First Medal For Life recipient keeps active and healthy so as to keep giving
By
Victoria Vaughan
WHAT began as a way to get a bit of shut-eye during army basic training turned into a lifelong habit of blood donation.
Mr James Law, 61, has now given blood a total of 217 times, more than any other donor in Singapore. He is the first recipient of a Medal For Life award, given on Saturday by the Singapore Red Cross for having donated more than 200 times.
More needed
SINGAPORE'S hospitals require 250 to 300 units of blood a day. The Singapore Red Cross with its partner, the Blood Services Group of the Health Sciences Authority, must increase the number of regular blood donors from 1 to 2 per cent by next year to meet the transfusion needs of all local hospitals.
At least 300 to 400 blood donors need to come forward each day to ensure a healthy stock level.
The bachelor first gave blood when he joined the army in 1968 and the mobile blood bank came visiting one day.
'I didn't know anything about blood donation at all. We were in between exercises in camp and they rounded us all up and told us that those who wanted to go and donate blood would be given half a day's rest.'
That was reason enough to put his hand up. However, the retired captain and civilian IT systems administrator for the military has not rested when it comes to giving blood.
An individual can donate whole blood, comprising the red blood cells, platelets and plasma, three times to four times a year, but in the 1980s Mr Law began donating platelets, which can be given once a month.
'They spotted that I had big veins and asked if I would try out platelet donation,' he said.
It takes 45 minutes to an hour to donate platelets, instead of the 15 minutes to 20 minutes for blood, as the blood has to be put through a machine to extract the platelets and then returned.
Platelets are often used to help those who cannot make enough for themselves, such as patients with leukaemia.
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
