30-time blood donor among recipients of Red Cross award
Mr Shanmugam Elangovan (left), 25, who has donated blood 30 times, and Mr Benjamin Ang, 21, who has donated blood 37 times, are among two blood donors receiving awards at the World Blood Donor Day event. Photo: Loh Wei Xin
SINGAPORE – He started donating blood at age 16, but it was a story told to him by his grandmother that drove home the reality of what it meant to save a life for Mr Shanmugam Elangovan, and convinced him to become a regular donor.
His uncle had gotten into a bad accident and was in desperate need of a blood transfusion, and would have died if his brother had not rallied his friends to donate blood to save his life.
“If the reason for someone to live was just that they needed my blood, then maybe I can give it now,” said Mr Shanmugam, 25, who now donates blood platelets monthly — 30 times to date, sitting down for about two hours at a time.
He is among the 1,554 blood donors who will be honoured today at the World Blood Donor Day event, organised by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to recognise their contributions.
“The challenges of the imminent future, such as ageing, will result in an increase in blood demand,” said SRC secretary-general Benjamin William, estimating said increase at 3 to 5 per cent yearly.
The number of units of blood donated has mostly been flat since 2012 — it was 108,058 last year, down from 111,626 in 2013 — but the SRC estimates it will need at least 120,000 units this year.
Mr Shanmugam, who runs his own business, will be receiving the Bronze award, given to those who have donated more than 25 times. Another recipient of the Bronze award is Mr Benjamin Ang, 21, who has donated blood on 37 occasions.
Mr Ang was first encouraged to donate blood by his father, who himself will be receiving the Medal of Life award for donating more than 200 units of blood. What strengthened his resolve was seeing leukaemia patients in dire need of blood transfusions while on a job-shadowing stint at National University Hospital. “What most people don’t realise is ... how big an impact (donating blood) has on other people’s lives,” said Mr Ang, who is waiting to start National Service.
Both Mr Shanmugam and Mr Ang donate blood platelets monthly, which takes twice as long compared to donating blood. Blood platelets are used to treat patients with leukaemia and dengue, and are in high demand as they “expire” after only five days.
The long wait does not worry Mr Ang: “I know that my platelets are going to someone who needs them more urgently.”
In trying to talk their friends into donating regularly, they encounter similar resistance. “Some people have a huge phobia of needles, and they are very intimidated by the amount of blood they have to donate,” said Mr Ang, who has nevertheless convinced around seven friends to donate regularly.
Both donors emphasised that blood donation is not painful, as local anaesthesia is provided, and nurses do their best to make sure donors are comfortable. Because of the long process for donating platelets, donors are even shown movies. Once, a nurse stayed to massage his arm to increase his blood flow, said Mr Shanmugam.
Ultimately, Mr Shanmugam felt donating would always be worth the time and inconvenience, because it could be the difference between life and death,
“You’re helping someone at the highest level you can,” he said. “Since it takes so little effort, and makes you feel this way, maybe it’s worthwhile to keep on doing it.”
