BANGKOK, April 9 – The Thai Red Cross Society has urged the public to donate blood in order to store up sufficient blood supplies for the upcoming Songkran holiday.
Red Cross Secretary General Phan Wannamethee said Tuesday that the campaign is specially organised ahead of the Songkran Festival holiday period as demand for blood tends to peak due to a significant increase in the number of road accidents, with deaths and injuries.
Mr Phan called on interested members of the public to donate blood at the National Blood Centre in the capital during April 8-16 in order to reserve an additional 1,600-2,000 units of blood supplies a day to be able to maintain at least 3,000 units/day of blood in stock.
Probation Department Deputy Chief Chalong Atikanit, meanwhile, said there were 4,862 probation infractions reported during Songrkan last year, 4,691 of which were drunk-driving cases.
Victims of road accidents, those under probation and volunteers on Tuesday marched from the National Blood Centre through Rama 4 Road, Silom Road, Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road and back to the blood centre as part of the road-safety campaign to reduce accidents during the upcoming Songkran.
A similar event will also take place at the Southern Bus Terminal today.
