Red Cross calls for blood donors to top up 'under-pressure' stocks

The Flemish Red Cross has issued a call for blood donors, as stocks of blood and blood products are “under pressure”. Groups AB- and B- are in a particularly critical state, the organisation said.

The problem extends to platelets, which are extracted from donations of whole blood and help to control bleeding. Demand from hospitals for platelets was 8% higher in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

The growing demand was one of the reasons the Red Cross switched to using larger blood bags for donations this month, which contain 450ml or 470ml instead of 400ml and allow the extraction of platelets and plasma. However, the decision to increase the volume donated meant some smaller, thinner donors, mainly women, were no longer allowed to give blood.

Platelets are only kept for five days, so stocks need constant replenishment with new donations. The summer is typically a time of shortages, as many regular donors are on holiday. However, the need for platelets remains constant: they are also used for cancer and leukaemia patients having chemotherapy, which lowers the number of platelets as a side-effect, sometimes leading to spontaneous bleeding.

Donations of whole blood can be given at the Red Cross’s permanent centres, or at mobile centres that tour Flanders constantly. Donations of platelets alone can only be given at one of the 11 permanent centres.

Photo courtesy Rode Kruis Vlaanderen