Here, I've been more cautious. The Red Cross of Canada had some problems somewhat before I started to donate and I was concerned about hygiene and sterile condition here.
I watched how the process worked and was satisfied; single use needles, bags and tubing, and even the swabs used to disinfect were unsealed in front of me and immediately discarded.
I looked at the Bloodmobile as being a little too temporary or somehow lacking in solidity (and the bus did rock as candidates boarded or left -400grams lighter). Still, the blood donor clinic in my hometown arrived in trucks and was set up only for the day in a recreation centre, and the staff here were skilled and experienced.
In the picture below, we see a candidate on the left, filling out the required form. Soon, he will go into the private chamber behind him, take a blood-density test and confirm a few of the questions verbally. The nurse inside the privacy booth spoke no English but was comforted by my Canadian blood donor card and insistence that I was an appropriate candidate. She checked the boxes in the questionnaire in the correct order of 'yes's and 'no's (for the record, I think it was no, yes, then no all the way down).
To the right, in the picture are two people who have completed their donation and recovering with drinks and snacks.
The nurse here found my vein (or artery, I don't know) with no trouble. I've never had trouble in that regard, though so I really can't say she was much better or worse than Canadian nurses. I'm quite proud of my blood donor abilities, in fact. Plug me in and don't go far because it won't take long - funny, my wife was saying the same thing, the other day.
In Canada, one can donate blood every two months or so. I don't know how long one must wait here. I will donate again but I can wait; I was unusually dizzy for the afternoon and evening. The inside of my elbow remains bruised four days later.
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I had to read this over twice to see if I had missed something. Are you saying that you donated blood in Korea? KOREA?
I was under the impression (because I've been told several times by blood donation banks/busses/stations)that I couldn't becasue I am a foreigner. And my father was told the same thing (much to his chagrin). Maybe it's just my family? ^^
Huh. Odd. But good for you!
Have a good week ~
I read your first paragraph and was worried your next would be about dirty needles and how I basically ridden the short bus to Hepititusville.
Yes, I gave blood in Korea.
Today, I recieved a letter about the blood I gave them - blood proteins are normal and such. I teach a class with doctors in it so I'll ask them about the letter.
When I was in college, I went to donate blood in spite of my needle phobia. I figured if I was lying down it would be okay.I tried what I would term now as self-hypnosis, but my veins contracted nearly as soon as they jabbed me, and I became clammy and started semi-passing out. It is the worst feeling I can think of. I held out for a couple minutes, but they took note of my discomfort and the fact that my veins were doing their best not to give up any blood--we would have been there a looong time to get the pint I owed them. They unhooked me, and made me lie down for a good half hour before letting me go.
If someone's life depended on my blood at a given time, of course I'd give it another go. But I think it's a good thing to do if you can.
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