When I heard the U.S. was having a blood shortage during the pandemic, I decided to roll up my sleeve and donate for the first time. As I watched the second donation bag fill, I chatted casually with the technician and thought I’d soon be on my way.
And then, the sides of my vision began going dark, and the room in front of me faded. The technician immediately lowered the top half of my cot and raised my feet. He put cold compresses on my neck and tried to get me to stay alert with a conversation about my favorite foods.
The technician knew how to respond because fainting or near-fainting is a common experience during blood donation. Fainting is also common outside of blood drives, and many people will pass out at some point in their lives.
Scientists have a good understanding of why people pass out and what happens to the body when they faint. But where does the mind go when a person loses consciousness? The answer isn’t as straightforward.
