Call for group O blood donors

This article is more than 12 months old

Dec 12, 2019 06:00 am

The national blood stock is running dry with only half of what is needed for group O blood products left.

Being the universal blood type, group O blood is required during emergencies when patient's blood groups are unknown.

In a joint statement, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said that nearly half of the patients in Singapore have group O blood and can only receive similar blood.

The two organisations said that 1,500 group O donors, 750 group A donors, and another 750 group B donors are needed in the next three weeks to raise the stocks to healthy levels again.

All healthy individuals aged between 16 and 60 years old, with group O, A or B blood and weighing at least 45kg, are urged to come forward to help at any of the four blood banks located at Bloodbank@HSA in Outram, Bloodbank@Dhoby Ghaut, Bloodbank@Woodlands and Bloodbank@Westgate Tower.

For first-time blood donors, you can complete a short questionnaire on the HSA website to check if you are eligible to donate, or call 6220 0183 for more information or to make an appointment.