Blood donation centers islandwide are calling on the public to donate blood, as stores are running low. Blood banks generally consider a supply that can sustain demand for at least nine days safe. Currently, some locations do not have enough stock to last a week.
Blood is in short supply in Taiwan. All five of the country’s major blood donation centers are understocked.
Taichung Blood Donation Center official Chen Jun-wei says the amount of blood donated on one given day was 500 bags fewer than expected.
Of the four blood types, type-A and O are most urgently needed.
In Taipei, there is only 4.5 days’ worth of type-A blood, while Type-O blood stores sit at 5.2 days. .
Taichung only has enough type-A and type-O blood for 6.3 days, and 4.9 days, respectively.
Chen says there is currently a spike in demand for blood, because a lot of patients choose to undergo surgery before the Lunar New Year holiday. Chen also says people are less motivated to donate blood during this time of the year because they are busy with spring cleaning and family reunions. The winter holiday season is also a factor.
Blood donation centers are hoping that they can get 20,000 more bags of blood before the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on January 23.