Every year, Singapore need about 120,000 units of blood.
Each unit of blood can save three lives.
And it’s estimated that Singapore will use about 118,750 units of blood in 2020.
Yet with Covid-19, fewer people are donating blood.
National Blood Stocks Fall By One-Third
According to the Singapore Red Cross, the drop in blood collection during the circuit breaker period is higher than even during festive seasons, long weekends and school holidays.
During those seasons, blood donations dropped by 20%.
However, because they are not able to hold as many mobile donation drives (four compared to their usual ten), and with lesser people willing to leave their house during this period, the drop is even greater.
Some, the Singapore Red Cross says, aren’t even aware that blood donation is an “essential service“.
Not that we blame them since cake shops are apparently more essential than TCM halls.
Three Out Of Eight Blood Types Now At Critical Levels
Based on the updated chart by the Singapore Red Cross, blood type A+, AB+ and AB- are at critical levels while B+ and O+ are low.
Only B- blood stocks are at healthy levels.
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Blood Donation Service Still Available
Currently, the Singapore Red Cross holds four mobile drives each week.
Blood donation can also be made at the 4 blood banks in Singapore where you can make an appointment via SingPass.
To ensure that all blood donation sites remain a safe environment, the Singapore Red Cross has the following measures in place:
- Check-in and check-out with SafeEntry
- Temperature checks and health screening including
- No fever in the past 28 days
- No respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose) in the last 7 days
- No overseas travel in the past 14 days
- No contact with suspected or diagnosed Covid-19 patients (no specified duration)
- Safe distancing measures and crowd management in line with MOH’s guidelines
- More cleaning at blood banks and all staff required to wear masks for the safety of all blood donors
Blood Cannot Be Kept For Long
If you’re wondering, I thought they did a massive call for blood, and people responded, just recently?
Yeah, but as the Singapore Red Cross has explained, blood cannot be stored for too long (6 weeks for red cells and 5 days for platelets).
So they can’t just depend on one massive donation drive and expect it to last them for a year.
They need consistent donations, just like the TLC you have to give your wife every day (especially during the CB period).
The reassuring thing is that so far, the Singapore Red Cross said, they do not have to turn away any patients who needed a blood transfusion.
And they’re hoping that they won’t have to, with your help.
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