015 [audio

[worksmart]

[The device clicks on and immediately starts relaying a low level cacophony of bleeps and murmurs, soft-shod footsteps. The speaker can be heard clearly but distantly, addressing someone else.]

No, keep him on the sodium nitroprusside. His systolic's hovering around 170. Let's lower it slowly so we don't risk hypoperfusing his organs, but I want

Comments

[primrosella]

...How is taking someone's blood supposed to help anything? Won't that just harm the person you're taking it from?

[worksmart]

[There's something muffled and barely audible that could be maybe I didn't think this through.]

No. No. We take the blood from healthy people and match it up with the sick ones who need it. Your body's blood supply is self replenishing; fine when you're in good health but not speedy enough if you've just been caught out on an exploding island.

[primrosella]

You can do that? Take out someone's blood and put it in someone else, and it really helps them get well again?

[worksmart]

One of the miracles of modern medicine. It's called a blood transfusion.

[primrosella]

Lots of modern things seem like miracles, really.

...And anyone can help?

[worksmart]

When you're not used to them, I'm sure. They're also the only kind we've got.

Anyone can help.

[primrosella]

What sort of questions do we need to answer?

[worksmart]

Most of them will be related to your medical history and background. Age, weight, nothing complicated.

[primrosella]

Oh. That doesn't sound so bad, really.

[worksmart]

It's not so bad. Stings a little, and you might feel woozy for a little while afterwards, but you can give blood up to three times a year with no harm to yourself. And the cookies are free.

[primrosella]

...Would it be all right if I thought about it overnight? Or would that be too late, if I came tomorrow or the next day?

[worksmart]

No such thing as too late.

What part of it do you want the time to think about?

[primrosella]

I don't need to consider the part about wanting to help, believe me. I just...have a habit of asking a friend of mine about modern things I've never heard of before, that's all.

[worksmart]

It's fine. I was wondering if it would make you more comfortable if I showed you how we draw it.

[primrosella]

...I think I'd like that very much, actually. May I?

[worksmart]

Not a problem. I'm getting a pitiful number of breaks right now, but if you stop by the hospital and ask for Doctor Chase I'll see you when I can.