The blood emergency in Austria could be averted – at least for the time being! Because the call for the coming weeks and months remains intact.
After the numerous media calls – also by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the Federal Government – more than twenty thousand people throughout Austria have donated blood in the past two weeks. This ensures that the hospitals will be supplied with life-saving blood supplies for the next few weeks.
Over 20,000 donations
Red Cross President Gerald Schäfer: “On behalf of everyone who can now be helped by your blood donation, I would like to thank the many donors for their valuable solidarity contribution. It is simply touching when people come to us before or after work come and wait patiently in line to donate their blood. In the past two weeks, almost four times as many blood donations have been taken at the Vienna blood donation center than usual. There were well over 20,000 blood donations across Austria. Our loyal donors have supported us again, But there were also a lot of first-time donors, which makes us particularly happy.”
reminder service
At the same time, Creator asks not to lose sight of the topic in the coming weeks and months. A continuous raising of blood donations is necessary throughout the year because blood products have a shelf life of only 42 days. Blood still cannot be produced artificially, which is why patients who need blood as an emergency drug are constantly dependent on voluntary blood donations from the general public.
“So if you haven’t had time yet or are going on vacation now, we ask that you go donate blood in the next few weeks or months,” said Creator. The Red Cross has this under www.gibdeinbestes.at/erinnerung A reminder service has been set up: After entering your e-mail address, you will be reminded to donate blood as soon as the rush subsides. Incidentally, all donors are informed by SMS as soon as “their” canned food is delivered to a hospital.
Donors need to know that
People between the ages of 18 and 70 who meet certain health and statutory criteria can donate blood. First-time donors must not have reached the age of 60 at the time of their first donation. Body weight must be at least 50 kg. The admission to the blood donation takes place according to the applicable regulations at the blood donation campaign on site. Women are allowed to donate blood 4-5 times a year, men up to 6 times a year. The minimum interval between two whole blood donations must be 8 weeks.
