On Tuesday, February 3, a blood donation bus will visit the west entrance of Palaceside Building for an emergency mobile blood drive.
Palaceside Building normally holds mobile blood drives twice a year in spring and autumn (photo below shows a past drive). This time, however, stocks have dropped sharply and the event is being held specially.
According to the Tokyo Red Cross Blood Center, hospitals in Tokyo usually aim to keep at least three days' supply on hand, but demand at year-end exceeded expectations and stocks are now critically low. All blood types are needed, but type O is especially short.
Reception on the 3rd runs 10:00–11:00 a.m. and 12:15–4:00 p.m. Drawing blood takes about 10 minutes, but with the doctor's interview, allow 30–40 minutes from registration to finish.
The Red Cross requires at least four hours of sleep before donating (without adequate rest, temporary blood-pressure drop after donation can cause dizziness). Those donating in the morning are asked to eat breakfast (a light meal is fine).
You cannot donate if you have received a transfusion or organ transplant, returned from overseas within four weeks, or had dental treatment with bleeding within three days, among other restrictions.
Some medications also disqualify donors, but restrictions have recently eased for antihypertensives—two or more types may be acceptable if there are no complications such as heart disease and blood pressure is nearly normal. Vitamins (except for anemia treatment), mineral supplements (except iron for anemia), herbal medicines (except for liver disease, colds, asthma, etc.), non-steroidal allergy drugs, antihistamines, lipid-lowering drugs, and gastrointestinal medicines may be taken on the day of donation. Please ask staff on site about any other questions.
We ask as many people as possible to help.