06/13/2022 12:08 (act 06/13/2022 12:10)
‘Worryingly low’ inventory levels due to pandemic and holidays ©APA/BARBARA GINDL/THEMENBILD
Up to 1,000 units of blood are needed in Austria every day. That’s about a minute and a half, the local Red Cross (CMI) calculated on Monday, the day before World Blood Donor Day. Blood can be requested from hospitals 24 hours a day. About 70 percent of these are reserved for the long term, eg for operations, and 30 percent are managed acutely. Inventory levels are still “worryingly low” because of Corona, he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented many people from donating blood due to illness. Holidays and leisure activities are also planned. In addition, hospitals have an increasing need for blood supplies as delayed and time-critical operations are being compensated. “So we rely on the support of each individual and call on people of all blood types to come and donate blood and help us bring our stockpiles to safe levels before the summer,” WCC President Gerald Creator said in the broadcast.
“In 2021, a total of 222,295 people in Austria donated blood to the Red Cross, which represents 3.56% of the population of donating age. However, preserved blood can be kept for a maximum of 42 days, which requires that canned goods must be supplied continuously,” explained Ursula Kreil, head of collection at the blood donation center in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. Blood is administered, for example, after accidents, childbirth, operations or in the treatment of serious illnesses.
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 discoveries made modern transfusion medicine possible. Since 2004, International Blood Donor Day has been celebrated annually on June 14, Landsteiner’s birthday. On this day, people around the world should be reminded of the importance of donating blood.
( SERVICE – More information about blood donation at the Red Cross: )