June 14 is international blood donation day. An important day for the Red Cross just before the start of the summer holidays. “It’s Ualways a very complicated period. Fewer donors show up for blood drives while needs remain constant. From a usual stock of 3,000 pockets, we must have 6,000 to start the month of July. This is essential to cope with the decrease in withdrawals for the two summer months“reads the press release of the Red Cross.
The Red Cross has therefore set itself a challenge: harvest at least 1,000 blood bags on the single day of June 14. To achieve this, all collection sites are open without interruption from 09.00 to 19.00 with (preferably) or without an appointment.
The Belgian Red Cross regularly experiences blood donation shortages. ” Since the start of the Covid pandemic, collections have been up and down: they increase, then decrease before increasing again and so on. “, explains Thomas Paulus, communication manager of the blood service of the Red Cross.
But blood donation is vital. ” Currently, no synthetic drug or treatment is able to substitute human blood. Blood is therefore an irreplaceable product. “, can we read on the Red Cross website.
In hospitals, every day, sick or injured people need blood to (sur)live. According to the Red Cross, 500,000 pockets are required each year.
The problem lies in the proportion between applicants and donors – less numerous. According to the Red Cross, less than one in ten donate blood. However, 1 in 7 people will need it one day.
” In 30 minutes you can save three lives. “This is one of the slogans of the Red Cross to convince Belgians to donate blood. On the association’s official website, you can follow the stocks of the different blood groups in real time via a barometer. For example, at the beginning of May, two blood groups are particularly fragile: O- and B-. More broadly, the Red Cross expects a decrease for all negative blood groups in the next weeks.
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