“People, unfortunately, are donating less and less and the regular donors are generations that are getting older.” Appeal for donations.
The Portuguese Federation of Benevolent Blood Donors (FEPODABES) insisted today on the appeal to the population to donate blood to address the decrease in below-normal reserves in hospitals, particularly O+.
“To face this demand and given to decrease the reservations blood, particularly from 0+we appeal to all healthy people that it is very important to contribute their gift to the well-being and health of the thousands of patients who need it”, reads a published this Monday
The federation recalls that the need for blood is a constant in hospitalssince patients oncological, Those who undergo a wide range of surgeries or those who are victims of accidents often resort to blood transfusions.
“People, unfortunately, are donating less and less and regular donors are generations that are getting olderwho can no longer give blood after the age of 65 and, therefore, it is a daily struggle for younger people to donate blood”, he says.
In the note, the Federation recalls that the blood collection process is a quick procedure (about 30 minutes), e can help save several peopleas a single unit of blood can help up to three people.
“All citizens with over 18 years oldwhich have more than 50kg and that they are healthy can give blood. This simple gesture contributes to saving many lives”, appeals Alberto Mota.
According to a report from the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST), in November, Portugal registered a new reduction of blood donors, totaling almost 10 thousand fewer compared to 2017, and returning to levels close to the pre-pandemic period.
These appeals are not new, but in the last two years they essentially appeared in August: in , there were only five days’ worth of blood reserves; in , also in August, reservations for groups A and O were only enough for two days.
