Shanghai residents say donating blood 'an honor'

More than 80 percent of Shanghai residents said they would donate their blood to those who urgently need it, according to a survey by the Shanghai Bureau of Statistics.

About 91.5 percent of those polled said donating blood is a matter of honor, according to the report released on Monday.

But only 10 percent of residents are willing to donate platelets. As an important component of blood, platelets play a critical role in the clotting process. The government has promoted the donation of platelets in recent years to ensure that the demand for platelets is met.

The report said a lack of knowledge about donating platelets has led to the public's unwillingness to be platelet donors. The survey said more than 40 percent of those polled said they have donated blood.