Blood donors are our Little Red Dot’s lifeline. With an ever-increasing demand for blood in our ageing society, Singapore relies on blood donation drives to maintain a steady supply. What we don’t want is to face an emergency and not have enough blood to go around to those who need it.
If you’ve never donated blood before and felt unsure about the process, we break it down for you, while also sharing unexpected things about blood donation in Singapore you may not know.
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There are 4 blood banks you can donate at: the Health Sciences Authority near Outram Park, Dhoby Ghaut, Woodlands, Westgate Tower, and One Punggol. There are also frequent community donation blood drives, which you can find more info about on the Red Cross website..
| Blood bank | Address | Opening hours | Contact |
| Bloodbank@HSA | 11 Outram Road, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore 169078 | Tue-Thu 9am-5pm | Fri 9am-8pm | Sat-Sun 9am-4.30pm (Closed on Mondays & PH) | 6213 0838 |
| Bloodbank@DhobyGhaut | 11 Orchard Road, #B1-05 to 10 Dhoby Xchange, Singapore 238826 | Mon-Wed & Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (Closed on Thursdays) | 6333 5532 |
| Bloodbank@Woodlands | Woodlands Civic Centre, 900 S Woodlands Way, #05-07, 730900 | Mon & Wed-Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (Closed on Tuesdays & PH) | 6766 0576 |
| Bloodbank@WestgateTower | 1 Gateway Drive, #10-01 to 05 Westgate Tower, Singapore 608531 | Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (Closed on Wednesdays & PH) | 6710 7548 |
| Bloodbank@One Punggol | 1 Punggol Drive, #02-38, One, Singapore 828629 | Mon & Wed-Fri 12pm-8pm | Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (Closed on Tuesdays & PH) | 6322 3076 |
If you plan on visiting a blood bank, speed up the process by booking an appointment via the DonateBlood mobile app (App Store | Google Play). Do note that you’ll need to login using your Singpass.
Once you’ve arrived at any blood bank or community drive, register yourself with your IC, then fill in the questionnaire that goes through your medical, travel, and lifestyle history. Do note that you must be truthful in answering the questions, and knowingly providing false or misleading information is a serious offence. The penalty for lying on the questionnaire is up to 2 years of jail, up to $20,000 in fines, or both.
The blood bank needs to make sure that you’re of the right weight – 45kg and above – and your haemoglobin levels are high enough to donate blood. You’ll get a pin prick on your finger for this test, and you must score a minimum of 13.0g/dl for males and 12.5g/dl for females in order to proceed.
There’s one more screening with a medical professional to discuss your answers in the questionnaire. This isn’t just to ensure it’s safe for you to donate blood, but that your blood is safe for use for whoever might need it. You’ll get a final check on your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature then you’re ready to donate blood.
Get comfy in the chair then the nurse of medical aid will swab your arm to clean it and apply a local anaesthetic, so you’ll feel minimal discomfort while your blood is drawn. We’ll be honest – there’s a bit of a pinch when the needle is first inserted, but otherwise, it’s quite a painless process. You’ll sit for about 5-10 minutes to collect a pint of blood. If you’re making an apheresis donation, be prepared to sit for about 45 minutes.
When it’s over, you’ll be bandaged then moved over to a rest area where you’ll get snacks and drinks to bring back your energy levels. You should feel alright after 10 minutes, but alert someone if you still feel dizzy or lightheaded. You’ll be ready to donate again 12 weeks later for a blood donation or after 4 weeks for an apheresis donation.
Regular blood donors are recognised for their dedicated service to keeping blood banks constantly supplied. The first milestone award happens at your 5th and 10th donation, where you’ll be awarded with a medallion at any of the blood banks. Thereafter, the blood donation milestones are as follows:
| Number of blood donations needed | ||
| Medal | Men | Women |
| Youthphoria (for donors <25 years old) | 20 | 20 |
| Bronze | 25 | 25 |
| Silver | 50 | 35 |
| Gold | 75 | 50 |
| Diamond | 100 | 70 |
| Champion of champions | 125 | 100 |
| Titanium | 175 | 135 |
| Medal for life | 200 | 150 |
These medals are given out to milestone winners at the annual Champion Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony on World Blood Donor Day, organised by the Red Cross.
If you plan on donating during your birth month, you’ll also be qualified for the Birthday Programme or HOPE Programme, where you’ll get a token of appreciation from the blood bank.
To be a donor, you must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 45 kg. Just note that if you’re below 18, you are still a minor and will need to seek your parent’s permission before you’re allowed to donate. On the flip side, the maximum age for first-time whole blood donors is 60, and you’re allowed to donate until you’re 65.
Before donating, ensure that you haven’t had a fever over the past 4 weeks and any infectious symptoms a week prior. If you do, sit it out and wait for the next one.
You can’t donate if you have cancer involving blood cells like leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Other ineligible conditions include severe heart disease, HIV, and severe asthma. For the full laundry list of requirements, check out the Health Sciences Authority website.
There are 2 main types of blood donations:
| Blood donation | Purpose | Procedure | Duration | Recommended frequency to donate |
| Whole blood donation | To use in surgery when treating with patients who have suffered a big loss of blood | 350ml-450ml of blood is drawn with a needle. | 5-10 minutes | Every 3 months |
| Apheresis donation | For those who only need a fraction of the donor’s blood – platelets, plasma, or red blood cells. | A portion of blood will be filtered out. The rest will be returned to you via a needle injection. | Platelet donation: 1 hour Plasma and red blood cells donation: 45 minutes | Platelets and plasma: Every month Red cells: Every 4 months |
Side effects are rare, but when it happens, it’s usually mild. Lightheadedness, slight nausea and bruising, as well as feeling faint are some examples. If this happens, seek medical attention at the blood bank immediately.
If you thought one blood donation doesn’t contribute much, think again. Every time you donate, you’re giving away 1 unit of blood, which is then separated into 3 components: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma – all used for various treatments ranging from surgical operations to leukaemia. Ultimately, it goes on to save up to 3 lives, multiplying the impact of your donation.
While 1 donation is no doubt exponentially helpful, Singapore’s blood needs are much higher than you think. On average, 14 units of blood are needed every hour, of which roughly 85% is used for general surgeries and medicine. In fact, 1 unit of blood will be needed after the 6 minutes it takes for you to read this article!
Image credit: @sgredcross via Instagram
According to the Health Sciences Authority, only 1.9% of the population, or roughly 77,000 people, are blood donors as of 2023. And among the 1.9%? Only 39% are regular donors. Yikes.
But numbers aside, it’s not all grim. After all, Singaporeans are known to rally behind every donation call by the Red Cross when stocks are low. The next time you are on the fence about donating, don’t assume that someone else will take the responsibility and instead, consider stepping up to donate.
Although a morning cup of coffee is routine for many people, it’s advised to stay away from caffeine on donation day. Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, meaning that it’ll increase fluid loss and cause slight dehydration. And since blood donation already takes fluids away from your body, caffeine might contribute to dizziness and fatigue.
Caffeine also reportedly blocks iron formation, and you won’t be able to donate if your iron levels are too low.
While donating blood shouldn’t be your go-to method for losing weight, you’ll be happy to know that 1 donation burns about 650 calories. That’s the equivalent of a 30-minute, full-body HIIT workout. So you can skip the daily home workouts and just relax on the day of the donation.
*Note that this may not be scientifically proven and is not information that SRC or HSA typically shares with the public.
Excess iron in the body can lead to a multitude of heart and liver diseases, cause premature ageing and increase the risk of cancer. Donating blood reduces these harmful iron stores and keeps your body less prone to such harmful diseases.
A study has also found that those who donated blood at least once a year had a 88% less risk of heart attacks. So on top of saving someone else’s life, you’d be helping your own too.
*Note that this may not be scientifically proven and is not information that SRC or HSA typically shares with the public.
The blood donation process also does a check on your health. Your blood will be tested for at least 5 diseases including syphilis, hepatitis, and Zika, and if found to be positive, you’ll be contacted by the blood bank. In the event you test positive for any one of the diseases, you can check on the Health Sciences Authority website to see whether you’ll still be eligible to donate after you’ve recovered.
Do note that a declaration process is conducted before each donation to weed out those that are only intending to use it as a “free” health checkup – which is never encouraged.
It’s a common myth that those with tattoos or body piercings are barred from blood donations, but that’s not true. As long as it was done with sterile or single-use needles, you’ll still be eligible. However, if it wasn’t or if you’re not sure, you’ll be asked to wait 12 months from the latest tattoo or body piercing procedure before donation – same goes for those that do acupuncture.
Image credit: @sgredcross via Instagram
As strange as it may sound, you can actually donate blood to yourself in an “autologous donation”. If you’re scheduled for a surgery that requires a blood transfusion, you can book an appointment beforehand to donate blood for future-you. It’s usually recommended for patients with rare blood groups like AB-, and it’ll reduce the strain on the community supply.
The Singapore Red Cross and Health Sciences Authority host an annual ceremony near World Blood Donor Day in June to recognise the efforts of champion donors. For those aiming to become regular donors, the first milestone is 25 donations where you’ll receive a bronze medal.
The “Medal for Life” is the highest milestone you can reach, a special honour given to those who have donated over 200 times. Fun fact: as it stands, the record for most donations by a single person in Singapore is 345.
Image for illustration only.
Image credit: r/Blooddonors via Reddit
Medical procedures tend to leave us all feeling peckish, and blood donations are no exception. Luckily, there are stations loaded with snacks and refreshments after your appointment. You can look forward to treats like cookies, biscuits, sandwiches, and even pastries if you’re lucky. A hot cup of tea or Milo is usually served to get energy levels back up.
Before the blood donation, drink plenty of water. Being well rested and avoiding any kind of junk food helps too. Avoid taking any aspirin or medication at least 48 hours before your appointment, especially for platelet donations. You can still donate even if you smoke and/or drink. Just make sure you’re not inebriated at the time of donation, and you’ll be fine.
Afterwards, drink plenty of water and refrain from drinking any alcohol over the next 24 hours. Consume iron-rich foods like tofu, red meat, and leafy veggies to ensure your body is in tip-top condition.
Be it the declining number of donors or the fact that you can skip a day’s workout, there are many reasons why everyone in Singapore should do their part through blood donation. The process itself is a simple one and usually won’t require more than an hour of your time.
Before you go, take a quick 1-minute eligibility test to see if you’re cleared to donate. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions you’re concerned about, have travelled overseas recently or have any other enquiries, either check on the HSA website for more information or call 6220 0183.
Check out these other articles for volunteering opportunities:
Cover image adapted from: @sgredcross via Instagram, Samsung
Originally published on 2nd July 2020. Last updated by Syahiran Sean on 17th July 2024.
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