Blood Donation Drive At Tan Tock Seng Hospital

This has been a long time coming. I have always wondered why there wasn't any blood donation drive within hospitals. Finally we are going to have one this coming July - on the 29th to be exact - and I am counting down the days to go donate some blood, something I have always wanted to do but "always never having the time".

Let's all make a commitment and go donate our blood this July 29, shall we? We don't have to be nurses to give blood you know.

Give Blood Dave Lives
The Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS) began its blood collection programme in March 1984 with strong encouragement from the Ministry of Health (MOH). Started with the Red Cross Blood Centre, the programme has evolved into a fully mobile programme in 1995, complementing the role of the Singapore Blood Transfusion Services (currently known as the Centre for Transfusion Medicine, Health Sciences Authority) in organising blood donation drives to meet the national blood transfusion needs of all hospitals in Singapore.

The aim is to increase the current number of regular blood donors from 1 to 2 per cent of out total population by 2007, and 3 per cent by 2010, and also, to increase the current stock of 3 day to 5 days a healthy level of 8 to 10 days by 2010.

Overview of the current blood supply situation
Everyday, about 350 units of blood are required by the hospitals in Singapore for patients requiring blood transfusions. The blood collected at the Bloodbank@HSA is distributed to all hospitals based on its availability. Unfortunately, the number of units that is being collected daily is insufficient to meet the required needs.

Currently, an average of 250 units of blood are collected each day. Blood is needed not only to save lives in times of emergencies, it is also needed to sustain the lives of patients who requires regular blood transfusions at the hospitals.

It is very crucial for more healthy individuals to come forward to help save and sustain the lives of these vulnerable people. Blood donors can donate up to 4 times a year regularly. Red Cross is counting on all healthy individual between the ages of 16 to 60 to help save lives.

Basic Requirements
1. Age: 16 to 60 years (16 & 17 year-olds can donate with parental / guardian consent)
2. Weight: At least 45 kg (100 lbs) for both males and females
3. Health: Generally good
4. Well Being: Feeling well that day. Not having colds, coughs or flu in the
last one week. No fever (Temperature > 37.5°C) in the last 3 weeks
5. Haemoglobin level: At least 12.5 g/dl

Intervals Between Blood Donation
• Al least 12 weeks (3 months) between each blood donation. Iss/Surgery
Persons with the following conditions are not eligible to donate blood:
• Diseases of the heart or lungs (Donors who are asthmatic and without symptoms of asthma is eligible)
• Cancer
• High blood pressure on medication
• Diabetes on medication
• Abnormal bleeding tendency or blood disorder
• Major surgery (can donate after 12 months)
• AIDS or symptoms of AIDS, such as unexplained fevers, severe night sweats,
unexpected weight loss, swollen glands, chronic diarrhea or rare cancer
• Uncontrolled seizures after infancy
• Hepatitis B or C
• Syphilis
• Cold or sore throat, please wait one week after recovery or treatment
• Tooth extraction or dental work, wait for 3 days after treatment
• Skin infections (minor), wait 1 week after complete healing
• Normal pregnancy, please wait 6 weeks after delivery and when you are not
breast-feeding.
• Traveled to a malaria endemic area, wait 6 weeks to 3 years and ask the attending doctor / nurse whether you are eligible for donation
• Close contact with Hepatitis B, wait 12 months and after full course of hepatitis B vaccination (and shown a satisfactory antibody response)
• Infectious Diseases e.g. Chickenpox, Measles, Dengue, wait 6 months after recovery
• Tattoo, pierced ears, acupuncture and blood transfusions, wait 1 year and inform the attending doctor/nurse.

Medication:

People who are taking drugs for cancer treatment, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes or current infections will not be accepted as blood donors.

At least 2 days after:
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (3 days)
• Tetanus toxoid vaccination (48 hours)
• Hepatitis B vaccination (48 hours) (48 hours)
• Rabies vaccination (with no exposure) (48 hours)
• Pneumococcus vaccination (48 hours)
• Meningococcus vaccination (48 hours)

At least 1 week after:
• Chloroquine ingestion
• Antibiotic ingestion

At least 2 weeks after:
• Typhoid vaccination
• Cholera vaccination
• Diphtheria vaccination
• Influenza (Flu) vaccination
• Pertussis vaccination
• Plague vaccination
• Polio (injection) vaccination
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vaccination
• Typhus vaccination

At least 4 weeks after:
• Maloprim or Fansidar ingestion
• Mefloquine ingestion
• Rubella (German Measles) vaccination
• Yellow fever, measles, mumps vaccination
• Oral Polio vaccination
• Hepatitis A or combination Hepatitis A and B

At least 1 year after:
• Other animal or human serum products e.g. immunoglobulin
• Blood Transfusion
• Hepatitis B immune globulin
• Rabies (post-exposure)
Criteria for Blood Donors

Travel
The donor will be asked to wait for 6 weeks or more if he / she has traveled to Malaria endemic areas such as rural areas in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, etc. Please clarify with the attending nurse or doctor.

Travel to Europe
With effect from 1 July 2002, you will be ineligible to donate blood indefinitely if you fall into EITHER one of the following 2 groups:

1. You have visited or lived in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland,
Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) from 1980 through 1996 for a cumulative period of 3 months or more, or you have received a transfusion of blood or blood components in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Island) between 1980 till now.

2. You have visited or lived in France from 1980 till now for a cumulative period of 5 years or more. However, if you have stayed in Europe (besides United Kingdom and France) for a cumulative period of more than 5 years, you can donate plasma only through apheresis method.

Tattoo, Ear Piercing or Acupuncture
This would require a deferment period of 12 months, unless the needles used are disposable and the whole procedure is sterile.

Pregnancy and Menstrual Period
• Females should not donate blood during pregnancy.
• They can donate after 6 weeks following a normal delivery and when they are not breast-feeding.
• Females should not donate blood if they are having heavy menstrual flow or
menstrual cramps.

Criteria for Blood Donors
The above criteria cover some common situations that will render a prospective donor unsuitable for blood donation. The doctor or nurse will exercise medical judgment during the medical interview for each individual donor. Donors who are interested in donating blood will have to bring along their NRIC or donation card

Pre and Post Blood Donation Advise
DO:
• Eat a well balance meal including plenty of fluids 24 hours before blood
donation
• Rest on the donor bed for at least 10 minutes after the donation is
completed. The nurse will put a plaster over the needle site. Keep the
plaster on the arm for 4 to 6 hours. (No problem with taking a shower as
the plaster is waterproof)
• Rest in the donor refreshment lounge for at least another 10 minutes
before leaving the blood bank. Please take the refreshment served.
• Drink more fluids than usual on that day, at least 8 glasses. This will help
replace the liquid component of the blood donated. (Within 72 hours)
• Take the iron pills given, once daily before meals for 2 weeks, or eat iron
rich foods.
• Apply direct pressure and raise your arm should there be bleeding from
the needle site, and call for help.
• Lie down or sit down with head between knees should you feel dizzy or
faint, and call for help.

DON’T:
• Lift or carry heavy weights for 12 hours after donation to prevent bruising and promote healing.
• Involve yourself in strenuous or athletic activities for 24 hours after
donation. This is a precaution to help the body adjust to the blood withdrawn.
• Leave should you feel faint or unwell. Please inform the staffimmediately. If you experience unusual symptoms during the next 2 days, please call the blood bank at Tel: 6213 0626 and speak to the Medical Officer on-duty. Your next blood donation will be in 12 weeks’ (3 months’) time. This is to ensure that the donated blood is fully replaced before the next donation.