Korean Job Discussion Forums

julian_w · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 7:37 am Post subject: B- blood donations wanted

We're calling for all healthy able-bodied souls to help out here with a drop or two of blood, if you have B-. Apparently in this case O is not adequate, and B- is pretty rare among Koreans, and so, if possible, please consider helping out and getting it earmarked/ tagged to be sent to Chonnam University Hospital, re.: Sarah Graydon.

If it can't be sent, but if you can come to visit Gwangju, Jeollanamdo, from out of town, please let me know. If you want to visit on Saturday morning my girlfriend and I'll be happy to meet you at the bus terminal, pay for the cab to the hospital, and treat you to a meal and/ or a drink after.

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/148586511986091/?fref=ts

BTW, there's also a longer-term need for a hand with funds: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-help-sarah

Waygeek · Joined: 27 Feb 2013

Uh, we can give blood? I'm B...+ I think, I used to donate back home. I'd love to do it here too, I just figured they wouldn't take it...

Any online documentation about donating blood here as a waygook?

julian_w · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 7:42 pm Post subject:

Apparently you need to have lived in Korea for one year to donate. Typically, you will also need to have someone who can speak excellent Korean go with you, but at Chonnam National University I'm pretty sure they have someone there who will speak enough English. Regardless, I'll go and check on it this afternoon and get back to you on this point, and the procedure there in general.
One more detail one kind Sarah mentioned on the facebook group is, "to donate you can't have visited a country that has malaria - anywhere warm or have lived in England."

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Waygeek · Joined: 27 Feb 2013

Well, I'd be ok... except I have been to warm countries; what's that about lol?? Korea is the warmest country I've been to!! Laughing

fezmond · Joined: 27 Oct 2008

Why not having lived in England?

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

artyom · Joined: 28 Jul 2007

julian_w · Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:27 am Post subject:

From what i heard before, yes, the concern with blood from the UK stems from fears over mad cow disease.

The story about blood donation within Korea in general seems to be that each blood donation clinic has its own policies as per restrictions (ie. read each clinician has their own personal hang ups... [*cough*].. anyway).

Blood donation
헌혈 (or 혈액 기증)

I want to donate my blood to Sarah Graydon in Chonnam National University Hospital.
병원에 있는 사라그레돈씨에게 헌혈하고 싶습니다. 전남대학교 부속 병원.

There's a very good chart second from the bottom of this brief page. It helps to illustrate the size of the challenge not just for Sarah, but for any other B-, and any other relatively less common blood type in case of emergency:
http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types

Now, i don't think active fighting is likely to break out again tomorrow despite the fact that the two halves of Korea are still officially at war, but the thing about any kind of disaster preparedness - whether personal or national - is that when the cookie crumbles you're either prepared or you're not.

So yes, i'm trying to convince people to donate for Sarah's sake; however, i'm also trying to convince the individual to consider having a blood test and making a donation for their own sake, whatever blood type you are.

Should you ever need a transfusion in the future, if you've ever given blood in the past then that number of donations is free. And, should you make a donation (and not keeping it a complete secret) you are thereby in the action itself helping the trend to spread, which in turn helps the banks keep full, and should any situation arise where the need is widespread, then the response is likewise.

The alternative is that should you need the blood one day from another city or relatively far-flung place in a desperate hurry, the charge to courier it is completely huge, if it's available at all.

As for Sarah right now, she's stable and starting to recover from her latest surgery a week ago, and so does not need the extra blood immediately, however, may need it in the future at some point. It really is, therefore, worthwhile any B- types out there making the effort to share in this intensely beautiful, personal, even if unusual way.

julian_w · Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 10:13 pm Post subject:

More info on the situation in general here:

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-rh-negative-in-korea.html

and that article also includes links at the bottom of the page to others with more good facts on the whole beautiful blood-sharing challenge.

This undated page has even more specific and useful info for both donors and receivers:
http://www.korea4expats.com/article-blood-donation-rh-negative-korea.html

while this one takes note of a set and a series of different examples of interesting anecdotal evidence...
http://www.thewaygookeffect.com/2010/12/korean-red-cross-still-often.html

Finally, anyone wanting to join the facebook group for Rh negative types (i prefer the title "neggies"...) can find them here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119068441443615/

Waygeek · Joined: 27 Feb 2013