According to VADC, the number of donors has fallen in recent years, but not significantly. More than 20 thousand liters of blood are donated a year. Even though it is a seemingly large number, it may not be enough to save patients. Therefore, the idea of creating a blood portal has emerged.
“We never know what patients will there be on which day, how difficult it will be for medical establishments. One day we look – this column [showing blood stocks] of a particular type is full, but the next day it can already be completely empty because there have been one or more severe patients who have been in need of that blood type,” said Egita Pole.
When blood is donated, it is split in three parts: plasma, platelets and red blood cells. Pole noted that the quick expiry of red blood cells is an important aspect, so donors cannot be addressed with a large campaign, they should be addressed constantly.
The largest influx of donors is seen every year in December, when there are many charity shares and people are more inclined to help.
To encourage donors, the VADC has started work to set up a donor portal in the coming year.
“As an important section on this portal, there will also be this feedback. In other words, when a donor's blood supply goes to the hospital to save someone's life, the donor will receive this information. And it could be such an extra celebration,” Pole said.
The donors will be able to receive important information on their health data, donation times, and a reminder of the next visit.
