I had blood donation at a GH blood drive set in my campus this late morning. Surprisingly I was the only donor then, so the entire process from registration to the end of the donation was pretty fluent without the need to queue.
I enjoy blood donation but there is one necessary step of it I never like – the finger-prick blood sampling, which the capillary blood is collected by lancing a finger. Typically, the medical assistant will cleanse the area to be pricked with an alcohol swab and then prick with a blood lancet. Ouch! I recall I was shocked by pain for the first time I did finger-prick because I was unprepared for the trigger mechanism of the blood lancet (I didn’t know how it works). Since then I have a little fear whenever dealing with it.
I proceeded to blood drawing after going through some examinations. The medical assistant first pressed on my elbow pit searching for my vein location. When it was found, she cleansed the skin on top with antiseptic and used a large needle to pierce it. My blood spurted out through the needle instantly.
I was given a rod to hold and squeeze repeatedly to increase the blood flow.
The drawing completed in less than 10 minutes and a pack of 450ml warm blood is ready to serve. 
Didn’t know it was your first time donating blood. Lucky that it wasn’t that bad…
Comment by LalalA — August 20, 2008 @ 2:02 pm |
No it was my third time actually.
Comment by Alliraph — August 20, 2008 @ 4:51 pm |
>.< i wonder y you’ll still so ‘psyched’ after going through the same thing three times.. mayb you don’t fell that way, but i feel as if you feel that way when i read your blog…
Comment by LalalA — August 21, 2008 @ 6:49 pm |
Psyched? Is it a new vocab for me?
I would say my case is similar to those who have fear of balloon’s popping.
But the feelings gets over once it’s pricked.
Comment by Alliraph — August 21, 2008 @ 7:10 pm |
Hi there, are you from USM? thinking of taking GRE as well. Are you still an undergrad?
Comment by usm — August 31, 2008 @ 3:56 am |
Hello,
No, I ain’t from USM. I’m a MMU undergrad, senior student. You must be an USMian huh? Which campus?
Comment by Alliraph — August 31, 2008 @ 11:58 am |
I am from the main campus at Penang island. It is good for you to practice for your GRE many months ahead. My girlfriend’s coursemates(6 or 7 all having first class honours) from UPM took the GRE without much preparation ended up ALL failing it at the standard of NUS postgrad intake. I am currently a master student planning to take GRE general and physics paper maybe around next year. Good luck to you and maybe we can share some tips.
Comment by usm — September 2, 2008 @ 2:33 am |
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Comment by sandrar — September 11, 2009 @ 3:50 am |
Thanks Sandra. I’ve not logged in for quite some time. Soon I’ll set up my personal website. Will write more then. Do stay tuned. I’ll make an announcement of the setup.
Comment by Alliraph — September 11, 2009 @ 3:56 am |