Blood donation facilities around Japan are seeing fewer people as many have refrained from going out since a state of emergency was declared, leading to fears that there will not be enough blood for use in medical procedures.
The Japanese Red Cross Society and other relevant organizations are calling for people's cooperation, saying that going out to donate blood is not an unnecessary or nonurgent outing.
"I thought this is what little I can do in a time like this," said Hiroyo Watanabe, 47, from Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, who visited a blood donation facility in the city's Chiyoda Ward last Thursday. Watanabe said she was prompted to go by an email she received from the society asking for cooperation.
Under the government's basic policy for measures regarding the new coronavirus, the drawing of blood is one of the tasks that must be continued even after the declaration of a state of emergency.
Preparations made from donated blood cannot be preserved for a long time. Red blood cell preparations last 21 days, for example, and platelet preparations only four days. A stable supply of donated blood is essential for continuing proper medical treatments.
Since February, however, the number of blood donors has been declining nationwide. The figure dropped even further after many people stopped going out.
According to the Japanese Red Cross Society, the number of people who donated 400 milliliters of blood in Tokyo and nine prefectures in the Kanto and Koshinetsu regions in central Japan between April 3 and 12 stood at 27,507, or 6,674 people fewer than required.
In Tokyo and the three prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, where a state of emergency was declared on April 7 ahead of the other six prefectures in the area, only 76% of the needed amount of blood was donated.
There were also insufficient blood donors in six prefectures in the western Japan region, including Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, where a state of emergency was declared on April 7.
There is currently no immediate shortage of blood supply for medical institutions, but "if this trend continues, it will be difficult to secure enough amount of stock blood, and it may become impossible to maintain a stable supply of blood," a society official said with a concerned expression.
In response to the situation, the National Center for Child Health and Development in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, held an emergency blood donation event on April 10 and collected blood from 121 people. The center was to hold reservation-only donation events again on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The center provides blood transfusions to seriously sick children, including cancer patients and children undergoing organ transplants. According to the facility, there have been cases recently when blood needed in the morning arrived in late afternoon or when doctors at the center had to use blood that was near its expiration date.
"If the 'stay home' policy continues for a prolonged period, it may affect medical treatment. We need cooperation from many people," said a public relations officer of the center.
Blood donation facilities across the country are calling for donors to make reservations before coming in, to avoid crowding. The official website of the Japanese Red Cross Society (www.jrc.or.jp/) has details on where facilities are and how to make a reservation.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
