This Wednesday (June 14) is World Blood Donor Day and this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) focusing its campaign on emergency situations and people affected by emergencies. “The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood,” the organization said, adding that blood services in many countries worldwide are facing the challenges of sufficiency and ensuring quality and safety.
“Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions,” WHO said. “It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds [like]natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts. [It also] has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.”
In Beijing, the Beijing Blood Center in Tongzhou District is one of the few health facilities that stores a stock of different types of blood. Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) has partnered with the center and organized blood donation drives for the past 15 years. The hospital says it maintains its own blood bank, though it acquires special blood types from the Beijing Blood Center.
Meanwhile, Oasis International Hospital says that the blood group China lacks most is the rare Rh negative type, nicknamed the “panda blood.” Oasis says that only three out of a thousand Chinese are born with this blood type.
In time for the observance of World Blood Donor Day, both hospitals will be holding a donation drive this week.
Blood Drive at Oasis International Hospital, June 14
Ages 18+. Oasis International Hospital is hosting a blood donation drive, in coordination with the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center. The drive will take place in Room 108 from 9am to 11.30am. Donors will be given an Oasis first aid kit as an incentive (see picture below). Oasis reminds donors to bring a Chinese ID or passport and to avoid alcohol, medication, or greasy food prior to the activity. To register, message Oasis’s official WeChat account (ID: MyOasis) or email Ashley.Gaul@oasishealth.cn with the following details: (1) Name; (2) contact number; and (3) blood type.
Beijing United Family Hospital Community Blood Drive, June 16
Ages 18-55. BJU invites everyone to join its blood donation drive, to be held on 3F Building 2 of its main hospital on Jiangtai Lu at 10am-3pm. The general criteria for blood donors are as follows:
- 18-55 years old.
- Have not donated blood within the last 6 months.
- Weight over 45 kg (female) or 55 kg (male).
BJU reminds blood donors about eating light and healthy food the day before donation to avoid fat buildup as this may result in disqualification for donation. Donors must bring an official ID or passport. Before the donation drive, donors will be checked for blood pulse, pressure, body temperature, and hemoglobin (red blood cell) count. For more information about BJU’s blood donation drive, visit their website FAQ here.
Photos: rdelarosa0 via Pixabay (for the featured pic and blood bag); siberian_beard via Pixabay; Oasis International Hospital; Beijing United Family Hospital
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