The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) urgently appealed to members of the public today (November 4) to donate blood immediately. The existing overall blood inventories, especially O Positive and A Positive blood types, dropped to a new level and are now in acute shortage. If the inventories are not duly replenished, it may cause disruption to clinical transfusion treatment services.

      The BTS needs a daily turnout of 1 100 donors, but only about 800 donors are making donations daily. The BTS urges all walks of life to join in and support blood donation to stablise blood supply for clinical blood transfusion services for patients.  

     Anyone who is healthy and aged between 16 and 60 (donation is possible up to the age of 70 if predetermined conditions are met), weighs over 41 kg and in good health is eligible to give blood. Male and female adult donors aged 18 or above can donate every 75 days and every 105 days respectively. Youths aged between 16 and 17 can donate every 150 days.

     For location and service hours of donor centres, please call 2710 1234 or visit the BTS website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.

Ends/Friday, November 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:25

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