The Belgian Red Cross has launched a new urgent appeal for blood donations, hoping to bolster its stock ahead of the holiday period. One reason for the pre-holiday appeal is that people returning from certain tourist destinations, even within Europe, are barred from donating for several weeks. Another is that summers are always a particularly challenging time for blood stocks because blood collection centres see fewer visitors, but medical needs remain the same. “We absolutely must build up blood stocks before the start of the
summer holidays, to prevent hospitals from coming under strain,” said Thomas Paulus, communications manager at the Belgian Red Cross blood service. “In particular, donors with blood groups A, B, O and AB negative are urged to plan a donation in the coming weeks. “Although they represent a minority of the population, negative blood groups are in high demand due to their greater compatibility, which is invaluable in life-threatening emergencies.” The Red Cross noted that people with type O negative in particular are considered universal donors,
because this blood type can be transfused to all other ABO blood groups, both positive and negative. Any healthy adult weighing at least 50kg can donate and is welcome to do so up to four times a year. You cannot donate blood if you lived for at least six months in the UK between 1980 and 1996, during the mad cow disease crisis.
Belgian Red Cross, blood donations, summer holidays, blood stocks, A negative, B negative, O negative, AB negative, universal donor, mad cow disease crisis, Thomas Paulus