Shortages of blood spur calls for donors

Local residents are encouraged to give blood since the city's donation rate is only just above the minimum to meet the most basic needs.

To help meet needs, China plans to lift the upper age limit to donate from 55 to 60 years old starting July 1, officials from Shanghai Blood Administration Office said ahead of the World Blood Donor Day tomorrow.

Activities and health education events aimed at boosting donation will be launched locally and across the country, where the donation rate fails to meet the minimum for emergencies.

Shanghai's donation rate is 1.26 percent of the population, just above the 1 percent minimum "alert" level set by the World Health Organization. The alert level means the donation rate is able to respond only to emergencies and first aid.

Elective surgeries have to be scheduled around the availability of blood.

"The alert set by WHO is based on the blood donation amount of Western countries, most of which allow donations of 450 to 500 milliliters during one donation," said Lu Yi of the Shanghai Blood Administration Office.

"The mainland only allows donations of between 200 and 400 milliliters at one time. ... So meeting the 1 percent minimum rate doesn't mean we have collected enough blood."