Urgent call for blood donors in lead-up to Songkran

By Rachanon Charoonsak 
The Nation

 

 

The Thai Red Cross Society is calling on people to donate blood before the upcoming Songkran Festival, when supplies will be needed for life-saving medical services.

 

As millions of people usually travel during the Songkran holidays, there is a greater risk of road accidents and large numbers of casualties.

 

The Songkran road toll is expected to be so high that the relevant agencies have resolved to declare the holiday period “Seven Dangerous Days” in order to promote road safety. 

 

The experience of the past, however, is that adequate blood stocks will be needed to help save lives. At least one hospital already has critically low blood supplies.

 

Thai Red Cross Society, which operates the National Blood Centre, said this week that almost 200 hospitals had asked for blood units. 

 

“With their requests, we will have to provide between 3,000 and 4,000 blood units per day during Songkran,” an official said.

 

The Red Cross said that, statistically, group O is the most in-demand blood type, followed by B, A, and AB. During the seven days of Songkran, at least about 28,000 blood units will be required in storage.

 

People who plan to go on vacation during this period are advised to donate blood beforehand.

 

Currently, the Sririraj Hospital lacks type O blood type for storage. Donors are requested to come to the third floor of the hospital from Monday-Friday between 8.30am and 6pm, and on weekends and national holidays between 8.30am and 4.40pm.

 

The Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital has a campaign asking people to donate blood to help patients with thalassemia, heart disease and cancer, as well as those suffering from road accidents. Its blood-donation room is open every day from 8.30am to 4pm.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-27

A stiff test for the Thai life-ethic, if ever there was one. If I was the boss of a blood bank, I'd be considering bribery and - yes, well - corruption, to get the donors through the doors.

16 minutes ago, Ossy said:

A stiff test for the Thai life-ethic, if ever there was one. If I was the boss of a blood bank, I'd be considering bribery and - yes, well - corruption, to get the donors through the doors.

some western countries will pay for blood still i think. if they paid here i reckon they'd have enough blood for a world war. 

im confussed..a festival in Thailand to celebrate the new year..which is so dangerous ,so deadly they need to canvas  blood donations for the imenent  road carnage...is this for freekin real......let the good times roll...

Edited March 27, 20188 yr by mok199
speliing

I'm not entirely sure, but I heard that you cannot donate blood here if you were in the UK during the mad cow disease time in the 80s or 90s. Is that true?

1 minute ago, Sir Dude said:

heard that you cannot donate blood here if

Or if you spend the twilight hours frequently at Dong Tan beach.

1 hour ago, Sir Dude said:

I'm not entirely sure, but I heard that you cannot donate blood here if you were in the UK during the mad cow disease time in the 80s or 90s. Is that true?

 

I wasn't aware of that, but it doesn't mention that on the donating blood page here:  https://english.redcross.or.th/node/49 

 

34 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

 

I wasn't aware of that, but it doesn't mention that on the donating blood page here:  https://english.redcross.or.th/node/49 

 

OK, thanks for that. Was wondering about it as I'm AB- which means if I can donate then I should have a go.

I am AB- and I donate blood every 6 months, I also donate platelets every 6 weeks. The Thai Red Cross can give you a contact in your local area.

donate guys. it's a good thing to do.

9 hours ago, Happy enough said:

some western countries will pay for blood still i think. if they paid here i reckon they'd have enough blood for a world war. 

Theyve got the war already, I aint giving my   blood to the careless  Thais

1 minute ago, kannot said:

Theyve got the war already, I aint giving my   blood to the careless  Thais

May I have some please, as the hapless victim?

2 minutes ago, kannot said:

Theyve got the war already, I aint giving my   blood to the careless  Thais

take some of mine. might make you a tad hazy though 5555

 

26 minutes ago, HLover said:

May I have some please, as the hapless victim?

war or  blood?

25 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

take some of mine. might make you a tad hazy though 5555

 

no good  unless its  blue

10 hours ago, Happy enough said:

donate guys. it's a good thing to do.

You sound like my gf