Urgent call for blood to save Phuket teacher

PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is urgently calling for donations of A-negative blood in order to save the life of Dean Jackson, a teacher who was injured in a motorcycle accident.

“We received a request from Phuket International Hospital for two units of A-negative blood to save the patient’s life,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette this afternoon.

“We have no A-negative blood in stock, but three donors have already stepped forward for Mr Jackson.”

Only one of the donors had the A-negative blood type; the other two had O-positive and O-negative.

“We will need to screen the blood first. It should be available for use at about 5pm tomorrow,” said Ms Pornthip.

Ms Pornthip did not know any further details of Mr Jackson’s condition. In an emergency situation, a doctor can choose to give O-negative blood to A-negative patients, as it is the universal donor blood type.

“Only in emergency cases do doctors give a patient O-negative blood in place of their specific blood type. It is up to the doctor to decide,” said Ms Pornthip.

“We have three units of O-negative blood in stock. As soon as the doctor calls, we can deliver it right away. We have yet to receive such a request from the doctor.”

Ms Pornthip urged people of all blood types to step up and donate.

“Donors are always welcome at the center. We need to replenish our stock of all blood types, Rhesus-positive and Rhesus-negative,” she said.

Donors are asked to call the PRBC at 076 251-178 extension 2. The center will be open until 8pm today.

— Chutharat Plerin