Road accidents involving tourists spur urgent call for blood donations

PHUKET: Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO), has made an urgent call for foreigners to donate blood following a slew of road accidents in Phuket involving foreigners.

There is currently a “Massive shortage of Rh Negative Blood” on the island, Mr Rewat noted in a notice posted online today (Dec 16).

Despite continuing and ongoing blood-donation drives organised by the Phuket Red Cross, Rh negative is not overly common among Asian peoples, including Thais.

The dwindling number of donations of Rh negative blood leaves the much-needed blood type in short supply when the number of foreigners, including tourists, need blood during hospital treatment begins to rise.

“The shortage of Rh negative blood is due to the increasing number of foreigners who suffer from accidents in Phuket”, Mr Rewat noted in his appeal today.

“We would like to invite all foreign residents and expats to donate blood,” Mr Rewat said.

Immigration officers together with Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main government hospital on the island, will hold a special blood donation drive on the first flood of the Central Floresta shopping mall on Dec 22, from 10:30am - 4pm.

“Donate your blood today, save more lives together,” Mr Rewat said.

Vachira Phuket Hospital blood donation points in December:

Dec 18 – 10:00-18:00 – BnB Home (opposite Central Phuket);
Dec 20 – 12:00-15:00 – PEA Phuket;
Dec 21 – 10:00-15:00 – Toyota Phuket Motors;
Dec 22 – 10:00-15:00 – Chalong Municipality;
Dec 27 – 12:00-18:00 – PEA Thalang.

Phuket Red Cross blood donation points in December:

Dec 19 – 13:00-16:00 – Diamond Cliff Resort, Blue Tree Phuket;
Dec 20 – 10:00-14:00 – Satrее Phuket School;
Dec 20 – 12:00-18:00 – Lotus Extra Samkong (Bypass Rd.);
Dec 22 – 13:00-16:00 – Marriott Nai Yang, Bangkok Hospital Siriroj;
Dec 23 – 10:00-15:00 – Angsana Laguna Phuket;
Dec 23 – 10:00-15:00 – Makro Phuket (road to Kathu);
Dec 26 – 10:00-15:00 – Cherng Talay OrBorTor;
Dec 26 – 10:00-18:00 – Robinson Lifestyle (Heroines Monument);
Dec 27 – 12:00-18:00 – Central Festival;
Dec 27 – 14:00-18:00 – Porto de Phuket;
Dec 28 – 12:00-18:00 – Lotus Extra Samkong (Bypass Rd.);
Dec 28 – 12:00-16:00 – HomePro Village Chalong.

Since Nov 1. the bulk of tourists arrivals are Russians, 89,816 ++. According friends working in hospitals are Russians also the bulk of patients to treat at ER's, due to motorbike accidents. Many of them never riding motorbike before arrival on Phuket. It seems logic that Russia sends amount of blood supplies needed for their nationals. And Phuket, save lives by enforcing rental laws,

@dek...read the article regarding increases in foreigners and motorbike crashes. Maybe you need to get out more often and see for yourself how many complete a--h---s there are racing around the island. It is also illegal to rent motorbikes to unlicensed riders. What really continues to be "as stupid as it gets" are your comments.

What makes the number of foreigners who suffer road accidents on Phuket is rising? Is there any research doing about that happening? That would be good to do, to learn how the number of accidents can be brought down. This besides blood donation asking.

Mj, motorbike shops don't think further than their front door and the rental money. Road safety is not in their thinking. Nobody RTP disturb them when they violate the law: 1-- Taking tourist's passport, 2-- Not check on driving license, 3-- Many times not providing helmet. Guess RTP just pass by rental shops to collect donations like they do at clubs, bars, restaurants.

@Dkk. Actually Capricornball is pretty well spot on. In the almost 30 years I have been here motorbike rental shops were and still are the worst offenders of not giving a f..k as to whether rentors have a licence or not. Just pay the money and give me your passport was always their usual method of operation. If an accident make such the farang pays for the damage then can give back passport.

What do the police actually do on a daily basis, except pose for photo ops? Fair enforcement of traffic laws would do wonders for the society. It appears the general well-being is of little concern. Just keep the currency coming.

Maybe if more of them didn't drive around like idiots the hospitals would not have as many patients. there's some appaling driving out there involving foreigners at the moment.Leaving a weed shop and jumping into a car or onto a bike doesn't help either. 'But I'm on holiday' just doesn't cut it. Still no mention of the two young Thai women killed in Kamala last week.

Well, I guess the government is kind of giving up on trying to improve on road safety. After all, why would anyone expect the police to do their jobs and enforce traffic laws, and hold motorbike rental people responsible for illegally renting dangerous motorbikes to unlicensed and inexperienced tourists. Next best thing...get more blood on hand to treat the inevitable carnage.

Road accidents involving tourists spur urgent call for blood donations

Road accidents involving tourists spur urgent call for blood donations

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