SEOUL: Some 71,121 Korean blood donors from the volunteer group ‘We Are One’ signed up to donate blood and were listed in the Guinness World Records for the challenge of most people to sign up as blood donors in 24 hours.
The number is about seven times the previous world record of 10,217 (8 hours) held by India.
This was done to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation to overcome the blood shortage caused by COVID-19, as part of the ‘Life ON Youth ON’ blood donation campaign, organised by We Are One and donors applied through ‘Red Connect’, the official app of the Korean Red Cross.
Since the launch of the group on July 30, 43,811 people have donated blood and some 70,000 individuals are expected to have completed the donation by November.
According to the Global Status Report on Blood Safety and Availability published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June 2022, shortages of blood have impacted all countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In January 2022, the American Red Cross announced that the United States is facing a national blood crisis- its worst blood shortage in over a decade.
Malaysia is also in need of a consistent blood supply and blood donations can be done at blood donation suites and hospitals across the country.
Head of We Are One Hong Junsu said: “It was possible not only because of the volunteers, but also the Korean Red Cross officials working at the forefront to solve the blood shortage and the IT company that developed an efficient blood donation application system.
“In that sense it has great significance. I believe Covid-19 can be defeated when we are all one,” he said.
The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MCRS) also frequently holds blood donation drives and is an important part of our society.
The official record is accessible in the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS website at https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/714849-most-people-to-sign-up-as-blood-donors-online-in-24-hours.
