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Giving blood gives life

A lifetime of blood donation

Recently we donated blood again. Four times a year, the Red Cross organises local blood collections in municipalities all over Belgium.

Something my husband and I have been doing since our young adult lives. Sometimes interrupted by life itself, but always with the same realization: donating blood is important.

Blood saves lives. Giving blood gives life.

Who shows up

What struck me that last time was who had come to the blood collection.

The older native population.

The room was quiet. Too quiet even. At one point, the doctors and nurses were literally twiddling their thumbs. There was almost no one to prick.

It was not a pleasant quietness. it felt like emptiness. As if a whole layer of the population was simply missing here. Not because they couldn’t come, but because they weren’t there, or weren’t reached, or didn’t feel sollicited.

And suddenly that silence became loud. It said something about who has time, who feels responsible, who feels seen by these kinds of calls.

And above all: about who doesn’t.

When the seats remain empty

And that while there was actually no ‘reason’ for that low turnout.

It wasn’t bad weather, usually a classic to stay at home. There was also no big football match on television.

So everything seemed to be going well… except the willingness to come.

The hard numbers behind the silence

That’s a shame. Because the need is great.

In Belgium, almost 500,000 bags of blood are needed every year to meet the demand of hospitals.

Yet less than one in ten Belgians actively donate blood.

Approximately 2.5% of the population is active blood donor. Sanquin.nl

In other words, we are counting on a very small group of people to keep a very large system running.

A narrow group carries the whole

You can quickly see who those people are in such a municipal collection room. Older donors.

Donors who have been donating blood for a long time, from the time when we thought it was our good civic duty to donate blood.

Donors we mostly see are on average around 40–50 years and older. There are younger people, of course. But few.

Those who have time, are motivated and are medically eligible are only a small group, which explains why you mainly see older donors here.

Giving blood in Ghent

Young people do go to blood collections in student cities such as Ghent.

The annual Bloedserieus campaigns of the Red Cross Flanders in particular attract many young people, thanks to campaigns and campus initiatives.

Bloedserieus focuses specifically on students. The Red Cross organises mobile collections on campuses in Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp and other student cities. This is done to motivate students to donate blood in a familiar and accessible environment.

In recent editions, thousands of students have participated in this action, example: more than 5,700 students who donated their blood during one session. Universities such as Ghent were important locations where students participated in the collections.

It also becomes a tradition among the students. They often get together with fellow students. Afterwards they receive a drink and a goodie bag. They see it as an easy and meaningful way to contribute to society.

The campaigns are also aimed at making students loyal donors in the future.

Blood donation: conditions

Young adolescents are not allowed to donate blood. You must be at least 18 years old to donate blood and at least 17 for plasma and platelets.

A large proportion of donors also drop out over the age of sixty-five, often due to stricter medical conditions.

Although the Red Cross in Belgium has decided not to impose an age limit upwards (the upper limit used to be 65 years), there are a few conditions attached to donating blood.

Older donors must be medically approved by a doctor. Health and blood values are important for both donor and recipient.

By the way, anyone who donates blood must always fill in and sign a questionnaire in advance. For example, you must indicate when you were last abroad (outside Europe), and whether you have undergone operations.

And if you have donated blood, and your blood values turn out to be not good afterwards, e.g. an iron deficiency, you will receive a letter at home afterwards with the reason why your blood was not withheld. So that’s also a bonus.

Who we see less

Research in Europe shows that diverse population groups are less represented among blood donors in general. This is due to various reasons such as cultural barriers or unfamiliarity with the system of blood donation.

That is something that blood banks are aware of. They are actively trying to work around this problem. A diverse donor group is literally of vital importance.

In many countries outside Western Europe, there is no voluntary, unpaid donation system and blood donation is only done for family or in emergency situations. For population groups with that background, giving blood is often unknown here and not self-evident as something you just do.

A small act, a big difference

Blood donors in Belgium don’t just give for family, but for anyone who needs blood.

When I lie there, with my arm stretched out and that little wobbly sac slowly filling with my blood, I often think: this is so easy to do.

It takes a little time, a small prick, and then a drink and a chat. Nothing more. And yet, for someone else, it can make the difference between life and death.

Giving blood gives life.

Why blood is indispensable

Blood is really indispensable for hospitals. It is used every day for:

Operations

Major surgery can cause a lot of blood loss. Donor blood is then needed to replenish the blood volume and maintain oxygen transport.

Accidents and emergencies

In the event of traffic accidents, accidents at work or serious injuries, every minute counts. Victims are often immediately given blood to continue to supply vital organs.

This is one of the reasons why blood should always be in stock .

Cancer treatments

Patients who receive chemotherapy often temporarily produce fewer of their own blood cells. They then need red blood cells and platelets to prevent oxygen deficiency and bleeding.

Some cancer patients receive dozens of transfusions during their treatment.

Childbirth and complications

In difficult deliveries or severe bleeding, blood can be life-saving, both for mother and child. I had a caesarean section at the time and needed a lot of blood for that. That’s why I want to give something back now.

Chronic diseases

People with conditions such as severe anemia may rely on regular blood transfusions for life.

Burns and serious infections

In case of severe burns or serious infections (such as sepsis), blood is needed to make recovery possible.

Many people don’t know that:

One blood donation can help up to three patients because blood is split into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

blood cannot be artificially reproduced. There is no alternative.

blood has a limited shelf life:

• Red blood cells: ± 42 days
• platelets: ± 5 days
  That is why a constant influx of donors is needed.

The Red Cross and Sanquin

In Belgium and the Netherlands , blood donation is done through a voluntary and unpaid system. Non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross and Sanquin organize these systems.

Donors give out of solidarity, not out of necessity or financial pressure. This ensures safe blood, trust and especially repeat donors: people who keep coming back regularly.

Fortunately, thanks to fixed donor centres and mobile collections, the blood supply is still relatively stable for the time being . It is no coincidence that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers this model to be the safest and most ethical.

That contrasts strongly with other parts of the world.

• In the United States , there is a mixed, partly commercial system: plasma is often donated for a fee. This increases availability, but also raises ethical questions.
• In Latin America and parts of Asia , blood donation is often familial or need-driven. Family members are only asked to donate when someone needs blood. That makes the stock uncertain.
• In many African countries , blood donation is strongly linked to crisis situations, with limited infrastructure and storage facilities.
• In Asia, there are huge differences. Countries such as Japan and South Korea have a strong voluntary system. Other countries are still in transition.

In short

Voluntary, unpaid blood donation ensures safer blood and more stable care.

It is not self-evident that we can donate blood in Belgium and the Netherlands in anonymity, well organized and without anything in return. It is an important part of our healthcare system, and every donation is part of it.

Personally, I hope we learn to see it again.

Not as a task, but as taking care of each other, without knowing each other.

And perhaps also as a silent form of generosity that is needed today more than ever.

So make an appointment

You can always make an appointment for the donor center in Ghent. It is better to do this before you go there. (And other fixed locations) Rodekruis.be

You can do this online via the Red Cross donor portal:

• Go to the Red Cross donor page and choose “Make an appointment“
• Find “location” that suits you best
• Choose date & time that suits you

Emma