World Blood Donor Day (14-JUNE-2010)

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated June 14th every year. It is an opportunity to express gratitude to those who donate their blood in order to save lives, without expecting anything in return.

The 2010 global campaign focuses on Young Donors, with the slogan "New blood for the world". It hopes that a new generation of idealistic and motivated voluntary unpaid blood donors will form a pool that provides the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life. In events and activities around the world, youth will be the focus of the day.

Recruiting and retaining young donors not only improves the long-term safety and sufficiency of a country’s blood supply, but also promotes safe and healthy lifestyles. Young people unable to donate for any reason can volunteer their service as advocates. With young people playing such a valuable role in helping to secure a safe and adequate blood supply, World Blood Donor Day is a good opportunity for governments, policymakers and blood programmes to thank them.

The 2010 global launch event will take place in Barcelona, Spain, hosted by the Spanish and Catalonian Health Care Authorities, the Spanish and Catalonian donor associations and the Spanish Red Cross.

世界献血日 World Blood Donor Day

这个星期日是世界献血日
This Sunday is World Blood Donor Day

WHO set the theme as :
世界卫生组织定的主题 ：

¨Achieving 100 percent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components¨
达到100%无偿献血

Please donate to save life.

Visit to another Blood Donation Group

Chinese proverb says "learning never end". Although the Metta Blood Donation Group of Hui Yin Seh may be the longest surviving volunteer Blood Donation Group in Malaysia, we are looking to continuous improvement.

We visited the other famous Blood Donation Group in Kedah, the Sungei Petani (SP) Blood Donation Association on 08-Mar-2009 (Sun).












The SP group was established in 2003 and has organised 96 blood donation campaigns, quite a great success within only 6 years.





We have exchanged views on how to improve together.

My secretaries has drafted many action items to do. Haha!

SOS !!! Help !!! Donate Blood !!!

Thank you to everyone, the blood donation event was a success, a total of 651 donors response to the SOS call. See you again !!!



Penang Hospital Blood Banks is facing shortage of blood, please come to donate blood.

Venue : Level 3, Komtar (Pacific Entrance)
Date : 11/Jan/2009 (Sun)
Time : 10.00am to 06.00pm



It's easy to find the venue, either enter through this glass door,
take the lift, go to level 3.





OR

climb a bit, good through this small door. It's short-cut (really ?).





Hope you will fill up all the donation beds here.






And Here !!!








We are ready, how about you ?

151st Blood Donation Campaign

Thank you to all donors, sponsors, shoppers, volunteers who gave us their support!

The volunteers that make it happen :


Please click here to view the pictures.

Blood Donation Campaign @ 21-Sep-2008

There was good response to today's Blood Donation Campaign, 256 donors turned-up to support the event. It must be a timely boost to local blood banks, especially during the Muslim Puasa Month.

今天的献血运动的反应蛮不错，谢谢256位热血人士的响应。在回教徒斋戒月时期，本地血库都面对血液短缺，这些善心人士及时提高了血液的存量。

To our Muslim friends, Selamant Berpuasa.

Mad Cow Disease (BSE) and Blood Donation

Mad Cow Disease or BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). It's called mad cow disease because it affects a cow's nervous system, causing a cow to act strangely and lose control of its ability to do normal things, such as walk. Experts have found a link between BSE and a rare brain condition that affects people, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Researchers believe that people who eat beef from cows that have BSE are at risk of developing a form of CJD.
CJD is caused by an abnormal type of protein in the brain called a prion. When people have CJD, cells in the brain die until the brain eventually has a "sponge-like" appearance. During this time, people with the disease gradually lose control of their mental and physical capabilities.
By November 2006, only 200 cases of this rare condition (vCJD) had been reported worldwide. Of these, most were identified in Britain. Several of the people diagnosed with the disease outside Britain — including two cases in the United States — had a history of exposure in Britain.
As There is no test for vCJD in humans that could be used to screen blood donors and to protect the blood supply, US and many parts of the world stipulated the following are not eligible to donate blood :
Live, visited or having blood transfusion in UK during January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996.

What is G6PD deficiency?

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an enzyme deficiency of the red blood cells. G6PD deficiency leads to an abnormal rupture (breakage) of the red blood cells called hemolytic anemia (abnormally low red blood cell count).

What is the cause of G6PD deficiency?

The abnormal gene responsible for this inherited enzyme deficiency is located on the X-chromosome. Therefore, the illnesses associated with G6PD deficiency occur more frequently in males than females, since males only have one X-chromosome. There are different degress of G6PD deficiency, which vary according to the magnitude of the missing enzyme.
Usually, the hemolytic anemia occurs after exposure to certain compounds with oxidant properties, including drugs such as malaria medications, sulfonamides, antiitching drugs, dapsone, and others. Compounds with the property of inducing hemolysis in G6PD deficient persons are also found in the fava bean. This condition, known as favism, occurs within a day of ingestion of the fava bean. Favism can cause fever, back pain, headache, nause, and chills.

Can they donate Blood ?

G6PD deficiency is a genetic blood disorder. It is an inherited condition that affects the body’s red blood cells.
The great majority of people with G6PD deficiency are healthy and do not experience any symptoms clinically. As such, they are still allowed to make blood donations. However we usually would advise donors with G6PD deficiency to donate plasma or platelets via apheresis technique instead of whole blood. RBC donations are not recommended as their bone marrow is already working hard to compensate for their condition and we do not want to further exhaust their marrow. The red blood cells of those with G6PD deficiency are also more fragile. These red blood cells have a shorter lifespan and hence would not be suitable for transfusion to anaemic patients.

SEGI College Support Call to save life

During the just concluded 147th Blood Donation Campaign held on last Sunday, we welcome the students from SEGI College to respond to our call to save life. There were more than 30 of them, which I was told will be the future tour guides to boost our Penang tourism. As Georgetown has been listed as World Heritage, we certainly need more of these young and energetic people.

在刚结束的147期献血运动中，我们得到槟城SEGI学院的响应。这些就读导游课程的学生显示了他们勇敢和有爱心的一面，为这社会付出了一包包宝贵的血液。一行人在老师的带领下，完成了这项壮举。
乔治市已经被列入了世界古迹，正是须要这班生力军来推动槟州旅游业的时候。就看他们了！

Donate Blood & Organ is a family affair

Last Sunday blood donation drive, we managed to collect 262 pints of blood, out of 285 turn-out. What was impressed me was a little girl who wanted to pledge her organs, and she is only 12 years old.
在上个星期日的献血运动，有285人响应，而我们成功筹获262包血液，令我印象深刻的是一位小女孩要认捐器官，而她今年才12岁而已。

We always encourage the blood donors to bring along their family members, to treat it as a family day. Beside getting the blood, we want to nurture the young children to care about the societies.
所以说我们常常都鼓励献血者把这一天当成家庭日，带一家大小来献血。除了拿到血液，我们也可以培养孩子怎样地去爱这个社会。

Typical Flow of Blood Donation 献血流程

If you still haven't drawn the first blood, and going to be the newbie, here is the typical flow of Blood Donation. If may different to the private hospitals.
如果你还没有献血，而又想知道，这里可以满足你的好奇心。

Step 1 : Registration & Weighing 注册, 填写资料及量体重


Step 2 : Blood Group 血型




Step 3 : Heomoglobin Tests 血红素


Step 4 : Doctor Check (chat) 医生检查


Step 5 : Get Blood Bag 拿血袋


Step 6 : Blood Bed Bleeding 出血



Step 7 : Done, refreshment 大功告成，吃点东西补充

Health benefits of donating blood

• Reduce the chance of heart diseases
  It has been observed that increase in blood iron level increases the chance of heart disease. Iron is involved in the oxidation of cholesterol and this process is believed to be detrimental for the arteries. Increases blood iron level favors this process of cholesterol oxidation and thus leads to heart disease. Regular blood donation helps especially males in loosing iron on regular basis. It helps in reducing the chance of heart attack to one third.

• Enhance the production of new Red Blood Cells
  As the blood is withdrawn from the donors' body there is decreasing in blood cells. To replenish it, immediately new cells are produced by marrow and this way blood gets refreshed. Therefore donating blood helps in stimulating generation of new blood cells.

• Helps in fighting hemochromitosis
  Hemochromitosis is a genetic disorder; also known as iron overload disorder wherein iron accumulates in the body tissue because or improper iron metabolism. This condition may lead to organ damage. Though this problem is uncommon in Indians, people with little iron overload also can easily donation blood and reduce their iron content. Taking example from other countries, one in every 300-400 people in England suffers from this disorder and American Red Cross blood services accept such donors as safe donor as it’s a genetic disorder, it won’t be harmful to the person receiving blood from such donors.

• Burns calories
  One can diet or remain fit by donating blood regularly. One pint of blood (450 ml) when donated burns 650 calories in donor’s body.

• Invigorated feeling in elderly people
  It has been mentioned in various sites though not proved that elderly people in good health have reported feeling invigorated or reenergized by giving blood on a regular basis.

• Basic blood test is done
  Apart from all these benefits a donor gets a mini blood test done before donating blood. This includes Hematocrit i.e. HB level test, Blood pressure is measured, body weight is checked. After the blood is collected, it will be tested for 4 major diseases. Those are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and Syphilis. Donor is immediately informed if any of these test found to be positive.

Helpful Tips For a Successful Donation

Before donating :

• Get a lot of rest the night before your donation.
• Have a good breakfast and/or lunch but avoid fatty foods. Fatty materials (lipids) remain in your blood for several hours and may prevent the proper testing of your blood. Eat iron rich foods such as beans, iron-fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, raisins.
• 24 hours prior to donating, begin drinking lots of liquids (especially water) – avoid caffeinated beverages.
  

At the donation site:

• Relax, feeling good as you are going to save a life.
  
• Rest for 10-15 mins in donation bed immediately after donating blood.

After donating:

• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours.
• Take the supplements Vitamin-C and Iron (provided by Blood Bank) if necessary.
  
• Avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 12 hours after the donation.
  

Blood Donor Eligibility Guide

The criteria for donor acceptance are:

1. Age : between 18 to 60 years.
   Note 1: a written consent from the parents/guardians is compulsory for donors over 17, but less than 18 years old. Note 2: Those above 55 years old but never donated before may be rejected.
   
2. Weight : Minimum 45 kg (100 LB).
3. General appearance : Donors must appear to be in good health.
4. Medical history : Donors must not have a history of recent illnesses nor a history of the consumption of any medication. In addition to this they must not have a history of any inherited bleeding disorder.
5. Donors must not have any blood related diseases, eg: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, AIDS Syphilis etc…
6. Donors must not be in the following high risk group:
   i. Drugs abuser
   ii. Homosexual or Bisexual
   iii. Have sexual partners with both group mentioned.
7. Hemoglobin level must be more than 12.5g/dl. Some private hospitals may require higher Hemoglobin level.
   

This list is not complete. Medical professionals are available and details of each donor's health and activities are discussed in a confidential setting prior to blood donation. The final determination of eligibility is made at that time.

For further information, donors can also refer to our Pusat Darah Negara (PDN) guidelines.

Whole Blood and Blood Components

Blood may be transfused as whole blood or as one of its components. Because patients seldom require all of the components of whole blood, it makes sense to transfuse only that portion needed by the patient for a specific condition or disease. This treatment, referred to as “blood component therapy,” allows several patients to benefit from one unit of donated whole blood. Blood components include red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Up to four components may be derived from one unit of blood.

Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells are perhaps the most recognizable component of whole blood. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a complex iron-containing protein that carries oxygen throughout the body and gives blood its red color. The percentage of blood volume composed of red blood cells is called the “hematocrit.” The average hematocrit in an adult male is 47 percent. There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood, and, for every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one white cell. Manufactured in the bone marrow, red blood cells are continuously being produced and broken down. They live for approximately 120 days in the circulatory system and are eventually removed by the spleen.

White blood cells
White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body from invasion by foreign substances such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The majority of white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, where they outnumber red blood cells by two to one. However, in the blood stream, there are about 600 red blood cells for every white blood cell. There are several types of white blood cells; Granulocytes and macrophages protect against infection by surrounding and destroying invading bacteria and viruses, and lymphocytes aid in immune defense.

Plasma
Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood — a protein-salt solution in which red and white blood cells and platelets are suspended. Plasma, which is 90 percent water, constitutes about 55 percent of blood volume. Plasma contains albumin (the chief protein constituent), fibrinogen (responsible, in part, for the clotting of blood), globulins (including antibodies), and other clotting proteins. Plasma serves a variety of functions, from maintaining a satisfactory blood pressure and volume to supplying critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. It also serves as the medium of exchange for vital minerals such as sodium and potassium, thus helping maintain a proper balance in the body, which is critical to cell function. Plasma is obtained by separating the liquid portion of blood from the cells. Plasma is usually not used for transfusion purpose but is fractionated (separated) into specific products such as albumin, specific clotting factor concentrates and IVIG (intravenous immune globulin).

Platelets
Platelets (or thrombocytes) are very small cellular components of blood that help the clotting process by sticking to the lining of blood vessels. Platelets are made in the bone marrow and survive in the circulatory system for an average of 9–10 days before being removed from the body by the spleen. The platelet is vital to life, because it helps prevent massive blood loss resulting from trauma, as well as blood vessel leakage that would otherwise occur in the course of normal, day-to-day activity. Units of platelets are prepared by using a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the donated unit of whole blood. The platelet-rich plasma is then centrifuged again to concentrate the platelets further.

Blood Groups

Every donor's blood belongs to one of the four main groups A, B, AB and O, known as the ABO system. These groups depend for their identification on the presence or absence of chemical substances called antigens on the person's red blood cells.

After the ABO system, the most important is the Rhesus system or RH system. The RH groups are more complicated, but most donors can be simply classified as Rh Positive or Rh Negative.

As each system is inherited independently of the other, it means that there are eight main blood groups: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-.

The Donor/Receiver chart below shows the compatibility of different blood groups. From this you can see that O- blood is the universal donor while AB+ is the universal receiver.

Blood Group	Donate to	Receive from
A+	A+, AB+	A+, A-, O+, O-
O+	O+, A+, B+, AB+	O+, O-
B+	B+, AB+	B+, B-,O+, O-
AB+	AB+	All groups
A-	A+, A-, AB+, AB-	A-, O-
O-	All groups	O-
B-	B+, B-, AB+, AB-	B-, O-
AB-	AB+, AB-	AB-, A-, B-, O-

How Are Blood Groups Inherited?

Blood groups for each individual are determined by genes which are inherited from both parents. Genes for the Rh negative and O groups from one parent are masked by the presence of Rh positive and A or B genes from the other parent. Thus people who are apparently A or B Rh positive may also carry genes for the O and Rh negative blood groups which can be inherited by their children.

Are There Any Other Blood Groups? There are 15 other blood group systems - in all almost 400 antigens have been discovered. However, most of these do not normally require matching for transfusion purposes.

Rh blood grouping

The RhD antigen is also important in determining a person's blood type. The terms "positive" or "negative" refer to either the presence or absence of the RhD antigen irrespective of the presence or absence of the other antigens of the Rhesus system. Anti-RhD is not usually a naturally occurring antibody as the Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies are. Cross-matching for the RhD antigen is extremely important, because the RhD antigen is immunogenic, meaning that a person who is RhD negative is very likely to make Anti-RhD when exposed to the RhD antigen (perhaps through either transfusion or pregnancy). Once an individual is sensitised to RhD antigens their blood will contain RhD IgG antibodies which can bind to RhD positive RBCs and may cross the placenta.

Malaysian Blood Bank Contacts 马来西亚血库联络电话

From the links, you can refer to the respective blood banks of either private or government hospitals. Hope this is helpful.

政府医院 Government Hospitals
http://www.moh.gov.my/MohPortal/govhospPublic.jsp?startPage=1&search=&search3=&search2=

私人医院 Private Hospitals
http://www.hospitals-malaysia.org/index.cfm?menuid=4

Blood Basics

What is Blood?


Blood is a liquid that circulates throughout the body, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every cell, and carrying away waster products. Blood plays a central role in the body’s defense against intruders.

Blood is pumped by the heart, through a network of miles of blood vessels, to every part of the body. It accounts for 7% of the human body weight, with an average density of approximately 1060 kg/m³. (pure water's density is 1000 kg/m³). The average adult has a blood volume of roughly 5 litres, composed of plasma and several kinds of cells (occasionally called corpuscles); these formed elements of the blood are erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets). By volume the red blood cells constitute about 45% of whole blood, the plasma constitutes about 55%, and white cells constitute a minute volume.

Blood performs many important functions within the body including:

• Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin which is carried in red cells)
• Supply of nutrients such as amino acids, gluscose and fatty acids(dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins)
• Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea and lactic acid
• Immunological functions, including circulation of white cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies
• Coagulation, which is one part of the body's self-repair mechanism
• Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage
• Regulation of body pH (the normal pH of blood is in the range of 7.35 - 7.45)
• Regulation of core body temperature
• Hydraullic functions

The Origins of Blood

Blood is produced in the bone marrow, a jellylike substance inside the bones. In adults, the spine, ribs, and pelvis are the primary bones that make blood. As the blood cells develop from the stem cells in the marrow, they seep into the blood that passes through the bones and on into the bloodstream.
The different blood cells have different life spans — red blood cells last about 120 days in the bloodstream; platelets about 10 days; and the various kinds of white blood cells can last from days to years.
The body has feedback systems that tell it when to make new blood cells. For example, if bodily oxygen levels are low, the kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates the stem cells in the marrow to produce more red blood cells.

Can you accumulate and store blood?

Blood has a limited shelf life.

• Whole blood may be stored for 35 days.
• Red blood cells may be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of 42 days.
• Platelets must be used within 5 days of donation.
• Plasma is generally frozen and must be used within one year.

Because blood is perishable, new donations are needed every day.