New blood donors are needed now
I Each year, Finland needs 22,000 new blood donors, as some donors have to stop donating due to illness or age. New donors are needed to ensure that patients in Finland continue to receive the blood products required for their treatment. We invite you to try blood donation❤️
Why is 3% not enough?
The blood supply system is currently relying on too small a group of people.
- Only a small proportion of the population donates blood, even though many more people would be eligible to donate based on their health.
- Every year, some current donors can no longer donate blood due to age, illness, or other reasons.
- If more people donated blood, the responsibility would be shared more evenly, and Finland’s blood supply would not depend on such a small group of donors.
Blood products are needed every day of the year.
- The need for blood is constant and can be unpredictable. We must be prepared forvarious emergency situations. For example, a single accident victim may require dozens of blood products. This is why there must be a sufficiently large pool of people who can be called upon to donate blood when the need arises.
Blood products have a limited shelf life.
- Blood stocks cannot be built up far into the future. Platelets must be used within a week of donation, while red blood cells can only be stored for a few weeks.
- Because of these storage limitations and the need to maintain preparedness, approximately 600–700 donors are needed every weekday to ensure that blood product inventories remain at adequate levels at all times.
Patients need blood that is compatible with their blood type.
- Not all blood groups are equally common. If only a small number of people donate blood, patients with rarer blood types may have difficulty receiving the blood they need. This is why Finland needs a broad and diverse donor base that reflects the diversity of our society.
Blood donation cannot be done too frequently.
- A single donor can help several patients at once, but one donation does not meet long-term demand. Depending on age and sex, blood donation is recommended only 1–4 times per year. This is why a large number of donors is needed to ensure a continuous supply of blood products.
Population demographics are changing.
- As the population ages, the need for blood products may increase. At the same time, Finland’s population is becoming more diverse. To ensure that the right blood products are available for all patients, we need donors from a wide range of backgrounds.
A blood donor is a lifesaver ❤️
Voluntary blood donors are an irreplaceable source of help for patients. Donated blood is used to produce blood products for hospitals, where they are vital for accident victims, cancer patients, mothers who have recently given birth, and surgical patients, among others.
New donors are needed to ensure that Finland maintains a sufficient and diverse donor base capable of safeguarding patient care now and in the future.
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Can i donate?
Blood donation is an easy way to help
The blood bag itself fills in just 5–10 minutes. In total, a donation visit takes only about one hour of your time. Blood donation is easy to fit into your daily routine and schedule, and donating blood usually does not interfere with hobbies or physical activities. Even athletes can donate blood!
Donating blood should not be painful. Our experienced nurses take excellent care of every donor from start to finish. You are also welcome to bring a friend along to your donation appointment. After donating, we offer coffee and refreshments. First-time donors receive a Lifesaver tote bag as a welcome gift!
Take a quick online test to see if you’re eligible to donate blood.
