The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation said yesterday that the nation's blood supplies, which had dipped to dire levels during an extremely cold and wet Lunar New Year period, have risen enough to provide a five-day supply.
Although yesterday's press release thanked "blood donors who took time out from their holidays" to help "avert a disaster" by giving blood despite the inclement weather, the foundation say that it is still more than 10,000 units short of the foundation's target supply of 40,200 units.
The foundation said that maintaining 40,200 units, or a seven-day supply of blood, in stock at all times is necessary as a safety cushion against uncertainties in supply and demand. As of the 11th of the month, blood donation centers across the country reported a total of 29,193 units of blood in stock. Each unit contains 250ml of blood.
The blood shortage problem was the most acute in the north of the country where it was the coldest and wettest over the Lunar New Year holiday. Television footage from Feb. 6 showed bare blood storage racks at the Hsinchu Blood Center.
Supply of all blood types are back to adequate levels, the Hsinchu Blood Center's Web site said yesterday.
As life goes back to normal after the holidays, the Blood Services Foundation foresees a hike in demand for blood from hospitals and clinics.
Those interested in giving blood can find more information at www.blood.org.tw.
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