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Give blood, save lives. But who still donates blood?

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.

Give blood, save lives. But who still donates blood?

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 grew loud. It said something about who has time, who feels responsible, who feels sollicited by these kinds of calls.

And above all: about who doesn’t.

When the seats remain empty

Although there was no particular ‘reason’ for the low turnout.

It wasn’t bad weather, which is usually a classic excuse 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 huge.

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 donates blood.

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

In other words:

We do count on a very small group of people to keep a very large system running.

Older donors in particular keep the system afloat.

I saw very clearly who those people are in the municipal collection room. Older donors.

Probably donors who have been giving blood for a long time, from the time when we saw it as our good civic duty to give blood.

Donors are on average around 40–50 years and older.

Those who are motivated, have time and take time for it, plus 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 specially organized for them, such as in 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, such as: more than 5,700 students who donated their blood during one session.

It also becomes a tradition among the students as 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.

But… campaigns on campuses are temporary and punctual, and do not offer a structural solution. Ultimately, the blood supply runs on regular donors.

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.
• Anyone who donates blood fills in a questionnaire in advance and signs it. In it, you indicate, among other things, when you were last outside Europe, whether you have undergone operations and whether you have certain diseases or engage in risky sexual behavior.
• And after you have donated blood, and your blood values turn out to be abnormal, such as 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 voluntary blood donation.

That is something that blood banks are aware of. They are actively trying to work around this problem. After all, a diverse donor group is 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, donating blood is often unknown here and certainly not self-evident as…

… a small act of solidarity,

… but of great value to someone else.

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 fills with my blood, I often think: this is so easy to do.

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

Give blood, save lives.

Why blood is indispensable

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

• Operations: to replenish blood volume,
• Accidents and emergencies: to administer blood to victims immediately,
• Cancer treatments: to restore red blood cells and platelets after chemotherapy,
• Child birth: to supplement blood loss,
• Chronic diseases: to ensure lifelong blood transfusions,
• Burns and infections: to enable recovery.

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 imitated. There is no alternative.
• Blood has a limited shelf life:
  • Red blood cells: 42 days
  • Platelets: 5 days

That is precisely why a constant influx of donors is necessary.

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 in Belgium and Sanquin in the Netherlands organize these systems.

Donors give here 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 familial or need-driven. Family members are only asked to donate when a family member 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 anything but self-evident that we can donate blood anonymously, well organized and without anything in return. It is an essential part of our healthcare system and every donation contributes to this.

Personally, as a former blood donor, I hope that we learn to see that again.

How we can stimulate that awareness and solidarity in today’s self-centered and polarized society remains an open question.

Giving blood does not have to be a task, but should be seen as taking care of each other, even without knowing each other.

Perhaps it is a silent form of generosity, which is needed today more than ever.

So make an appointment

You can always make an appointment for the donor center in Ghent. 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 the “location” that suits you best
• Choose date and time that suits you

So, what’s holding you back?

Emma