SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross is facing a shortage of blood again this year, especially with more accidents and surgeries.

The target is to get 85,000 packets of blood.

But it has only collected 82,000 packets so far.

Getting more people to donate blood has always been an uphill task.

And the year-end holiday and the wet weather didn't help.

Singapore Red Cross' Elaine Tham said: "Every day, you would need about 300 donors walking in to donate blood. However at this period of time, we only have between 150 and 200. So we have a shortfall on a daily basis. And we would relate this to the rain. With the heavy rain, people are sort of deterred and also during this time, people are going on holidays. The festive season, people are so busy with shopping."

So Red Cross Volunteers have prepared brochures to encourage and remind people to donate blood.

And their pleas have not fallen on deaf ears.

23-year-old student Desmond Wang made it a point to donate blood, especially during the festive period.

He said: "We should also remember that there are people out there who need blood during this festive season, so we should actually come forth and donate our blood and this gift of life. I actually lost my mother at the age of nine. So I understand the sorrow of losing a loved one. So to me, blood donation is all about giving hope."

For one man who has donated over 170 packets of blood for some 40 years, this is as good a time as any to donate blood.

Mr Choo Soen Keng said: "I just felt the need to give back what I was given - a life in Singapore. It's sort of an obligation to make sure that I help others. My hope is that all of us, Singaporeans, are more givers than takers. Then, everyone will be well taken care of." - CNA/ir

Singapore Red Cross urges blood donors to donate


The Singapore Red Cross has sent out a public announcement via short message services, requesting for blood donors to donate.

This action was taken in consideration that the current stock level in the blood bank has reached an "uncomfortable" level. Currently, blood collected at the Bloodbank at the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), is distributed to hospitals in Singapore for patients needing blood transfusion, based on its availability.

As blood can not be stored for a long period of time, it is important for the blood bank to maintain a constant supply of blood to help ease or prevent acute shortages during festive periods, school breaks and also in times of emergencies.

The comfortable scenario would be for the blood bank to maintain a healthy blood supply that would suffice for five to six days. However, the current blood supply level has dropped to some three days, which calls for an alert to be raised.

Members of the public, as well as existing blood donors who have not donated blood for the past three months, especially for those with blood types O and A, are encouraged to do so at the blood bank at Outram Road.

The operating hours for Bloodbank@HSA are as follows:
Tuesday to Thursday : 9am - 6.30pm
Friday : 9am - 8.00pm
Saturday : 9am - 4.30pm
Sunday : 9am - 2.00pm
Mondays & *public holidays : Closed
*Public Holidays' Opening Hours
Christmas Day's Eve (Sun, 24 Dec 2006) 9 am - 2 pm
Christmas Day (Mon, 25 Dec 2006) Closed
Hari Raya Haji (Sun, 31 Dec 2006) Closed
New Year's Day (Mon, 01 Jan 2007) Closed
Public Holiday (Tues, 02 Jan 2007) 9 am - 2 pm
Alternatively, you can donate blood at our community mobiles. Details of the community mobiles are available online @ www.donorweb.org/mobiles/. For further enquiries, please call SRC at 6220 0183.