Gift of Live

This morning, I came across a video clip on promoting blood donation at youtube which reminded me that it is time for me to donate blood again. (Am I weird enuff? How come there is ppl always alarm himself to donate blood regularly? Haha, that is me ^_^)




Those who knows me should know that I am always active in donating blood.

Why I like to donate blood:

A blood donation truly is a “gift of life” that a healthy individual can give to others in their community who are sick or injured. In one hour’s time, a person can donate one unit of blood that can be separated into four individual components that could help save multiple lives.

From one unit of blood, red blood cells can be extracted for use in trauma or surgical patients. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, is administered to patients with clotting problems. The third component of blood, platelets, clot the blood when cuts or other open wounds occur, and are often used in cancer and transplant patients. Cryoprecipitated anti-hemophilic factor (AHF) is also used for clotting factors.

When I was below 18 years old, I always looking forward for the age of 18 as this is the minimum required age (in Malaysia) which you are eligible to donate blood. (Donors age 17 years will require parental consent before donating.) Blood Bank of Malaysia

Since I started my career in Singapore, I have been donated blood for few times (4 if not counted wrongly). Everytime before I going for my blood donation, I would like to invite other friends (is not mainly for the companion) but the majority will reject to join me for the good deeds. (Some of their reasons are funny: I am too fat, I'll be getting fatter after donating blood; I am so skinny, I scare I'll faint; I scare looking at blood;) Therefore, if there is 1 companion would like to join me for the blood donation, I am quite exhilarate.

There was 1 time when I managed to invite a newcomer to Singapore to join me and it is quite diverting that my friend had been given a sticker "treat me nice. this is my first donation" to wear on, that was cute! My friend quite enjoying for his first blood donation in his life and he complain me that "why don't you invite me during our university time, instead, introduce this
bloody game to me only at today". And my answer was "Sorry that I missed out you as I had always been rejecting by my friends and I assume you would do that as well." Since that shameful experience, I keep reminding myself that, never assume the answer since you never try it.

For those who never experience blood donation, let's share my latest 'true story' in donating blood.

Firstly, form will be given to fill out with personal particulars and health information. I had my blood pressure taken and did a blood test to check if i have sufficient iron. finally, i was ready to give away my blood!

When my turn reached, i was seated on a high chaira lady checked both of my arms, then decided my left arm had a vein that was more suited for the blood to be drawn.

she rubbed disinfectant on the joint area of my right hand, then injected a painkiller. Then, the big hollow needle with the long tube went in and immediately, the tube was colored in red. i was given a blood-shaped squeeze ball that i had to squeeze every five seconds. Watching the bag at the side slowly filling up with my blood made me feel great.

450 milliliters of blood was drawn from me. in addition they also took away three or four test tubes of blood to conduct tests, which i thought was quite a waste. Last step is to wrap around my wound with colored gauze.





So if you are healthy, please donate your blood. I would do it again once i could, and that’s in three months’ time. If you are based in Singapore at the moment and would like to give it a try for your another 'first', you might arrange your time here Donorweb.