Written by Matt Ashenden
As a nursing student, I’m always looking for simple ways to make a real difference — and one of the easiest is something I’ve built into my routine. It involves drinking plenty of water, a little needle, and lots of snacks. That’s right – it’s donating blood!
I normally choose to give plasma, as you can donate every two weeks, meanwhile for whole blood you have to wait at least four weeks. A plasma donation usually takes about 40 minutes, and is vital for treating over 18 different conditions. Here’s what a donation day looks like for me:
Preparation actually starts the day before – I get a reminder text that my appointment is tomorrow, and immediately it’s time to start drinking as much water as physically possible. I’ve found through experience that the more hydrated you can get, the quicker and more comfortable the donation will be. Also, water is good for you anyways!
Right before my appointment, I make sure to have something good to eat and another big drink of water then waltz on in to the centre, greeted by the friendliest smiles. All of the staff at the Port Macquarie centre are just lovely, and make the whole process a fun time with their chats and jokes.
There’s a little interview before my appointment where they check my blood pressure and haemoglobin, go through a questionnaire to make sure I’m all good to donate, then it’s time to get started! (Not before a lightning-fast bathroom trip – once they hook you up there’s no pee breaks.)
Going through to the donation floor, I get nice and comfy and wait for the OUCH part to be over. The staff member finds a nice juicy vein and pops a needle in there, gets me a heat pack, and we’re off.
Now I get to sit back and relax, sip on a milkshake and chat away. After the donation is all done it’s time for some hard-earned snacks! My favourite has got to be the pies and sausage rolls – always hot and cooked to perfection.
Did you know just one donation can be used for up to 3 lifesaving treatments? It really is the easiest way to save lives, and it feels great knowing that just by taking some time out of my day (and blood out of my veins) I’m able to give someone out there a chance to get better. 1 in 3 Australians will need a life-saving blood therapy at some point in their lives, that could be you or someone you love relying on donors to roll up their sleeve. If you can spare an hour of your time, get down to the donor centre and become a lifesaver!
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
