Blood shortage for emergency and treatment needs

(QBĐT) - "Normally, the peak demand after Tet at the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital Dong Hoi (HNVN-CBĐH) is around 600-700 units of blood, but at this time, the hospital's blood bank only has 150 units left." That is the information shared by Dr. Ho Hoang Thi Kim Hue, Head of the Department of Biochemistry-Hematology-Blood Transfusion, HNVN-CBĐH Hospital.

According to Dr. Ho Hoang Thi Kim Hue, all blood types are in short supply, the most scarce is blood type A. Only 250 units of blood were collected before Tet and support from the Central Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital was only able to get 100 more units, just enough to last through Tet.

After the Tet holiday, the Department of Biochemistry-Hematology-Blood Transfusion is busy regulating blood supply for emergency and treatment activities.

The reason for this shortage is that the Tet holiday is long, making it difficult to mobilize blood sources, while the need for blood for emergency care, treatment of blood diseases, blood transfusion in surgery, etc. is still continuous, even increasing. On the other hand, some people think that at the beginning of the year they should not "shed blood" or touch sharp objects (needle), so they limit blood donation.

Blood reserves in a state of "rationing"

In recent days, on the fanpage of HNVN-CBĐH Hospital and the Quang Binh Voluntary Blood Donation Youth Club, there have been continuous "hot" announcements calling for blood donations to serve emergency activities and patient treatment.

Patient YD in Thuong Trach commune (Bo Trach) was pregnant with her 6th child, suffered from fetal distress, and had central placenta previa bleeding. “Admitted to the hospital at noon on February 11, 2025, the patient was diagnosed with anemia and needed emergency surgery. After consultation, it was recommended to transfuse 2 units of red blood cells, plasma, Arh+ group. At this time, the hospital's blood bank was depleted of blood type A, so family members had to be mobilized, but because she was an ethnic minority, it was quite critical,” said Dr. Tran Hoang Hai, Department of Obstetrics, HNVN-CBDH Hospital, who directly performed the surgery on the patient.

Thanks to blood donation for timely surgery, patient YD gave birth and is now in stable health.

“At that time, two medical staff of the hospital and two staff of the unit transporting machinery and equipment for the hospital volunteered to donate blood. Thanks to that, we mobilized 4 units of blood type A to have 2 units of packed red blood cells and 2 units of plasma to rescue the patient from life-threatening danger. Currently, the patient has received timely surgery, the health of the mother and child is stable,” added Dr. Hue.

Previously, on February 10, a patient in the Department of Gynecology, suffering from chronic anemia, needed type A blood for surgery to remove a tumor but there was no type A blood in reserve. The Department had to ask the Red Cross of Dong Hoi City to mobilize volunteers to donate blood and mobilize 3 units of packed red blood cells to promptly provide emergency treatment for the patient.

In order to promptly “rescue” the blood bank, the hospital is also exchanging blood between patients’ relatives. “For example, if a patient needs 3 units of blood type A but the family is not eligible to collect blood type A, we will collect 3 units of blood of any type and exchange them for the family of another patient. This method ensures a basic blood supply for emergency operations,” Dr. Hue shared.

Mr. Truong Manh Hung in Bac Nghia ward (Dong Hoi city) participated in donating blood when he received information about needing help on Facebook.

Ms. Truong Thi Thu Dong in Quarter 4, Ba Don Ward (Ba Don Town) said: "My brother is being treated at the hospital, had to undergo a nearly 5-hour surgery so needed a lot of blood transfusion. He has blood type A but I have blood type O+. Luckily, the hospital is flexible, as long as the health conditions are met, blood can be donated and then there will be a transfer between the patient's family members."

“After receiving information on Facebook about an emergency surgery case that needed blood, I came here to donate blood. I simply thought that helping them was the same as helping myself!”, Mr. Truong Manh Hung in Bac Nghia ward (Dong Hoi city) confided.

"White Blouse - Pink Heart" Festival

This is a volunteer program that is often launched by HNVN-CBDH Hospital, whenever the hospital's blood bank needs "rescue". Held for 3 days from February 12-14, medical staff, especially union members and young people of the hospital actively participated in donating blood, with the desire to share, help, and send "red blood drops" to patients. In particular, the festival attracted the participation of blood donors from the families of medical staff.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Nga, a nurse from the Emergency Department who participated in donating blood during this campaign, shared: For every medical staff member of the hospital, donating blood to save patients is a very normal thing to do, not just when it is called for. Every medical staff member is always aware that if a patient needs it, even in the middle of the night, they are still ready to donate blood, when they are in good health.

The voluntary blood donation festival "White blouse - pink heart" is always positively responded by the staff and medical staff of HNVN-CBDH Hospital.

In order to improve the current situation, HNVN-CBĐH Hospital is making efforts to implement many solutions to ensure blood supply and save patients' lives. Along with that, the hospital's blood bank has also received support from volunteers in the armed forces, voluntary blood donation clubs and many other individuals,...

By exchanging blood between patients’ relatives and mobilizing all hospital staff and volunteers, it is expected that from February 10-15, 150 units will be collected to supplement the shortage of blood. However, all of the above solutions are only temporary “rescues” to solve the urgent situation that the blood bank is facing.

“I hope that the Red Cross at all levels will have solutions to support hospitals with enough blood for emergency and treatment activities. I hope that the community will not be taboo. If you feel healthy enough, with a kind heart, please come to HNVN-CBĐH Hospital to donate part of your blood to help the community and treat patients,” said Dr. Ho Hoang Thi Kim Hue.

Huong Le

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/suc-khoe/202502/khan-hiem-mau-cho-nhu-cau-cap-cuu-dieu-tri-2224371/