I Finally Donated Blood: No Big Deal But Also Kind of a Big Deal
Finally got around to donating blood at the Blood Bank @ Dhoby Ghaut. Been saying I’d do it for years – you know how it goes. You think “yeah that’s a good thing I should do” then proceed to never actually do it. Classic.
My buddy and I were hanging out, talking about random stuff when blood donation came up. Instead of just nodding along like usual, we looked at each other and went, “Screw it, let’s actually do it this time.” Sometimes you need that accountability partner to get off your ass and follow through.
The Logistics
Singapore’s Blood Bank has their shit together. Booked online in like 30 seconds. Pick a slot, confirm, done. No paper forms to print or fax like it’s 1997.
Pro tip: Eat something substantial and chug water beforehand. They’ll reject you if you show up running on fumes and Red Bull.
The Screening
Not gonna lie – I was more worried about failing the screening than the actual needle. There’s a weird fear of someone being like “Sir, your blood is garbage and you should feel bad.” They make you fill out forms about your sexual history, travel, and whether you’ve done drugs. Standard stuff.
They pricked my finger for some hemoglobin test. I have no idea what the normal range is, but apparently mine was fine. Both of us passed, which felt like more of an accomplishment than it probably should have.
The Main Event
I’m not freaked out by needles exactly, but I’m not trying to watch one slide into my arm either. The phlebotomist (had to Google that term) was solid – quick, efficient, minimal drama.
The actual donation took maybe 10 minutes. They took 400ml, which sounds like a lot but is actually just a small percentage of what’s sloshing around in your body. Felt a mild weird sensation but nothing worth complaining about.
Best part: got to lie down for 10 minutes without anyone bothering me. Almost took a nap.
The Aftermath
They load you up with snacks afterward. Nothing fancy – crackers, Milo, that kind of thing. But free food is free food. They also give you iron supplements that I’ll probably forget to take.
Was I a bit lightheaded? Yeah. Did I almost trip walking to the MRT? Maybe. But I was fine after 30 minutes and a sandwich.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the thing: donating blood is one of those rare situations where you can do something genuinely useful without much effort. Your blood regenerates, someone else gets to not die, and you get free crackers. Solid deal all around.
If you’re on the fence, just do it. The Blood Bank @ Dhoby Ghaut runs like a well-oiled machine. In and out in under an hour. Your Instagram scrolling can wait.
And yeah, that warm fuzzy feeling of doing something decent? It’s real. Not life-changing, but better than the empty dopamine hit from buying crap online you don’t need.
