< Blood Service News - 18.03.2010

The majority of donors are women (Blood donations in 2009)

In Finland, the proportion of women donors is greater than that of men. The most active donors are middle-aged men and women. (Meddelandet på svenska på www.blodtjanst.fi)

Last year, over 175 000 persons offered to donate blood. 157 000 of them donated blood. 54 per cent of these donors were women while the proportion of men was 46 per cent. Approximately 13% were first time donors.

- In the last couple of years, the proportion of first time donors has exceeded 10%. This is excellent, because we need new donors to replace those who cease to be eligible once they are over the age limit, says Juha Soikkeli, Development Director at the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service.

The proportion of women is greater than that of men in all age groups. The largest age group among men comprises 54-56-year-olds, while the largest age group of donor women is found among 21-23-year-olds. However, middle-aged men and women continue to be the most active donors.

Becoming a donor at a later age

The breakdown of first time donors by age reveals that they are not necessarily young -
 over half of first time donors were over 30.

– You can become a donor if you are under 60, and you are allowed to donate blood until you turn 65, Soikkeli points out.

Approximately 12% of donors were ineligible to donate blood on their visit to the Centre. Typical obstacles included low haemoglobin, flu or influenza, surgery and other medical operations, a new tattoo, or travel abroad.

– To find out in advance whether you are eligible to donate blood, you can call our free-of-charge helpline or take our online test for donors. With the help of these new services, we have been able to cut down the number of visitors who do not qualify for blood donation.

Blood to accommodate hospital needs

Last year, we had a total of 272 000 donor sessions, which is approximately 2% less than in the previous year. Blood is only collected to satisfy current needs. Thus, the number of donation sessions varies according to the amount of blood components hospitals need.

You can donate blood at any of Finland’s 16 Blood Service donor centres and at donor sessions arranged by mobile blood collection units. The FRCBS's mobile collection units organise donation sessions all around Finland, visiting major employers, garrisons and schools, for example. Last year, approximately 1,400 mobile unit donation sessions were organised. Of the total collected volume, 40% was collected in these sessions.

- We have increased the number of donation sessions in locations where the population is ideal, i.e. where there are a lot of people aged 18 to 65 who fall into the eligible age category, Soikkeli explains.

Aiming at regular donations

In Finland, every weekday over 1,000 donors are needed to ensure uninterrupted blood component supply to the hospitals. Donors from all blood groups are needed every day, because some products used for treating patients expire after a couple of days.

On average, donors attend donating sessions 1.7 times a year. For men the average is slightly higher than for women, because the donation interval is shorter for men.

- We encourage our donors to visit us regularly, 2 to 3 times a year. Regular donors help us secure an uninterrupted supply of blood products in the future too.

Who Can Donate?

Blood donors must be in good health, 18 to 65 years of age and weigh at least 50 kg. New donors must be under the age of 60. Men can donate blood at two and women at three-month intervals.

The blood haemoglobin level is always measured prior to donating and must be at least 135 g/l for men and 125 g/l for women. Blood donors must identify themselves using an official ID card.

You can take an online test in advance to determine whether you can donate blood. Go to www.sovinkoluovuttajaksi.fi (in Finnish), or call our free-of-charge helpline for donors at 0800 0 5801 (weekdays from 8am to 5pm).

In Finland, every year approximately 50,000 patients receive blood components as part of their treatment. Blood components are required for a range of purposes, including treating surgical and cancer patients, accident victims and premature babies.