In Austria, up to 1000 units of blood are needed per day. That’s one look every minute and a half. About 70 percent of this is reserved for the long term, for example for surgery, and 30 percent is administered acutely. Inventory levels are still “worryingly low” due to Corona.
The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented many people from donating blood due to illness. There are also scheduled vacations and leisure activities. In addition, hospitals have an increased need for blood supply, because delayed, non-time-critical operations are being made up for. Blood is also administered after accidents, during childbirth or when treating serious illnesses.
“We therefore need the support of everyone and are calling on people of all blood groups to come and donate blood and help us bring our supplies to safe levels before the summer,” said WCC President Gerald Schäfer. Because especially in the summer there are more accidents in leisure time and in traffic.
Blood preserves have a shelf life of up to 42 days
“In Austria, a total of 222,295 people donated blood to the Red Cross in 2021, which is 3.56 percent of the donor-age population. However, the blood preserves can be stored for up to 42 days, which requires a continuous supply of the preserves,” said Ursula Kreil, head of the collection of the blood donation center for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland.
Video: What you need to know before donating blood for the first time
Blood donation is a win-win situation
Donating blood is a win-win situation. Markus Klamminger, director of medicine and nursing at the Lower Austrian State Health Service: “In reality, a blood donation is also a health check. Every donation is carefully examined and donors are immediately informed if they suspect diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.”
In 1930, Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of blood groups A, B, 0 and AB. His research results have made modern transfusion medicine possible. International World Blood Donor Day has been celebrated annually since 2004 on June 14, Landsteiner’s birthday.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
