Make one blood donation Save three precious lives
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“Give blood right now! Do it regularly! One donation can save three lives!” Blood donation is not a one-off endeavour. It is important for the public to walk the talk and make donation to achieve stable blood supply in Hong Kong. This is particularly meaningful because the blood donated not only can save patients’ lives, it can also bring them hope and blessings. But given the limited shelf life of blood, the BTS has to collect 650 units of blood every day to provide sufficient blood for clinical transfusions in hospitals across the city. A single bag of whole blood donated can save three or more patients, allowing them a chance to live a new life.
To encourage more youngsters to keep alive the spirit of “Give blood, save lives”, Hong Kong Red Cross launched the “Young Donor Medal” scheme. Those who give blood three times before turning 26 years of age will receive a medal as a recognition. We are looking forward to the strong support of our young colleagues; so please join us and donate blood to help others!
“I have been donating whole blood, which contains all the blood components, since 1972 when I was 21 years old. During this 50-year stint, I gave blood once every 75 days and have successfully donated whole blood 190 times, making me the record holder of whole blood donation in Hong Kong. I still remember the time when I met my secondary school principal during my second blood donation. Deeply impressed by the fact that he had already made 50 donations, I realised that blood donation is harmless to health and started to make a habit of it. I also encourage my fellow colleagues friends to donate blood regularly so as to promote this meaningful deed and share the joy of saving lives. If my health permits, I will continue to give blood until the age of 75, which is the limit set by the Hong Kong Red Cross, in the hope of breaking the record of 200 blood donations by then. I believe that the power of an individual, which is like a drop in the ocean, is limited but when we act together, our combined efforts would achieve significant results. My biggest hope is that more people will be inspired to perform good deeds and give blood to save lives.”
As long ago as 1994, Mr Kwan had donated blood for 75 times and was awarded a donation badge at the Annual Donor Award Ceremony of the Hong Kong Red Cross. The story was covered by issue no. 28 of the Civil Service Newsletter. When interviewed again this year about his blood donation record, Mr Kwan said the figure has already reached 190. He wrote a Chinese poem to express his strong belief in saving lives through blood donation, and to encourage colleagues in the civil service to do the same.
“My parents were regular blood donors and would take me along to donation centres when I was still a little boy. Under their influence, I had always wanted to be a regular donor since childhood because blood donation not only helps patients, it also constitutes a healthy lifestyle. That is why I became a donor as soon as I reached 16. Later I switched to Apheresis donation, which involves separation of plasma and platelets from blood by machines. I have made more than 200 Apheresis donations since then. Unlike whole blood donation, Apheresis allows donors to recover quicker, making it possible for them to donate every two weeks. I would pay more attention to my health conditions to ensure that donation can be made every two weeks, thus helping others and myself.”
The two civil servants have set a good example for their fellow colleagues by promoting the good cause of helping others through blood donation. They hope that all civil servants and the public would join them, become avid blood donors and save more lives.
