Red Cross issues call for blood donations

The Red Cross is currently facing a shortage of blood and has issued an urgent call for donations. "We notice an overall decrease in our inventory of blood products. Even stocks of blood types O Positive and A Positive, usually stable,  are low," the organisation said in a statement yesterday. The significant decrease in the number of donors is due to people going on holiday as well as high temperatures. "In general, we need 3,000 to 3,500 units of blood per week to meet the demands of hospitals. However, the number of donations has, in places, fallen by more than 20%," says the Red Cross’s Jessica Loson. "By August 10, we may reach the lowest point of our blood supply." The Red Cross therefore calls on anyone able to give blood to do so as of today, stressing that the organisation “will need blood for the next five weeks”. Blood donors must be aged between 18 and 65, in good health and weigh more than 50 kg. Details about how to give blood can be found on the website www.transfusion.be.