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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (December 14) appealed to the general public, especially those in the A positive or O positive blood groups, to give blood. The BTS hopes that at least 1,100 blood donors will come forward daily within the next two weeks leading up to the holidays to help offset this seasonal decline.
The spokesperson said that with the recent unstable weather and the approach of the Christmas and New Year holidays for travel, donors' regular blood donation schedules have been affected. This has caused a significant drop in the blood inventories, which are dipping again to their current low amid high blood demand from hospitals.
Anyone who is aged between 16 and 60 (donation is possible up to the age of 70 if predetermined conditions are met), weighs over 41 kilograms and is 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 16 and 17 can donate every 150 days.
For locations and service hours of donor centres, please call 2710 1234 or visit the BTS website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
Ends/Monday, December 14, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:53
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