04 BORROMEO, RYKEIL H.

1G-MT MARCH 22, 2019

A. Reflection

GIVE BLOOD, SAVE LIVES: A HERO IN THE EYE OF BEHOLDER

During the Pharmacy Week, our class was tasked to participate and/or observe the blood donation
drive hosted by the Red Cross Youth Council (RCYC) in cooperation with the Organization of Medical
Technology Interns (OMTI) at the University of Santo Tomas. The blood drive, held in the lobby area of the
Tan Yan Kee (TYK) Building on March 12-13, 2019, is an annual event in the Pharmacy Week celebration.
It aims to raise awareness among students that they can save lives and improve the health of others by
donating blood; also, it encourages the students to donate blood without compensation and to support the
operation of safe and reliable blood services. The collected blood from the students will be used for the
benefit of the patients in the partner health institutions of the university where 4th year B.S. Medical
Technology students spend their internship year.

Our block was scheduled to observe last Tuesday, March 12, 2019, from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM in
the said activity area. During that event, we were able to observe quickly the materials and equipment used
in the screening of donors and the blood letting procedure itself. Unfortunately, we were asked by the
security officers to vacate the area and prohibited by the medical volunteers to take detailed pictures of the
materials and procedure because it violates the privacy of the patients and the volunteers themselves.
However, I was given the chance to take pictures that I ought to share with my classmates which is more
convenient and prevents disturbance towards the procedure being performed by medical volunteers, as
well as the promotion of patient comfortability.

In spite of this happening, some of my blockmates volunteered to donate but they did not qualify
due to certain conditions such as their weight, menstruation period and medicine intake. However, two of
them qualified and were able to donate blood. They told us the feeling of bloodletting—which is painful by
the time they inserted the needle, and a bit draining. We have seen how the medical volunteers performed
the procedure and it was done thoroughly. The volunteers were very accommodating, careful and organized
when attending patients and performing the procedure. Based on my observation, the bloodletting
procedure is not as daunting as what I have expected because of how they treat the patients. They assist
the patients with care, promotes respect for confidentiality, and ensures their safety while doing the
procedure.

After such, I came up with the realization that people, including me, should not be afraid of donating
blood because it only takes a small amount of time and a little sacrifice to help save a person. Imagine, it
only takes at least 10-15 minutes to save three meaningful lives, and it is only a pint of blood wherein you
can make a difference to a person’s life. Oftentimes, life is worth living if we know how to make sacrifices
for the betterment of others. It is not always about ourselves, but also to the common good of the people,
especially those who are in need. But, we should always remember to take care of ourselves because it is
true that “health is wealth” and how could we manage to help others if we cannot help ourselves.

We should always remember that blood drawn from our body could be regenerated, but a life taken
from the body could not be brought back. Let this meaningful activity serve as a lesson to every one of us,
especially among healthcare professionals who are the future of our nation. It is our duty to deliver the
utmost quality of healthcare towards our patients, and it is our dedication to serve the underserved people
of our community.
B. Materials and Equipment used in Blood Donation
MATERIAL/EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
Blood Pressure Monitor
(Sphygmomanometer)
This includes a stethoscope,
inflatable rubber cuff, bulb
which inflates the cuff, valve
which releases pressure,
and a graduated monitor
scale.
Evacuated Tubes (Red-top
and EDTA/Purple-top
Tubes)
These containers have
specific use and contains
additive that are in important
for certain blood assays. The
red-top tube is silicone-
coated and the purple-top
tube contains EDTA
(anticoagulant).
Blood Donor Beds
These foldable beds, which
are made out of steel frames
and highly durable cloth are
designed for use in blood
donation or collection
facilities. These are able to
accommodate patients in a
range of body sizes; donor
beds offer support for the
entire body and easily
transition between positions.
Sharps Container and
Yellow Plastic Bag
The sharps container is a
puncture-proof plastic
container that contains used
needles and broken glass.
On the other hand, the yellow
plastic bag indicates that the
waste is infectious and
should be disposed in the
correct disposal site of
hospital waste.
PURPOSE
This instrument is used to
measure the blood
pressure, particularly in
arteries of the patient to
determine if he/she is fit for
the bloodletting procedure.
A very high or low blood
pressure would indicate that
the person is not in the right
condition to participate in
the blood donation drive.
The red-top tube is used to
contain blood, it has clot
activator that promotes
blood clotting with silica
particles. While the EDTA
tube contains anticoagulant,
which prevents blood from
clotting by binding to the
calcium in the blood.
These beds are designed to
provide a higher level of
adjustability and comfort for
patients during phlebotomy
procedures or longer
treatments.
The purpose of these two
materials is to contain
infectious bloodletting
sharps and wastes which
are contaminated with
blood. The sharps container
is used to prevent the waste
collectors and hospital staffs
from getting needlestick
injuries while the yellow
plastic bag is used to
contain infectious wastes
which could harm the
people who are directly
exposed to it.
 Cotton Jars
These jars are usually made
out of stainless-steel alloy.
Syringe
A single-use medical device
which is a widely known
delivery system consisting of
a graduated barrel, hub,
plunger, and the needle.
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
In bloodletting or in a blood
bank laboratory, PPE
commonly include face
masks, lab gowns, and
disposable nitrile
examination gloves. PPE
should be worn when there is
contact with blood and other
bodily fluids.
Tourniquet
This is a constricting or
compressing device made
up of rubber that is being
used to control arterial and
venous blood flow to a
portion of an extremity for a
period of time.
Blood Grouping Antisera
There are three antisera
used in determining ABO
Blood Groups, namely; Anti-
A (blue), Anti-B (yellow), and
Anti-AB (clear).
These are being used to
contain cotton balls needed
for the application of 70%
isopropyl alcohol in the
puncture site.
The purpose of the syringe
is to withdraw blood from the
vein which is necessary for
blood screening purposes to
determine if the blood is fit
for donation and/or
transfusion.
The purpose of these PPE is
to protect the healthcare
worker, specifically the
phlebotomist, and the
patient from acquiring
infections and prevent the
spread germs in the working
area.
A tourniquet is used by the
phlebotomist to assess and
determine the location of a
suitable vein for
venipuncture.
These are used to
determine the blood type of
the patient which gives
information if he/she can
safely donate blood or
receive a blood transfusion
 Blood Transfusion Bags These blood transfusion
bags are designed to store
These are typically made out blood withdrawn from a
of sturdy clear plastic and volunteer for short periods
their insides are coated with of time.
various preservatives
(anticoagulants) and are
sterile to ensure that
the blood remains viable
until it is needed for a
transfusion.

Blood Bag Needle and The purpose of this needle

Collection Tube and tube set is to allow safe
and smooth transfer of
Needles used in blood blood from the vein to the
transfusions are usually blood transfusion bag.
gauge-16 or 17 to prevent
hemolysis of blood because
lower pressure is less
harmful to red blood cells
(RBCs) and it also allows
more blood to be collected in
a shorter time. The collection
is a flexible plastic that allows
transfer of blood from the
vein towards the blood bag.
Blood Donor’s Form This is being done to make
a legal agreement between
This form is filled out upon the donor and the blood
arrival at the blood collection collection facility, and also
site while being interviewed to know if the patient is
regarding the donor’s health suitable for the procedure.
history.

Phlebotomy Tray (Toolbox This tray is a compact,

Type) efficient way to store and
transport the essential
It contains all the materials materials for phlebotomy.
needed in performing
venipuncture or phlebotomy,
which makes the work easier
and more organized.
 Skin Antiseptics
This set contains cotton
balls, gauze pads (not shown
in the picture), 70% isopropyl
alcohol, and a surgical
adhesive tape.
Portable Hemoglobin
Analyzer
This device is palm-sized,
making it easily
transportable, and ideal for
use in any screening setting
even in challenging climatic
environments.
Stress Ball
This is a malleable toy made
out of gel, clay or form which
is squeezed by the hand and
manipulated by the fingers.
Weighing Scale
This is a device for
measuring the weight of an
object, typically a person.
*Photo was downloaded from the Internet
because it was not photographed during
the event.
These are used to clean and
disinfect the site for
venipuncture in order to
prevent infection or
contamination which may
affect the sample collected,
and the results (if for
testing). The adhesive tape
and gauze pads are used
after the procedure to cover
the puncture wound to
prevent it from
environmental
contaminants.
The purpose of using this
device in blood screening is
to test the hemoglobin and
hematocrit component of
the donor’s blood. This
determines whether the
donor is anemic or not.
Squeezing the stress ball
promotes blood flow from
within muscles into
superficial veins and thus
increased venous pressure,
keeping the veins full and
blood flowing.
This is used to determine if
the volunteer donor is fit for
the blood donation
procedure. It is important to
consider several factors
such as age and weight (at
least 110 pounds) before
performing the procedure to
the potential donor.
C. Donor Interview Questions

The following questions were asked to all interested and potential donors in the blood drive:

1. Are you feeling healthy today?

2. Currently taking medication?
3. Have you received any vaccinations? If so, how long ago?
4. Have you taken aspirin or anything that has aspirin in it?
5. Have you donated blood, platelet or plasma in the last 12 weeks?

In the last 12 months:

6. Have you had a blood transfusion?
7. Have you had surgery or surgical dental extraction?
8. Had a tattoo, ear, body piercing, needle stick incident, accidental contact with blood, or
acupuncture?
9. Had sexual contact with high risk individuals?
10. Had sexual contact for monetary or material gain?
11. Had sexual contact with anyone from abroad?
12. Have you engaged in casual sex?
13. Have you lived with a person with hepatitis?
14. Have you been imprisoned?
15. Have your relatives ever had mad cow disease?

Have you ever:

16. Lived outside your place of residence?
17. Lived outside the Philippines?
18. Used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by a doctor?
19. used clotting factor concentrates?
20. Had a positive test for HIV/AIDS virus, syphilis, hepatitis, or malaria?
21. Had hepatitis?
22. Had malaria?
23. Been told to treat a genital wart, syphilis, gonorrhea, other STDs?
24. Had any type of cancer?
25. Had any problems with your heart or lungs?
26. Had a bleeding condition or blood disease?
27. Are you giving blood because you wanted to be tested for HIV or Hepatitis?
28. Are you aware that if you have the AIDS, or hepatitis, virus, you can give it to someone else
though you may feel well and a negative HIV/hepatitis test?
29. How many hours did you sleep?
30. Have you eaten your previous meal?

Additional questions asked to female donors:

 Do/Did you have menstruation period today/in the past 7 days?
 Are you expecting for your menstruation period to come (starting today and/or in the next
7 days)?