Safe blood saves lives!
World Blood Donor Day was once again celebrated around the world on 14 June. The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. In continuation of this, Aker Care wants to focus on blood donation and encourage all who have the opportunity to become blood donors.
Every day, 620 blood transfusions are performed at Norwegian hospitals. A half of liter of your blood can potentially save three lives. Despite advances in technology and medical science, blood still cannot be artificially produced.
Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and it supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
You can register as a blood donor at all blood banks in Norway by going to the website giblod.no. When you register as a blood donor, your registration goes to the chosen blood bank. It may take some time from you to sign up until you hear back from the blood bank. Feel free to call them if you haven’t heard anything after two month.
It only takes half an hour to donate blood and the half liter you give can save three lives!
Who can donate blood?
The main rule is that you can register as a blood donor if you:
- are between 18 and 60 years
- feel completely healthy
- weigh over 50 kg
- are not at risk for HIV, hepatitis or other diseases that can be transmitted through blood
Blood transfusion must not be harmful for the blood donor or the recipient. The blood bank considers each donor carefully before allowing them to give blood.
