Life of Guangzhou - First GZ Blood Donations Transferred to Sichuan

Guangzhou citizens donate blood in Tianhe District

After hearing the news of the blood "scarcity" from the hospitals in the earthquake-stricken areas in Sichuan Province, several thousand Guangzhou volunteers came to the blood donor stations at Teem Mall, Beijing Road, China Plaza, Xinshi, and other locations to donate blood. According to the statistics of Guangzhou Blood Center, at least 2,500 volunteers donated their blood on May 14, five times more than the usual number. As of 9:00 in the evening people coming in to donate blood formed an endless stream.

The profound affection and tender regards of over 7 million Guangzhou citizens was evidenced by the first batch of 150,000 milliliters of blood for disaster relief that was transferred from Guangzhou to the Sichuan earthquake region at 3:00 p.m. on May 13. Another 150,000 milliliters of blood will be sent as transport is arranged. This is the first time for Guangzhou to supply substantial blood donations to provinces outside of Guangdong Province. After the Guangzhou Blood Center issued the enthusiastic proposal to donate blood, many warm-hearted citizens took the initiative gathering to donate their blood, forming a moving spectacle.

To meet the demand levels of the volunteer blood donors, the Guangzhou Blood Center prolonged its service hours sampling whole blood and random-donor platelets until 7:00 p.m. from the day of the disaster onwards.

Fu Yongshui, Director of the Guangzhou Blood Center said that while there were sufficient stocks for most all types of blood, especially the Type A and Type B blood, Type O blood had a comparatively low stock. Because of the special considerations related to the blood preservation period, and to avoid the expiry dates on donated blood, thus wasting blood, persons with the desire to donate blood are recommended to contact the Blood Source Section of the Guangzhou Blood Center for registration and wait for further notice.

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