Taipei: The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation (TBSF) on Friday urged the public to donate blood, saying nationwide supply currently averages just 3.8 days, below the safe level of seven to 10 days. Supplies of O-type blood are particularly low. At the Taichung Blood Center, O-type reserves are sufficient for only 1.2 days.

According to Focus Taiwan, nationwide inventory levels stand at 4.4 days for A-type blood, 4.7 days for B-type, 2.9 days for O-type, and 5.3 days for AB-type, as stated by the TBSF. The foundation categorizes inventory levels of four to seven days as “slightly low,” while supplies of fewer than four days are considered “dangerously low.”

Blood reserves are especially tight in Taichung, prompting redistribution from other centers. However, the reallocation of O-type blood is limited due to low levels across multiple regions. The TBSF emphasized that medical demand does not decline during holidays, urging eligible donors to give blood to help more patients during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday, which ends Sunday.