Abu Dhabi: Residents not travelling outside the capital over the summer have been urged to donate blood so that enough units are available.
This is because it is usually harder to keep units of blood in stock during the summer months, a senior medical expert at the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank (ADBB) told Gulf News.
“Many of our regular donors go on vacation at this time. And because Ramadan falls in summer, quite a few people find it harder to donate while fasting,” said Dr Naima Oumeziane, medical head at the ADBB.
The blood bank normally collects between 1,500 and 2,000 units of blood in a month on average. During summer, this collection can sometimes drop to 1,200 units.
“When a unit of blood, measuring 450 millilitres, is donated, it is usually split up into three separate components, namely red blood cells, blood plasma and platelets. These platelets have a short shelf life of only five days. This is why we need to keep collecting blood on a daily basis,” Dr Naima explained.
It is also harder to find the rarer blood groups, specifically negative blood types such as O negative.
Despite this, many routine medical procedures like cardiac surgeries, as well as accident victims, require blood transfusions. In addition, patients with blood diseases like sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and those who have undergone organ transplants are in need of regular blood units.
Screened
“Every day, we have to work hard to collect the blood units required, especially as we supply all public and private hospitals in Abu Dhabi city and Al Gharbia, as well as certain facilities in Dubai,” she said.
The doctor added that any individual between the ages of 18 years and 65 years can donate blood at the ADBB, provided they weigh above 50 kilograms and have no major illnesses such as cancer.
“All potential donors are screened by medical professionals at the blood bank to see if they can safely donate blood,” Dr Naima said.
“This Ramadan as well, we will continue to reach out to non-Muslims during the daytime and the bank will remain open till 1.30am so that fasting people can donate blood after Iftar,” she added.
