Give Blood. Give Life.

This must be one of the most memorable experiences in my life. Me and my friend, Lea Marie, donated blood at the Philippine National Red Cross, Main Headquarters, after we had our First Aid Training and Basic Life Support Training last 2009.

It was a memorable one since I almost died. Well, not really. But I fainted while I was on my way home. When I reached our condo in Pasay, I didn't know what happened to me. My mom took my blood pressure and it was 70/30. Imagine yourself having that reading; I'm pretty sure you'd panic, too.

All in all, it was such a fulfilling act. First, blood donation is actually good since you save other people's lives. Second, it is good for the donor.

Blood Donation: Basic Requirements

Who can donate blood?

You can donate blood if you…

• Are in good health

• Are between 16 to 65 years old (16 and 17 years old need parents consent);

• Weigh at least 110 pounds;

• Have a blood pressure between: Systolic: 90-160 mmHg, Diastolic: 60-100 mmHg; and

• Pass the physical and health history assessments.

PRC Blood Services Facilities carefully screen potential donors. The screening guidelines are necessary to ensure that blood donation is safe for you and that it is safe for the person who will be receiving your blood.

In the screening process, you have to fill out a blood donation questionnaire form that includes direct questions about behaviors known to carry a higher risk of blood-borne infections—infections that are transmitted through the blood. These behaviors include prostitution, intravenous drug use and others. A trained physician will be asking you about your medical/ health history, and a physical examination will be conducted—which includes checking your blood pressure, pulse and temperature. All of the information from this evaluation is kept strictly confidential.

During your blood donation screening procedure, a small sample of blood taken from a finger prick is used to check your hemoglobin level, the oxygen-carrying component of your blood. If your hemoglobin concentration is normal, and you've met all the other screening requirements, you can donate blood.

♥ Preparation before donating blood

• Have enough rest and sleep.

• No alcohol intake 24 hours prior to blood donation.

• No medications for at least 24 hours prior to blood donation.

• Have something to eat prior to blood donation, avoid fatty food.

• Drink plenty of fluid, like water or juice.

♥ Steps in donating blood

• Have your weight taken.

• Register and honestly and complete the donor registration form.

• Have your blood type and hemoglobin checked.

• A physician will conduct a blood donor examination.

• Actual donation--the amount of blood to be donated (either 350cc or 450cc) will depend on the donor's weight and blood pressure. It usually takes 10 minutes or less.

• A 5 to 10 minute rest and plenty of fluid-intake are necessary after donation.

♥ What to do after blood donation?

• Drink plenty of fluid, like water or juice.

• Refrain from stooping down after blood donation.

• Refrain from strenuous activities like:

     a. Lifting heavy objects;

     b. Driving big vehicles such as bus, trucks, etc.; or

     c. Operating big machines.

• Avoid using the punctured arm in lifting heavy objects.

• Apply pressure on the punctured site and lift the arm in case the site is still bleeding.

• If there is discoloration and swelling on the punctured site, you may apply cold compress for 24 hours.

• If there is dizziness, just lie down with your feet elevated. Drink plenty of juice; and in just a few minutes or so, it will pass.

  

Where can I donate blood?

Use the PRC Blood Services Facility Directory to find the blood donation center nearest you, and then contact the blood center to find out more about the requirements.

You can actually contact the Philippine Red Cross. Another good thing about blood donation is that you will be able to know your blood type. I have friends who don't even know their blood type until now.

Lea Marie's experience.

Easy lang siya.

Ayaaaaan na!

Kawawa naman the stress ball.

My turn!

Preparing.

Looking for the right vein.

Ayaaaan na!

Araaaaay! Ang shakit!

Mine.

:)

Philippine Red Cross

Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, PO Box 280, Manila 2803
Telephone: 527-0856
Fax: 527-0857
E-mail: prc@redcross.org.ph

Try it! I assure you that after you have donated blood, you will feel good! :)

Instant Doodle

What happened when P fell asleep? Look...

Wanted!

O sige! I-extend mo pa kamay mo ha... Hahaha!

Closer look.

Stars

Himbing ng tulog mo bebe ah.

Our future house.

Us :)

"Huh? What are these?"

"Grabe! May topak talaga girlfriend ko."

From Planking to Owling

Owling refers to the act of sitting in a perched position while looking off into the distance as to mimic the posture of an owl.

Because planking is so last month, look at the owling photos below. (Seriously? Owling?)

PS: I do not own the photos.

THIS.IS.A.REAL.OWL.

MayPasokBa.com

Hahahaha! This is insanely cool! I was about to sleep when I stumbled upon this website that tells if your University/School/College has classes on that day.

Maypasokba.com may not be an official source, but its moderator/admin tries to get details not just from news and government offices.

The effort seems to be much appreciated. Maypasokba.com has so many followers both in Facebook and Twitter. Coooooool!

O ayan! May pasok na daw mga estudyante. Be safe and dry everyone!

Nail Hardener

For someone like me who used to have a very soft, sensitive nails, I bet you once thought, too, of using garlic to make it harder. Yeah, until now, I need to maintain my long nails strong and the polish should not chip after 1-2 days. A nail hardener is my number one solution for that! Say goodbye to the natural, old way of hardening your nails!

Caronia's Nail Hardener and Base Coat

Taaaada! Presenting, the number one "must have" on my beauty tools, Caronia's Nail Hardener and Base coat. Aside from being affordable, it helps strengthen my nails to resist breaking. Caronia's nail hardener is a dual-purpose nail hardener and base-coat. It does the job really good and it has a very glossy finish. I just follow the instructions-- “Apply one coat of Caronia Nail Hardener and Base Coat. Let dry, then apply 2 coats of Caronia nail polish. Apply every other day for 2 weeks to help harden nails.”

It's pretty affordable and it comes in 15ml(P44.00) and 30ml(P61.00) sizes. This is available in all leading department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, and health & beauty shops in the Philippines nationwide.

Payless Booties

Few months from now, I am moving in to a country which has winter. Yey! I need to find a pretty boots of course! I am not only after the fashionable look; it should be durable and resilient to the worst of winter weather conditions, too. Yes. The shopping part excites me more! 

Lower East Side Sayde Anne Short Shaft Boot in gray

Lower East Side Riley Tall Slouch Boot in gray

Are they pretty? I am seriously considering these booties!

Bag-a-holic Guide for Dummies: Part II

This blog post is a continuation of my Bag-a-holic Guide for Dummies: Part I


FOLD OVER BAG

A fold over is a bag with a handle that can be folded or stowed away, in order to transform the bag into a clutch. It's a great day-to-night option, since it doubles as both a roomy bag and a smaller, less intrusive purse.

Zara cream and black fold over bag

(Photo courtesy of Zara)

HOBO BAG

A hobo bag is usually large in size and made of material that's slouchy and soft. It's the complete opposite of a structured purse, since the hobo pretty much slumps over when unsupported.

Diesel maroon distressed leather hobo bag

(Photo courtesy of Diesel)

MINAUDIERE

A minaudiere is a small evening bag with no strap or handle. Hollywood celebrities usually carry variations of this style when walking the red carpet. A minaudiere may be encrusted with beads and stones or come in a sumptuous fabric.

Celestina sterling silver minaudiere

(Photo courtesy of Celestina)

SADDLE BAG

The saddle bag, like the doctor's bag and the bowling bag, is a type of bag that was initially more functional than stylish. It was traditionally fastened to the saddle on a horse for the rider to stow things in. Fashion-wise, it's a great accessory for vintage style outfits.

Raoul maroon suede saddle bag

(Photo courtesy of Raoul)

 SATCHEL

A satchel is a bag that often features a long strap to be worn over the shoulder. It usually has buckled closures in the front. It is commonly associated with English schoolboys, since it was traditionally used to carry books.

Cambridge Satchel Company chocolate brown satchel

(Photo courtesy of Cambridge Satchel Company)

SHOULDER BAG

A bag is considered a shoulder bag as long as it has a strap (or two) that can be worn over the shoulder. Functionality is what counts here, not the strap length.

Dorothy Perkins leopard print shoulder bag

(Photo courtesy of Dorothy Perkins)

SLING BAG

Like the cross body bag, the sling bag features a long strap that can be worn across the chest. However, this style is usually smaller in size and commonly worn over one shoulder.

Forever 21 baby blue ruched strap sling bag

(Photo courtesy of Forever 21)

TOP HANDLE

Top handle bags is what we often picture when we think of a bag. It has two handles that are not long enough to be worn over the shoulder, thus the need to clasp it with the hands or hang it over the crook of the arm.

Kate Spade dark lapis patent handbag

(Photo courtesy of Kate Spade)

TOTE

A tote (also known as a shopper) is typically large in size, since it's meant to carry a number of things at a time. It features a long handle on the center of each side and an open top (convenient for dumping things in!).

Raoul tan and black leather tote

(Photo courtesy of Raoul)

WRISTLET

A wristlet is a small bag that bears a striking resemblance to the clutch. The major difference is that a wristlet has a strap that a woman can wear on her wrist (hence the name) like a bracelet.

Burberry metallic gray zip detail wristlet

(Photo courtesy of Burberry)

Source.