According to the Hong Kong Red Cross, the total number of people involved in blood donation in 2016 was 328,318, rise 2.1% from 321,722 in 2015. In terms of blood collection, the number of successful collections dropped by 1.1% compared with 2016 and 2015, mainly due to the increase in donors on deferrals to 70,096, up 15.8%. In the past few years, the total number of people who have been suspended for blood donation is 20% of the total number of blood donations, in which the total number of blood donation due to low level of hemoglobin has increased to 40,430, accounting for 13%.
Red Cross Blood Collection and Donor Recruitment Department Dr. Jennifer N S Leung, Associate Consultant said that the blood supply is in pressure, but also from some donors low in hemoglobin level. Hemoglobin is not enough related to the daily diet, Hong Kong people love to drink coffee and milk tea. Dr. Leung explained that coffee and milk tea containing tannic acid, will hinder the body to absorb iron, resulting in hemoglobin deficiency, so that does not meet the requirements of blood donation. She called for blood donation people pay attention to diet, usually absorb iron by eating beef, spinach, black fungus, etc., to ensure that hemoglobin is sufficient, and vitamin C helps absorb iron, meal may choose lemonade or fruit juice instead of coffee or milk tea.
Blood donation centers need at least 1,100 people a day to meet the medical needs. Red Cross suggested that 16 to 60 years old whom weight of more than 60 kg, arm blood vessels thick, in the past blood donation without discomfort can consider donating blood components. The public who donated the whole blood, each separated by at least two and a half months, as well as three and a half months. The composition of blood can be donated once every two weeks. West Kowloon blood donation station is currently the only blood donation to accept the composition of blood, the public should make appointment before blood donation.
The Red Cross reminds the public that most of the blood donation stations on the Easter holidays are open and blood donors can obtain a Red Cross Blood Buddy.
