It is an urgent appeal launched in the middle of summer: the Luxembourg Red Cross is looking for donors to fill the country’s blood stocks, at their lowest.
Only 6 days of the blood needs of Luxembourg hospitals are currently covered by the blood reserves available at the Red Cross, according to a press release issued this Wednesday morning. “We call on all those who wish to help the sick and injured to seek treatment to donate their blood.”
Anne Schuhmacher, medical director of the Blood Transfusion Center, details the situation: “Even in the middle of summer, the demand for blood products remains high: we do not stop treating the sick or injured. At the same time, the waves of Covid-19 infection in recent months have prevented some donors from coming to see us when they wish… And, of course, the summer break means that many people leave the country for a few days or a few weeks, to take advantage of a well-deserved rest. All combined, the result is simple: we have a stock that is at an exceptionally low level. This is the reason why today we are calling on all those who wish and are able to come and donate.”
In concrete terms, anyone wishing to donate blood can do so, preferably before leaving on vacation. Indeed, depending on the region of destination, it is possible that, for various reasons (tropical diseases, dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria, etc.), it may be necessary to wait a few weeks or a few months before being able to give blood again after your return.
It is possible to come spontaneously to the Blood Transfusion Center (42, boulevard Joseph II in Luxembourg-city), to go on the website www.dondusang.lu to learn more, or call 2755-4000.
The Blood Transfusion Center is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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