Avoid transfusions, especially from blood banks of less-developed countries. If you are involved in an accident which has resulted in excessive blood loss and shock, there may be no choice.

If bleeding has been minimal and there is no danger of circulatory collapse, then it would be wise to avoid blood products and their associated dangers. Most traumatic hemorrhage can be controlled by direct firm pressure over the bleeding site.

For more serious bleeds that require hospitalisation, plasma expander solutions can be given for volume replacement and to maintain blood pressure. Thus blood transfusion may be delayed until a “safe source” is available.

What are the Dangers?

Allergic reactions – To be begin with, transfusion of other people’s blood can sometimes be associated with incompatible adverse reactions such as hives, fever, chills and occasionally shock.

Infecting disease – Many less-developed countries lack the expertise or facilities to adequately screen blood for diseases. Blood can transmit infectious agents such as viral hepatitis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, brucellosis (undulant fever), malaria and AIDS.

There are many infectious diseases transmitted by blood that cannot be detected by even the most advanced blood bank. Only recently have kits become available to detect the hepatitis C antibody.

Transmission of the AIDS virus in developed countries is now rare. However, occasional cases still occur when high-risk donors fail to be detected. This is especially true during the early period of virus exposure (“the window period”) when antibodies to the virus have not yet developed.

Transmission of drugs – Blood transfusion can also transfer drugs that result in allergic reactions or cause side effects in certain individuals. People who are allergic to penicillin, aspirin, sulfonamides or other drugs could have a serious allergic reaction to blood containing these drugs.

Bacterial contamination – Blood can become contaminated with bacteria as a result of improper handling and storage. The by-product of bacterial contamination can result in serious side effects such as fever, muscle aches and sometimes septic shock.

Are any Blood Transfusions safe?

The safest blood you can receive is your own. Facilities for storage of autologous blood (one’s own blood) are available in Singapore for patients planning elective surgery or for use in an emergency. The blood is frozen at extremely low temperatures (minus 85 degrees Celsius) and can be stored for up to 10 years in accordance with U S Food and Drug Administration standards.

If you are injured away from home, arrangements can be made to transport your own blood to you. Medical assistance companies working in cooperation with your insurance company often provide this service. Using autologous blood eliminates all concerns about incompatibility and transmission of infectious disease.