Blood donation centre worries of blood shortage during New Year

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (TNA) -- Thailand's National Blood Centre Director said the centre was able to provide less blood reserves to hospitals, while fearing that a blood shortage could occur during the coming New Year holiday and is inviting the public to donate more blood to help increase blood reserves. The director of the National Blood Centre under the Thai Red Cross Society Ubonwan Jarunreungrit said the centre has been able to provide less blood reserves to hospitals since the middle of December, from the previous rate of 80 per cent down to only 50 per cent, with the blood types A and AB receiving the least donations. She said the centre could also provide less platelets from 100 per cent down to 80 per cent as well. She noted that although the centre is not facing any shortage crisis at the moment, as the public has been continually donating blood, nonetheless, if the blood reserves continued to decrease. The director said she fears that the reserves might not be enough to last through the New Year long holiday, as hospitals would need to stock up on blood by at least 4,000-5,000 units per day in case of emergencies and for patients with blood-related diseases or need surgeries. She then invited the public to come and donate blood ahead of the New Year, which the centre has initiated the campaign called, "Blood Donations Before the New Year Brings Good Luck and Safe Travels for the New Year", set to be held from December 21-30 and after the New Year on January 2-10, 2016 at the National Blood Centre at Henri Dunant Road, Bangkok. The centre is also set to close for the New Year on December 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016. (TNA)