Interesting facts about blood donation

Hong Kong’s top blood donor has given blood more than 700 times. Blood donations used to have to be around 75 to 105 days apart but donors can now donate up to 24 times a year with the introduction of apheresis donations for plasma or platelets, providing a steadier stream of support to blood banks.

Blood donation is somewhat seasonal in Hong Kong and blood banks are generally short of supplies in the run-up to the Lunar New Year, whereas after the holiday there is a sudden surge in donations. BTS teams say some people queue up for the doors to open after the holiday as they believe donating blood can ward off bad luck in the year ahead. Once an aped donor came for donation and was rejected for over the age limit. His family begged the centre to accept his donation, believing his act would prevent blood being spilled in future. It took staff much gentle persuasion before they would leave.

A converted single-decker bus with three beds inside was used in the early days of blood donation in Hong Kong, and the vehicle would sometimes sway and shake when people moved around inside it.

Every now and then, blood donors would cry out “I’m feeling car sick”, and nurses would check their blood pressure and monitor them until they felt well again. The problem was eliminated when the single-decker bus was retired and replaced by larger vehicles with stabilisation devices.