Phuket Red Cross pleads for rare blood as tourist demand surges
Phuket hospital urges blood donations this month with Rh-negative in demand
The Phuket Red Cross (PRBC) and the Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital are calling on locals to roll up their sleeves this May and donate blood—particularly the rare Rh-negative type.
With tourism booming again across Phuket and the surrounding regions, accidents and emergency hospital visits are on the rise—especially among foreign visitors. And that means a higher demand for Rh-negative blood, which is rare in Thai donors but more common in expats and tourists.
“Foreigners are most likely to have Rh-negative blood, so we need as many eligible donors as possible to step forward,” said a PRBC representative.
To meet this urgent need, the PRBC is running mobile donation clinics throughout May in Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Some of the key locations include Lotus’s Shopping Centres in Thalang and along the bypass road, JW Marriott Phuket, Phuket Airport, and Central Phuket Floresta.
Here are a few highlighted dates:
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May 1 and 6: Lotus’s (bypass road), 12pm to 6pm
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May 7: Phuket Airport office building, 10am to 4pm
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May 14: GO Wholesale (Phuket Town), 12pm to 6pm
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May 27: Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, Patong, 10am to 3pm
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May 29: Central Phuket Floresta, 12pm to 6pm
Full schedule available from the PRBC.
The Blood Bank at Vachira Hospital also accepts walk-ins at its outpatient building on Yaowarat Road, open daily, reported The Phuket News.
Thinking of donating? Here’s what you need to know:
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First-time donors must be under 60 (upper limit is 70).
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Get a good night’s sleep and avoid alcohol 24 hours beforehand.
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Eat a healthy, low-fat meal at least three hours before.
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Bring your ID.
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The process takes under 7 minutes, but drink lots of water and rest afterwards.
For direct donations, visit the Phuket Regional Blood Centre, Talad Neua. Open Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm, late hours Tuesdays and Thursdays till 8pm, weekends/public holidays: 9am to 3pm.
For more info, contact PRBC at 076-251178, 081-9588854, or follow them on Facebook: Phuket Red Cross Blood Donation Centre.
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