My First Blood Donation in Bangkok: A Unique Experience at Wong Sawang “Traditional Thai House”
Inspired by friends who regularly donate blood and knowing many close to me are disqualified due to health conditions, I finally decided it was my turn to contribute. At an age past half the average life expectancy for Malaysian women, and having finally met the minimum weight requirement (after years of being underweight, and now just barely, as I’m back to being under-qualified!), I felt compelled to help stock Thailand’s blood bank. Even though my blood type is a universal recipient, I still felt incredibly welcomed.
While many suggest the National Blood Centre on Henry Dunant Road, the Traditional Thai House at Wong Sawang immediately caught my eye. The charm of a traditional setting combined with its convenient location close to where I live was incredibly appealing.
Navigating My First Donation
As a first-time donor, I was a bit clueless. Arriving via the MRT Purple Line, I walked in and was promptly greeted by staff. They asked me to fill out a form, which was initially in Thai, but they quickly provided an English version.
After completing the form, a staff member took my blood pressure. It was surprisingly high at 131/114! I was offered free water and told to drink up, which helped bring it down dramatically to 80/54. The staff member, who spoke English, then gave me the all-clear to move on to the nurse for a final check, where my blood pressure read 125/74. This is my usual range, and the nurse suggested the initial extreme high and low readings might have been due to how I positioned my arm in the first machine.
I was directed to a smaller building closest to the entrance. Here, my details were taken down (my English details took them a bit longer to process than for the Thai donors), and then I moved to another counter within the same small space. A few more questions were asked, and my blood pressure was checked again – thankfully, it passed this time! When asked if I had eaten, I admitted I hadn’t. I was then kindly asked to grab a bite and return in an hour. A quick walk across the road for some noodles, and I was back! Oh, and I was also given iron pills and a donor card!
The Donation Process and Unexpected Souvenir!
In the blood donation section, I was asked whether I preferred to use my left or right arm. With no preference, the nurse checked both and found that veins in both arms were suitable, so my left arm was chosen. I was given a “stress ball” and instructed to continuously grip and release to encourage blood flow.
During the donation, the nurse placed something on my stomach area as I lay down. It was a blood donation pin – a “souvenir!” I found it quite amusing; couldn’t they have given it to me when I was done?
Upon finishing, they made sure I wasn’t dizzy before letting me sit up. I was then invited to enjoy some free drinks and snacks provided outside, near where I had initially filled out the form. After re-hydrating with water, juice, and dorayaki, I was pointed to the “sponsor” counter. To my surprise, I was given an MRT card worth 200 baht! I was also asked to fill out a survey. When I mentioned the language barrier, they simply said it was okay. The entire process, including my mandatory “breakfast,” took me about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Without the meal break, I believe it could be completed in under an hour.
A Meaningful Follow-Up & Will I Donate Again?
Few weeks after my donation, I received an SMS message thanking me for my contribution. The message also stated something along the lines of, “Your blood is a quality blood, already processed and benefit others.” This small gesture was a wonderful confirmation of the impact of my donation!
Absolutely! This was a positive and relatively seamless experience, made easier by the helpful, English-speaking staff. However, now that my weight is back below the minimum requirement, it looks like it’ll be a while before my next donation. But I’ll definitely be back when I can!
Plan Your Visit
- Location: Traditional Thai House (A unit of the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society)
- Nearest MRT: MRT Purple Line, Wong Sawang Station, Exit 1. Walk straight for approximately 350 meters until you see the Thai Red Cross logo. (Be aware that Google Maps’ pin for this location might be incorrect.)
- Opening Hours: Every day, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Lunch break from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
- Facebook: Thai Red Cross Society
- Tel: 02 256 4300
