3,000 Blood Donors Needed In The Next 3 Weeks To Maintain Stocks
Blood donation can change the lives of those in precarious health situations, and there’s no time like the present to help.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore announced today (11 Dec) that the national blood bank is running low on all blood types.
They only have three weeks to replenish the stocks, to ensure that there’s enough blood for transfusions and medical emergencies.
Stocks for blood group O only half of what’s needed
HSA estimated the number of donors needed for each blood type to be as follows:
- A – 750
- B- 750
- O – 1,500
The large number of group O donors is due to the fact that stocks for that blood type is only at half capacity now.
And since O is the universal donor, the blood type is especially crucial in emergencies where patients’ blood groups are unknown.
On top of that, HSA says that almost half of all patients in Singapore have type O blood, and can therefore only receive the same type.
Volunteer to donate blood
Considering the urgency of the situation, HSA is appealing for healthy individuals to donate blood. You must fulfill the following criteria:
- Aged between 16 and 60
- Weigh at least 45kg
- Have group O, A or B type blood
Interested individuals who haven’t donated in the past 12 weeks can also donate, at any of the four blood banks in Singapore.
Otherwise, you can also look out for community blood drives at various locations around Singapore at your convenience.
Singaporeans have to remember to bring their NRIC, while non-Singaporeans have to bring their passports along.
16 and 17-year-old potential donors will need a parent to sign the consent form which you can find here.
Help restore our national blood bank
Blood is a vital source of life, and to lack backup sources of it for emergency situations or transfusions could be dangerous for those who are desperately in need.
If you’re looking to end your 2019 on a good note, why not do that by donating blood and restoring our national blood bank?
Who knows how many lives you can save through your small act of kindness.
Featured image adapted from mobihealthnews.
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