-- I donated 350 ml of my blood --

This happened yesterday. DD Health Day. There were talks, health screening and lotsa other health related stuff, but of course i was only interested in the blood donation :)

I've been doing this once a year, every year since 2004. it started as a group activity. Other people like to hang out, see a movie, bowling etc etc. We (the lords) like doing that too, but we donated blood when we get a chance. If one of us knows that there'll be a blood donation drive, then she'll get the whole group excited about it and make our boyfriends excited bout it too. hoho~


I remembered my high school biology teacher told me that it's good to donate blood, so that your body will generate new blood cells. And it keeps you thin :) I dont know how true this is, i have never been interested in biology, but it's good and it keeps you thin. So i'm in!!! :)

There's nothing much to it really. First you have to fill in a form. Basically they want to know if you are fit to donate. Then they checked you blood pressure to make sure that ur BP is ok, not high not low and then they take ur blood sample to know your blood type (I'm a B!!!)

Then you wait for your turn to donate.

When it's your turn, you lie down on the chair and the nurse will give you a round thingy (see below) for you to hold. I think this is so that the nurse can easily identify and see your blood vessels. It helps if you have a "preferred hand side" either your left hand or your right where the blood vessel is easier to be seen. Then wait summore....

Then the nurse come back to you to insert a kinda big needle into the 'chosen' blood vessel. Usually, i turned away at this time. The pain is very minimal at you feel it only when the needle is inserted. After that full stream blood flow!!!!

I think it took about 30 minutes for my 350 ml pint to be completely filled up. It varies between people. Some people never get it filled up. I've seen two occasions when nurse just take the pint (barely full) and told the donater "that's all". Maybe there is a time limit or something...

Then you'll get this!!! Tarraaa~

After that, the needle will be removed and you are given a few minutes to rest (so that you body can adjust to the blood loss i guess). Cause some people might feel dizzy, or feel like they are fainting. Then they'll give you something to eat :)

Then i'll walk away from the blood donation drive place feeling good & proud that i have give something back to the human race and with a small scar on my hands where the needle has been. hoho~