Factors that affect our donating of blood

[yingco]

I am interested to know why people under the weight of 45kg can't donate blood. Why? Is it because they have less blood?

Can people with mild type2 diabetes donate blood? Their blood is sweet, will it affect the test?

How has the festive season affect people donating blood? The blood bank should have made a larger pool of reserves as the people are too busy to donate blood during this period of time, isn't it? Is it due to the short "shelf life" of blood & couldn't be stored that long?

Just interested to know :roll: Is there any racial/ religious group who could not donate or receive blood? The Malay, I heard, need to get approval from the MUIS, is it? Pardon my ignorance if I got the info wrong.

[Shan Xue]

I am interested to know why people under the weight of 45kg can't donate blood. Why? Is it because they have less blood?

Blood makes up about 7% of our body weight. The amount of blood collected is 300 ml for those who weights between 45 kg to 50 kg. for those weighs above 50kg, 450 ml is collected. for ppl who weights under 45 kg, collecting less than 300 ml of blood is not enough while collecting more than 300 ml may make the person feel giddy.


Can people with mild type2 diabetes donate blood? Their blood is sweet, will it affect the test?

They can donate if they are not on medication. See

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/consumer/ctm_how_to_be_a_donor.html


How has the festive season affect people donating blood? The blood bank should have made a larger pool of reserves as the people are too busy to donate blood during this period of time, isn't it? Is it due to the short "shelf life" of blood & couldn't be stored that long?

Blood collection is always low during festive season. in normal days, Singapore only have stock of 3 days to 5 days. they definitely wish to increase the stock but there are simply too few ppl in singapore donating blood to build up the stock level. so when there is a major long festive season such as CNY, it could lead to blood shortage. as for shelf life, platelets are more affected as it has only a shelf life of 5 days.


Just interested to know Is there any racial/ religious group who could not donate or receive blood? The Malay, I heard, need to get approval from the MUIS, is it? Pardon my ignorance if I got the info wrong.

as far as i know, there is no racial/ religious group who could not donate or receive blood, including malays. Muslims can also donate blood.

"Donating blood is an act of charity. It might save the life of a person who is in desperate need of it. Referring to this, Allah, the Almighty says: “… and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (Al-Ma'dah: 32)

http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/blood/Topic_07.shtml

Happy CNY and thanks for your question :D

[yingco]

Hi again.
Thank you for answering my previous questions.
I am interested to know more about how the blood bank operates:

--What is the capacity of blood/ others that the blood bank can process?
--In the case of blood shortage, how do the blood band cope?
--Can the blood bank import blood from overseas?
--What is the safe level of blood amount/ capacity in order to meet the demands from the hospitals/ patients?
--May I know which country has the highest amount of proactive/ regular donors?
--How many blood banks are there in Singapore? One right? the HSA, 'cos I often got it mixed up with Red Cross.
--Can blood be donated from the deseased, like other human organs being donated, through draining? (kinda of stupid question I'd posted)

Wishing the Blood Bank never run out of supplies.

[Shan Xue]

i don't know the answers to all your questions as i don't work in the blood bank.
here is what i know:


In the case of blood shortage, how do the blood band cope?

Conduct emergency exercise to collect blood. Use the frozen stock reserved for emergency. Frozen red blood cells can last for 10 years.

--
Can the blood bank import blood from overseas?

No. Blood bank can't be sure the safety level of blood from overseas.


What is the safe level of blood amount/ capacity in order to meet the demands from the hospitals/ patients?

I suppose it is two weeks supply. More the better. Now only 3 to 5 days supply.


May I know which country has the highest amount of proactive/ regular donors?

In the region, I think it is Taiwan or Hong Kong.

--
How many blood banks are there in Singapore? One right? the HSA, 'cos I often got it mixed up with Red Cross.

Blood bank usually refers to the blood bank in HSA. Red cross is the recruiter of blood donors and they have an office in the blood bank. Besides the blood bank at HSA, one can also donate blood at NUH.


Can blood be donated from the deseased, like other human organs being donated, through draining? (kinda of stupid question I'd posted)

This is not practised but i don't know whether feasible.

[yingco]

Thank you very much for answering all my queries. You are very knowlegable. I can see that you are really passionate about your involvement with blood donation.:)

[Shan Xue]

You are welcomed :)