Red Cross makes urgent appeal to blood donors
Low supplies reported
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The Finnish Red Cross says that it urgently needs blood donors, as the supplies of donated blood are unusually low.
“It has been exceptionally quiet. At the moment, the situation is worse than at any time in the past year”, says Juha Soikkeli of the blood service of the Finnish Red Cross.
The need is especially acute for blood of types A and O.
The need for blood is about the same as at other times, but spring is a challenging time for getting people to donate.
“This is when weather is sunny, and when people have plenty of other things to think about. The number of donors also depends on whether the flu virus or stomach ailments are widespread. At the moment, many people are disqualified from donating blood because they have those complaints."
About 1,000 units of donated blood are needed every weekday. Some products made of human blood only last for five days, so it is important for there to be a steady stream of blood donations.
The Finnish Red Cross is reachingout to donors through appeals, and by sending mobile units to reach donors more easily.
However, the situation is not so serious that the supply of blood to hospitals would be in jeopardy.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 22.5.2009 - TODAY |
 Red Cross makes urgent appeal to blood donors |
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