With the Singapore blood bank low on 'O' group blood, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) are calling on ‘O’ blood donors to come forward to donate blood over the next two weeks.
An estimated 500 donors are required to bring up the O blood stock to a healthy level, HSA and SRC said in a joint press release.
Donors are encouraged to visit Bloodbank@HSA, Bloodbank@Dhoby Ghaut, Bloodbank@Woodlands and Bloodbank@Westgate Tower as soon as they can.
Being a universal blood group, ‘O’ blood is required for all patients during emergency situations when their blood groups are not known. Moreover, nearly half of the patients are ‘O’ blood type who can only receive group ‘O’ blood.
As of today, the national blood stock level for ‘O’ blood is about half of the required stockpile. SRC and HSA aim to have at least six days’ supply to meet daily transfusion needs and bleeding emergencies in Singapore.
All healthy individuals with ‘O’ blood type between 16 and 60 years, weighing at least 45 kg, are urged to come forward to help. Donors who have not made a donation in the past 12 weeks are also encouraged to donate. They will need to bring their NRIC (for Singaporeans), or passport (for non-Singaporeans).
For donors aged 16 or 17 years old, a signed parental consent form is required. The form can be found here.
Before a donation, donors are advised to eat a light meal and drink plenty of fluids. They should also ensure that they have adequate rest the night before the donation and on the actual day itself.
Those who have not donated blood before in Singapore can visit www.hsa.gov.sg/donor_criteria or call 6220 0183 for more information or to make an appointment for blood donation.