Red Cross warns: Serious blood shortage looms
The Austrian Red Cross warned of a severe blood shortage, and spokesperson Margit Draxl stated: "We are about to issue an alert." She confirmed that Austrian hospitals may not receive the necessary amounts of blood during the summer if donations continue at this low level.
The crisis has worsened due to a new decree that came into effect on June 1, which reduces the number of times full blood donations can be made annually. Men are now allowed to donate only four times a year, and women only three times, down from the previous allowed number of six times. The minimum interval between each donation has also become eight weeks. Draxel justified this change by citing changes in dietary habits, as many young people are avoiding meat, which could lead to a potential iron deficiency.
On the other hand, the new regulations allow some individuals who were previously excluded, such as those with autoimmune diseases that only affect one organ like Morbus Hashimoto, Vitiligo, or Psoriasis, to donate blood. Additionally, individuals born in malaria-endemic areas can now donate after receiving a negative test result. However, the waiting periods after traveling to those areas still apply.
On World Blood Donation Day, Drexel confirmed that "the blood shortage is currently very severe." People aged 18 to 70 who are in good health can donate blood. A unit of blood is only stored for 42 days. It was noted that most young people are unaware that blood cannot be manufactured artificially, which contributes to their low willingness to donate.
Media attention to the issue renewed after the call for blood donation that was launched following the shooting incident at a school in Graz. Gerald Schober said during the 78th Red Cross meeting in Vienna: "Such a tragedy clearly shows us the importance of providing blood units for our healthcare facilities." He added that blood is considered an emergency medicine that cannot be manufactured or stored for long periods. Blood donation centers have been exceptionally opened today, Saturday, and during the upcoming Fronleichnam holiday to welcome donors.