Each year, almost 30,000 patients rely on a safe and steady stream of blood supply to sustain or improve their quality of life, said the Singapore Red Cross, which is the national blood donor recruiter.
In June, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said blood usage had increased in recent months, as hospitals caught up on the backlog of elective surgeries and treatments that were postponed during COVID-19.
Health Sciences Authority (HSA) CEO Mimi Choong May Ling said: “While we consistently strive to meet the demand for blood, there have been instances when our blood stocks dropped to low or critical levels due to low collection during long weekends and school holidays and surges in blood usage.”
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BLOOD STOCKS HIT CRITICAL?
Blood stocks can become low when there is a sudden increase in usage or a drop in collection.
This drop in collection typically happens during festive seasons, as well as long weekends and school holidays, said HSA. Blood stocks can dip as much as 20 per cent during these periods.
The Singapore Red Cross said blood stocks may dip in the September school holidays. Additionally, travelling to certain countries or regions with insect-borne infection risks may make donors ineligible for a period of time.
There have been times when blood stocks have dipped to low or critical levels.
When it hits critical, it means there is less than a six-day stockpile and it is only enough to support emergency cases. That is when the Singapore Red Cross urgently needs donors to come forward.
The only way Singapore replenishes its blood stocks is through donations.
“There is no replacement for blood donation from altruistic donors. This is why we need more people to come forward to donate blood and more donors to donate regularly, at least twice a year,” said HSA.
“With the support of our donors, we managed to recover the blood stocks quickly. No patients needing blood transfusion had to be turned away,” said the Singapore Red Cross.
WHICH BLOOD TYPES ARE IN DEMAND?
In its latest update on Aug 18, the Singapore Red Cross showed that O+ blood stock is low, with A+, A-, and B- in moderate levels. B+, O-, AB+ and AB- blood stocks are at healthy levels.
Group O is the universal blood type for red cell transfusions. It is used during emergencies when patients’ blood groups are unknown.
Close to half of Singapore’s population are blood group O, translating to a higher usage of blood group O red cells compared to the other blood groups in hospitals. This also makes it more susceptible to blood stock fluctuations, said HSA.