The group made a plea for urgent donations on Wednesday (July 31).
“This blood type is extremely rare among the Thai population, making donations from Westerners particularly crucial,” said the group in a post on Facebook.
The Phuket Red Cross is the designated donation site (location here), the group noted.
"The International Community is encouraged to donate regularly,” Nancy Rower of the Thailand Rh-Negative Blood Donation Facebook Group told The Phuket News.
“All blood types are needed and are used. Every donation is important. However, the International Community has Rh-Negative blood which is always at critically low levels throughout Thailand. Rh-Negative is a rare blood type in the Thai population,” she added.
“Recently, this French man was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit needing O Negative blood. There is not enough in stock anywhere in Thailand for him and other patients. We are making this urgent appeal for O Negative donors to save his life,” Ms Rower said.
“Please donate regularly to have Rh-Negative blood banked and avoid blood donation emergencies.”
In recent updates, the Phuket Red Cross lifted previous restrictions, now welcoming donors from the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland at blood donation centres. The Phuket News has been informed that the restrictions remain in place for donations to the Mobile Blood Unit.
The eligibility requirements for donating blood were given as:
- Under 60 if a first-time donor in Thailand, with 70 being the upper age limit.
- No alcohol consumption 24 hours prior to donation.
- Have a healthy, low-fat meal at least three hours before donating.
- Drink plenty of water.
To make a donation people were advised:
- Bring a valid ID.
- Complete the registration form upon arrival.
- Undergo a brief health check, including blood pressure and hemoglobin level assessment, and a short meeting with a doctor.
- The actual blood donation process takes less than 7 minutes.
- Enjoy a snack and rest for a few minutes post-donation.
The schedule of mobile blood donation clinics to be held in Phuket by the Phuket Red Cross Regional Blood Center (PRBC) throughout the rest of August is as follows:
Aug 3: 11.00 - 15.00 - Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Center, Chalong (opposite KFC)
Aug 6: 12.00 - 18.00 - Lotus’s shopping centre, Thalang (next to S&P)
Aug 6: 12.00 - 18.00 - Lotus’s shopping centre, bypass road (in front of Uniqlo)
Aug 7: 09.00 - 13.00 - Phuket Housing Credit Union Cooperative Ltd (CU Bank, 4th Floor), located on Srisuthat Rd, Ratsada
Aug 7: 10.00 - 15.00 - 60th Anniversary Commemoration of Princess Mother Health Center, Chalong (next to Chalong Hospital)
Aug 12: 09.00 - 15.30 - Phuket Regional Blood Centre, located at 38/193 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Rd, Phuket Town (Mother’s Day)
Aug 13: 12.00 - 18.00 - Jungceylon shopping mall (in front of Samsung, 3rd floor), Patong
Aug 15: 12.00 - 18.00 - Lotus’s shopping centre, bypass road (in front of Uniqlo)
Aug 17: 14:00 - 18:00 - Lotus’s shopping Centre, Thalang (next to S&P)
Aug 19: 12.00 - 16.00 - Siam Makro, Thalang Branch (in front of the Marketing Department)
Aug 21: 12.00 - 18.00 - Lotus’s shopping Centre, Thalang (next to S&P)
Aug 21: 13.00 - 16.00 - Bangkok Hospital Siriroj (bypass road)
Aug 28: 10.00 - 15.00 - Thai Nepali Phuket Association, Kathu
Aug 28: 10.00 - 15.00 - Wat Sawang Arom (Wat Rawai)
Aug 30: 09.00 - 15.00 - Phuket Rajabhat University (Student Affairs Building, Meeting Room, 2nd Floor)
The Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital is also continuing its ‘Mobile Blood Donation’ drive, with mobile blood donation clinics for the rest of August as follows:
Aug 4: 08.30 - 12.00 - Royal Phuket City Hotel
Aug 6: 10.00 - 15.00 - The Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa, Patong
Aug 9: 09.00 - 14.00 - Auditorium, Phuket Provincial Hall (Kamnan, Phu Yai Baan Day)
Aug 9: 10.00 - 15.00 - Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort
Aug 12: 10.00 - 18.00 - Limelight Phuket shopping mall
Aug 13: 09.00 - 14.00 - Auditorium, Phuket Provincial Hall
Aug 19: 10.00 - 14.00 - Super Cheap main branch, Ratsada
Aug 20: 10.00 - 15.00 - Boat Lagoon
Aug 21: 10.00 - 15.00 - Pa Khlok Municipality
Aug 22: 10.00 - 15.00 - Thalang Hospital
Aug 27: 10.00 - 15.00 - Kathu Municipality
Aug 28: 10.00 - 15.00 - Phuket Area Revenue Office
Aug 29: 10.00 - 18.00 - Thai Watsadu, Chalong
People can also donate blood directly at the Phuket Regional Blood Centre, located at 38/193 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Rd in Talad Neua, Phuket Town.
The centre is open:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30am to 8pm
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays – 9am to 3pm
For more information contact the PRBC:
- Phone: 076-251178
- Mobile: 081-9588854
- Facebook: Phuket Red Cross Blood Donation Center
- LINE: @rdi1296r
The Blood Bank on the 4th floor of the outpatient building at Vachira Phuket Hospital, on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town, is listed as “always open” For more information: Tel: 076-361234 ext 1287; or visit Facebook: ธนาคารเลือด รพ.วชิระภูเก็ต (Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank)
People presenting themselves to donate blood are asked to:
- Bring your ID card to verify your identity each time you donate.
- Ensure you are in good health.
- Get enough sleep the night before.
- Eat a complete meal.
- Avoid high-fat foods such as pork leg rice and chicken rice.
- Do not donate blood while taking antibiotics to ensure good quality blood.
- Drink 3-4 glasses of water.