Can you supply the Missing Type?
Blood cells transport life-giving oxygen to our organs, and fight off infections. Many surgical and medical procedures require blood transfusions, so there is constant demand for donor blood.
Can you help fill the Missing Types... of blood that is?
Come join the NYP Blood Donation drive on 4-7 July. The bi-annual event, now in its 16th year, is organized by our Community Service Club, in collaboration with the Singapore Red Cross. This event is open to NYP students as well as the public.
Then, this year, share and create awareness for the event: Drop the A�s, B�s and O�s in your name and share it on social media in conjunction with the Missing Type campaign. A, B and O are the 3 out of the 4 blood types (the last blood type being AB) in the human body, with each compatible with a specific few other blood types.
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| The NYP�s Community Service Club driving the blood donation message home |
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| Our friendly mascot at NYP's Koufu encouraging diners to save lives. |
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| Dropping out the As, Bs and Os from their names |
The process of blood donation
1) Registration
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| Potential blood donors register at the NYP Auditorium (or at the booths outside Food Central before 4 July) by providing their personal particulars and travel history. |
2) Checkup
Donors go through a medical screening and blood test before the actual donation. The medical screening ensures that participants are medically fit to donate, while the blood test makes certain the individual has the minimum blood hemoglobin level for the blood donation.
3) Blood donation
4) Snacks
After the blood donation, participants are provided with light snacks and encouraged to rest before resuming their daily activities.
To better understand why donate blood and the importance of it, we have decided to interview a few NYP students and staff to find out what does blood donation meant to them.
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| Tay Yong Qing from the School of Business Management. |
First off, we have Tay Yong Qing from the School of Business Management's (SBM) Diploma of Accountancy and Finance, the current vice president of the Community Service Club (CSC) and 5-time blood donor. She commented that waking up healthy and alive everyday was something she has been taking for granted, and wanting to share this gift of life with other is what drives her decision to be a repeated donor. Her inclination to donate blood started as young as secondary school but was unable to as blood donor must be at least 16 year of age and her first blood donation was at her 16th birthday!
How did your first blood donation go? Were you scared of needles?
Initially, I was really afraid of the needle. But I discovered that it is painless! Now, I am not worried about the needles, but I do worry that I will be rejected due to low hemoglobin levels. Overall, blood donation has been a pleasant experience for me. I felt that I had done something meaningful and it is something beyond what words can describe.
How did you come to realise the importance of blood donation?
I passed by a blood bank and became curious about blood donation. I began to research online to find out more about it. The demand for blood is high. I hope to be more socially responsible and play a part in this community I lived in.
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| Kai from the School of Chemical and Life Sciences. |
Mohammad Khairul bin Amat Amin, or Kai, is a member of the Community Service Club. The Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences student from the School of Chemical & Life Sciences says that he was moved because some people are in desperate need of blood to live through an operation or transplant.
What does donating blood mean to you?
Knowing that my blood will be put to good use spurs me on.
How did your first blood donation go?
A little nerve racking, but I wasn't really afraid because I trust the skills and knowledge of our nurses. I just didn�t want to faint after donating. Thankfully that hasn't happened!
Mr Sim Tze Jan, lecturer from the School of Interactive & Digital Media.
He has decided to donate blood because he can. There are many, he reasons, who can�t because of health reasons. As to why he donates? He promptly replies: �I hope I have saved someone�s life with my blood.�
If someone were to ask you why they should be donating blood, what would you say?
If you can, why not? The first time is always the hardest, after that, it gets a lot easier.
Any comments or advice to fellow NYPians who are considering donating blood but aren�t too sure yet?
If you are still curious about blood donation and wondering where to look for more information, do check out the Health Science Authority website on blood donation here
And to potential blood donors, we hope to see you in our next NYP blood donation drive happening from 4-7 July! Remember, it does not take much to save lives, a single donation from you can save up to three lives!
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By Christopher Teo Yu Yuan, Diploma in Medicinal Chemistry A smile is a curve that sets things straight. Never be afraid to try. Even if we fail, there is no better way to live. |
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