It is a regular appeal but which remains essential each time: the Belgian Red Cross is lacking in blood. But why is it so important to give blood? Thomas Paulus, communication and marketing manager of the blood service at the Belgian Red Cross, was the guest of Alix Battard this afternoon.
The Red Cross is appealing: there is a lack of blood reserves, while a period is hollowing out the tip of its nose. Find below some of the reasons for this lack of blood bags.
Alix Battard: First of all, where are the stocks now?
Thomas Paulus: At the moment, we are practically short of 2,500 pockets. Our stocks should be larger than normal at this time of year to prepare us for the two-week holiday season, during which we obviously take much less.
AB: Why do we take less blood during the holidays? Do people mobilize less during the holidays?
TP: Already, there are fewer blood drives and it is easy to think that people have something else in mind than coming to donate blood. There are also a lot of people who go on a trip, it is clearly a period during which less is taken while the needs of hospitals remain stable.
AB: Why have the reserves declined so much lately?
TP: There are several explanations: already several months that we systematically take 25% less than the forecasts, mainly because of the Covid: people move less, all the people who left in the red zone during the holidays are excluded for 17 days, as soon as you have a small symptom, you are also ruled out, as a precaution. Following the new Codeco measures which imposed teleworking, there are also many companies which have canceled their appointments and even those which are still organized, we have a lot less people given that nearly 80% of workers are telecommuting.
Thomas Paulus specifies that the media interventions cause an increase in blood donations and that they are therefore essential. “Within two days, you see an extremely positive impact on inventory. It’s an effect that typically lasts for two weeks.”
If you want to do a good deed by donating blood, here is the procedure for making an appointment:
Appointment setting (Red Cross info):
Remember that, for the safety of all, making an appointment is mandatory in the collection centers. The village collections, which generally have more facilities for respecting safety distances, are mostly open access. We still invite donors to check the website.
Any donor wishing to make an appointment can do so via the website www.DonneurDeSang.be
All you have to do is find the center or collection of your choice and click on the “I make an appointment” button.
Wearing a mask is mandatory, if the donor does not have one, we will provide one.
For any medical or blood donation question, call the free number: 0800 92 245
Thank you in advance to all the donors who will respond to this urgent appeal.
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