To help replenish the blood reserves in the country, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has partnered with the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and conducted a bloodletting activity in LRT-2 Araneta–Center Cubao Station.
The bloodletting activity, which was held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 25, generated a total of 21 blood units.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard J. Gordon expressed gratitude to the LRTA for its continued cooperation with the PRC.
PRC noted that the stringent Covid-19 lockdown rules halted blood donation activities, precipitating a blood shortage for medical transfusions in the country.
Given this, Gordon noted that blood donation activity such as this is important because the for blood will never end.
“The blood units collected in this activity will surely reach and help many of our kababayans in vulnerable situations,” Gordon said.
PRC reiterated that a “unit of blood can save the lives of multiple people.”
According to PRC Blood Services, red cells, platelets, and plasma are among the transfusable components that can be derived from donated blood.
“Patients may receive a pint of whole blood or only the specific components of the blood that are required to treat their particular condition,” PRC said. The PRC has 31 blood centers and 73 blood-collecting units nationwide.
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, PRC National Blood Services served 203, 645 patients and collected 392, 391 blood units from 336, 587 donors.
PRC noted that while holiday seasons are known to be “lean periods for blood donations,” it remains committed to saving lives by conducting blood donation drives anytime.
For blood donations, blood requests, and other inquiries, email the PRC National Blood Services at [email protected] or contact the PRC Blood Call Center, which may be reached nationwide by dialing 143.