчина, 22 года, #9)

This supposition is close to Titmuss' idea about blood as a gift (Titmuss, 1970). In the present case, blood is gifted to society, especially to a recipient, for the purpose help someone. Thus, the donated blood is used as a resource for serving society.

In general, blood is primarily observed as a biological particle of body and is donated because of its renewability. Only several informants perceive their blood as a part of self, especially, reflecting their character features. These people gave blood for the purpose to share their selves with someone. It is necessary to point out that the perceptions of blood as a part of body and as a part of self are mutually exclusive in this case. To make it clear, those who perceived as a part of body strictly followed this approach, while the other group perceived their blood only as an element of self. Although, the individuals reported different attitudes to their blood, they commonly described the ownership of donated blood, which belonged to society, according to their narratives.