Due to the festivities, I could not find the time & energy to go down to the Blood Centre@SGH to do so.
For the 1st time, after having been donating for years, I actually asked the nurse whether I am able to take some photos of the process to share with you all. Hopefully in doing so, I am able to eradicate some common fears & misconceptions associated with blood donation.
Is Donating Blood Safe?
Blood donation is a safe procedure.
It takes only about 45 minutes (whole blood donation).
Donors give about 10-12% of their circulating blood volume during each blood donation.
In general, blood donation, whether whole blood or apheresis (plasma/platelets), does not usually have significant adverse effects on a donor's health.
Healthy adult donors who meet the required screening criteria should be able to donate safely and regularly.
What Types of Blood Donation are There?
Whole Blood Donation
450-mL, or less than 1 pint, of whole blood is collected from each donor in a plastic bag that contains an anticoagulant preservative.
Apheresis Component Donation
Apheresis is a specialized form of blood donation in which only one specific blood component (either platelets, plasma or red cells) are extracted from the donor.
It is slightly more physically demanding than a whole blood donation. The process is also longer, about 45 to 90 minutes.
Apheresis enables the collection of highly concentrated packets of platelets, red cells or plasma, as compared to normal whole blood donations.
Apheresis appeals to many donors because it allows them to donate many more times a year. An apheresis donor can potentially donate up to 12 times a year, as opposed to just 4 times a year for whole blood donations.
The Donation Process
It should take 45 minutes for a blood donation, and up to 90 minutes for apheresis donations – the minutes you spend making a donation will certainly be time well spent!
1) Registration
Your personal particulars will be recorded and you will be asked to fill in a health assessment questionnaire.
2) Medical screening
A doctor or nurse will ask you about your medical and social history to confirm that you are fit to make a donation, after which your weight, blood pressure, pulse and body temperature will be taken.
Your blood haemoglobin level will be checked to ensure that you can make a donation.
4) Blood donation
Your arm will be cleaned, after which a local painkiller will be applied to ensure that you feel no pain during the donation.
It wasn't as bad as it looks k!
Insertion of the larger needle
Blood starts to flow
Freely flowing....BTW, I was donating plasma, so abit different from whole blood.
Beside the "washing machine". Plasma is extracted from the whole blood which collects in the bag as yellow liquid. Then the red blood cells are returned back to me. Not everyone can do this. The nurse will check to make sure your veins are large enough to take it coz it might collapse during the "returning" process.
Me & my bag of warm plasma!
Bandage which I have to wear for 2-3 hours. They din have my favourite colour thus the bright pink.
5) Refreshments
After the donation, you will be required to rest briefly and have some light refreshments before resuming normal activities.
It's that simple!
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