Donate & Save Lives: Blood Type A in Bali.

Bali Update Editorial Team

6 hours ago

The State News Agency Antara reports that The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Bali is experiencing a critical shortage of “Type A Blood” with only 17 bags of “A” blood remaining in the Denpasar PMI Blood Bank.

On Monday, 25 November 2024, Chanda Indriasari, the Head of Quality Control of Blood Donations for PMI-Bali, said, “Only 17 bags (of Type A Blood) remain in stock. We have dispatched 4-5 blood mobile donation teams (to increase blood stocks).”

Type A Blood has the A antigen on the surface of its red blood cells (RBCs) and blood serum containing Immunoglobulin IgM Antibodies against the B antigen. People with group A blood can only receive from people with Type A or Type O and, in turn, can donate to people with Type A or Type AB blood.

The limited supplies of Type A Blood stored in Bali’s Blood Bank have undergone a process in which the blood’s plasma is removed to reduce the adverse reactions when used for transfusion (packed red cell/PRC).

Other blood type stocks held by PMI-Bali remain at safe levels, such as Type B (283 bags), Type O (368 bags), and Type AB (26 bags). In November 2024, five hospitals in Denpasar and Badung used Type A (812 bags), Type B (980 bags), Type O (1,304 bags), and Type AB (235 bags).

Mobile Blood Donor Teams roam the island to facilitate and encourage blood donations. Each Mobile Blood Donor Team includes a doctor, nurse, and an individual to check hemoglobins and type donated blood.

The PMI maintains a mobile blood donor unit on standby at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Renon, Denpasar. Members of the public wishing to become volunteer blood donors can come directly to the PMI Blood Transfusion Building on Jalan Trengguli I Number 27 in Denpasar, which is open daily between 08:30 am and 6:00 pm to receive donations. The Center is open 24 hours daily to process requests for bloodstock for the injured and ill.

Before coming to the PMI Center to donate blood, you should note the following pre-conditions to become a donor:

Be in general good health.
Be at least 17 with a maximum age subject to a doctor’s physical examination.
To have slept for at least 6 hours on the night before donating blood.
Have no medical history of heart, kidney, or lung disease.
Do not consume any medicine for 24 hours before donating blood.
Do not consume any blood thinner medication for three days before donating blood.
Not to consume alcohol before donating blood.
Not to have received a tattoo six months before donating blood.
Not to have suffered from a fever in the past two weeks before donating blood.
Not to have consumed food or drink high in fat to ensure the donated blood remains clear and uncloudy,

Visiting Bali? Consider Giving the Lasting Gift of Life.

The blood donation process in Denpasar is welcoming, kind, and painless. Consider taking only an hour or two from your holiday to give the gift of Life visit to donate blood at the PMI Blood Donor Center.