Donating blood in Thailand.

At school it was time to donate blood again. The mobile blood bus and the volunteers arrive and the older students and teachers can then line up to fill a few bags of blood.

Many girls cannot donate as they are underweight for their height and also haven’t eaten breakfast or slept enough hours the night before. This girl had no worries. She was a little shy though.

The boys don’t have too many problems donating, not too many are turned away. This boy was very happy and had a big smile on his face.

The teachers also get involved. Here some good blood is filling the bags.

This young guy has just finished donating and nearly recovered enough to make a move to the feeding table.

And here’s another happy student in the process of giving.

For anyone who hasn’t donated blood the process is easy, it is pretty much the same in any countries. The same thing happens here as in Australia. Here you fill out the questionnaire and then have a BP test. This is Master Lou the Chinese teacher. He speaks fluent English and Thai as well.

Then you move onto a blood screen. There is a small prick on the end of your finger and then a glass slide and a few small tubes are filled of your blood. You then collect your bags and move off to a bed.

Here the needle is just starting to make its way into my vein. It didn’t take long to fill the bags, very quick and also painless.

To anyone who has never donated blood, do it. I didn’t donate until I was mid twenties. I first donated when a bunch of mates went to a mobile blood bank in front of a job site where we were working. I then donated regularly.

I always felt guilty I didn’t do it early in my life. I felt this way as hospitals always need blood, especially some blood types. I am type A. I donate hoping that my blood is used to help a person who really needs it, a person whose luck needs changing and if my blood can help, then great.

I am also an organ donor. I am registered and carry a card with me. When the time comes I do not need anything, as I am dead. If my organs can be harvested and save another person’s life or extend their life, then great.

I am not preaching but these are my views, I believe people are selfish who don’t donate their organs, they aren’t any use to you when you are dead. I know some religions and so forth stop people doing this.

So, take the time to donate blood and hopefully help save a person’s life. Also sit down and seriously think about donating organs when you die. I have watched so many shows where you watch poor young kids slowly dying waiting for a transplant, thankfully some of their wishes are granted but sadly many aren’t.

Well, that’s enough of that. These are my views on this topic.

Brunty