I have donated blood several times and this was my worst experience…read more It took FIVE people to be able to draw my blood!!!! Somehow my veins in both arms were poor. I don't know anything about the training received by the phlebotomist however by the next day I had a big black and blue which they warned me about. I love donating blood this last time, I won't be donating again. Sad,because I know how great the need is.

My daughter and I both had terrible experiences at the Red Cross donation center on South Robert…read moreStreet in St. Paul, years apart. The one and only time I went there was horrible. The tech missed my vein with the needle that was to return fluid that was being separated during a 2-hr apheresis donation. She left for break immediately after inserting both needles. One arm started to ache and burn. For several minutes there was literally no Red Cross staff member in the room where several of us were hooked up! I finally saw and got the attention of a different Red Cross employee but he had no idea how to help or how the apheresis system worked. At first, he told me to wait until the phlebotomist got back from break. That's an unacceptable staffing policy and an unacceptable risk to volunteer donors. That was yrs ago but my adult daughter had a horrible experience this week at the same center and she was simply donating regular whole blood which should be straight-forward and routine. She has done so before without issues. The technician tapped into an artery instead of a vein which is a huge no-no and can create serious complications for some people. That's why veins are used for donations and draws. Although there were several indicators that he had breached an artery -- the needle insertion hurt more than normal, which she told him (he just moved the tube); the blood flow was shockingly fast -- bag full in just a few minutes; and the blood is usually redder/brighter -- which he never checked or didn't know to check. Experienced phlebotomists can sometimes also tell from the extra effort needed to breach an arterial wall which is thicker than a venous wall and/or from the pulsing in arteries. But even a new tech should know the first three signs! This technician had no idea until my daughter's blood literally spurted like a mini fountain when he removed the needle. The situation was handled very poorly. Staff never explained to her why her blood was shooting on the table, floor, and people's shoes. No one discussed what happened, or why, with her. But (!) other staff including a supervisor quickly assured the embarrassed tech that *he* shouldn't feel bad because "it happens all the time." Well, only if you call 1 in ~7,500 (data from NIH) 'all the time'. For perspective, in the U.K., an arterial puncture is handled differently: Donors are informed about possible complications *and* receive a document to give to an attending doctor if they do end up in the E.R. Some donors are referred to a doctor at the time an arterial puncture is recognized. My daughter figured out the next day -- only due to her specific education and training -- that the distressing events occurred because of an arterial puncture, but no one at the Red Cross clinic in St. Paul explained anything. (They did tell her to watch out for light-headedness but not why.) I understand and lament how poorly phlebotomists are paid and treated in the U.S. It's a bloody shame. The Red Cross needs to revamp its entire structure and environment so more skilled people are hired and retained and so that covering one's ass is not prioritized over donors' well-being. ARC is not a completely altruistic org. Their CEO earns almost $1,000,000/yr. A dozen or more Red Cross execs earn more than $400,000. The Red Cross charges hospitals and clinics about $200 for the pint of blood you donate (for the work they do to collect & test it). IMO, they have an obligation to be a better organization for its employees and donors. If they can't or won't do it, get out of the business. (60% of the blood supply in the U.S. is provided by orgs other than ARC.) Please do donate blood. I've had dozens of positive experiences at blood drives. I do recommend avoiding the Red Cross clinic on South Robert Street in St. Paul. Odds are you'll have a better experience elsewhere.

Affordable cpr training with knowledgeable, funny staff that makes taking the class a no stress…read moreenvironment. I would definitely recommend them.

From the owner: Twin Cities Safety CPR Training is a fully licensed and certified safety company serving the…read moreentire Minneapolis / St. Paul MN and surrounding area. All of our courses are taught to American Heart Association standards by experienced professionals who make each course exciting, fun, and convenient. All for the lowest prices available.

Working with Justine, Ale, and Rachel was definitely the best decision my spouse and I made in our…read morebirth experience! From providing evidence-based responses to our questions to helping us advocate with providers to simply cheering us on, we were so supported by this team! Justine joined us at the hospital for labor and was absolutely essential to making us both feel comfortable and safe as mine and baby's medical situation got more complicated. We truly could not have imagined doing this without her!!

If you're on the fence about hiring a doula like we were, don't be--especially if you're…read moreconsidering Justine and her team. We hired Justine for our second pregnancy because I was high-risk, on Lovenox, and managing gestational diabetes, and an unmedicated birth felt right for us. With my first pregnancy, I had no complications and chose an epidural, so my husband was very skeptical about needing a doula this time, especially since our first delivery went so smoothly. What ultimately made us move forward was knowing that my husband, being a very logical person, wouldn't be able to give me the emotional support I'd need during labor. After meeting Justine on a video call, everything instantly felt right. She was warm, supportive, and confident from the start, and she was the only doula who genuinely believed I could have an unmedicated birth--especially considering how quickly my first labor progressed with an epidural. She also reassured my husband that her support was just as much for him as it was for me. Throughout the pregnancy, Justine and her team answered every question and helped me navigate every curveball. No matter what came up, she was there with guidance, resources, and a listening ear. On delivery day, I delivered our baby girl in under an hour--completely unmedicated, just as we hoped. Even though there were moments when I wanted to give up, Justine's calm presence and steady, encouraging voice helped me push through. It ended up being the most magical birth experience I've ever had, and I still can't believe I did it. Hiring her was truly one of the best decisions we made. TL;DR: We were unsure about hiring a doula, but Justine completely changed our minds. Despite a high-risk pregnancy, she supported us from day one, reassured my skeptical husband, and helped me have a fast, completely unmedicated birth. Her calm, steady presence made it the most magical delivery experience--we're so glad we chose her.