I was 16 years old the first time I donated blood. I was more excited than nervous because being as young as I was, I loved the fact that I could finally do something with an age minimum. I think this feeling rings true for a lot of people.

But for some people, donating blood is not an easy choice to make. There are a lot of what-ifs people generate. I remember a friend of mine refusing to even consider it because they had this wild idea that the tube would detach from their arm mid-donation and blood would start violently squirting from the hole left by the needle.

The possibility of this event, of course, is extremely unlikely. But there are other valid concerns when it comes to the process of donating blood, but despite any reservations you might have, it’s worth it to try at least once.

You can save up to three lives by donating just one pint.

The process really is quite easy. Walk-ins are always welcome, and if you’re serious about making sure you can donate, an appointment can be made in advance.

The American Red Cross hosts blood drives on campus year-round. It currently is facing a shortage of blood because of winter weather cancellations, according to its website.

The first step when you arrive is to go through a registration process if you’ve never given blood before. This usually means you meet with a staff member or volunteer to determine you’re eligible to donate.

It was at this point in the process that my nerves got the best of me the first time I donated, but only because I was scared that I’d be ineligible.

Once you’re deemed eligible, you are required to answer questions about your health history and the places you’ve traveled.

They also perform a short physical where they check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and the hemoglobin levels in a sample of your blood. But none of this should be cause for worry, because any answers you provide or information they gather from your physical remain confidential.

The rest of the donation goes pretty fast.

Depending on who hosts your blood drive, sometimes you get to hang out at a small refreshment table where volunteers ask you to drink a bottle of water and eat a snack. That’s what you’ll be doing while you’re waiting for a cot to open up so you can donate.

The next step is the reason why a lot of people are afraid to give. A nurse — who is notoriously always friendly — will talk you through the process of preparing your arm. He or she will usually ask which arm you’d like to donate from, a question that is sometimes irrelevant because it depends on which vein will be the easiest to access.

It’s a little uncomfortable at this point because in addition to poking and prodding your inner elbow with their fingers for a few seconds, they have to tie a tourniquet to your arm.

Then they sterilize the skin over your vein by applying iodine, which leaves an amber colored circle on your arm. After that, they insert a hollow needle that channels blood through a tube into a blood bag. The pain I experienced from placing the needle was momentary and minimal. It’s a slight piercing feeling that is over before you even get the chance to wince.

Filling the bag takes about 10-15 minutes, and you can lay there and relax, occasionally squeezing the stress ball in your hand. And yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to play on your phone, with one hand of course.

Somewhere between the refreshment table and the second before your nurse puts the needle in, you might faint. It’s a pretty common occurrence, and the staff will be by your side the instant they recognize that you are passing out. But don’t let this scare you. If you do pass out, they usually don’t allow you to try to donate again that day. You might faint simply because you are squeamish around blood, but it also could be because you didn’t eat or drink enough that day. It’s best to prepare your body for the event.

Although it may seem like a lot to go through just to donate a little blood, the short moments of discomfort you feel could be the thing that saves another human being’s life.

As if there weren’t already enough reasons to give, there is one motive that will appeal to Spartans. Right now, you can give blood on campus for the sole purpose of besting the Wolverines in a donation competition. It’s the annual MSU vs. U-M Face-Off Blood Challenge, and, for those of you who are in the business of obtaining free stuff, donors get a complimentary long sleeve t-shirt.

Aside from material incentives, the need for blood collections is constant. When people ask why I give, I say that it makes me feel good. I get a sense of accomplishment from simply showing up and donating. And I explain that I like to give as often as I can because my blood type, B , is only shared by 9 percent of the American population.

There are types more rare than mine, but I believe that because I’m healthy and the pint of blood they collect from me will replenish itself in 56 days, I have an obligation to do everything I can. No matter what your blood type is, your donation always will help someone.

And hey, you get free cookies at the end.

Sierra Lay is a State News staff reporter. Reach her at sierra.lay@statenews.com.