Serbia has a day and a half of blood: where to donate
Serbia's Institute for Blood Transfusion warns that blood reserves will last a day and a half, with type O positive, A and B needed most. Here is where you can donate this week.
How much blood does Serbia have right now? Enough for about a day and a half. The Institute for Blood Transfusion of Serbia warned on October 19 that the optimal reserve covers three days, which means the current stock is half of that.
The biggest shortage is of type O positive, and reserves of A and B are also running low. The appeal is open to all healthy adults, whatever their blood type.
What does the Institute say about the supply?
Mirjana Knezevic of the Institute for Blood Transfusion of Serbia told Euronews Srbija which type they need first: “If I had to single out one blood type right now, it would be, above all, type O.”
Operations are not being postponed for lack of blood so far, and stocks are checked every day. Knezevic warned that this could change. Asked about postponing operations, she said: “For now there are no such situations, but of course, all of this changes from day to day.”
Why is blood running low?
Supplies fell over the summer, and the poor situation has dragged into the second half of October. The Institute also warned of a one-day reserve during the summer, noting that about 300 units are needed daily, or 1,500 a week.
Some donors cannot give blood at the moment because of respiratory infections, allergies and other illnesses. Demand has meanwhile risen: blood is needed for people injured in traffic accidents and for transplant patients who require a transfusion.
Why is a single visit not enough?
The Institute is counting on a turnout that lasts. Knezevic says: “To achieve that, a good turnout over several days, that is, on a continuous basis, is important to us.” In her words, the situation would stabilize if about 300 units of blood arrived every day for at least two weeks in a row.
Where can you donate blood this week?
Blood is collected at the Institute at 39 Svetog Save Street in Belgrade, on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and holidays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Institute also lists a number for donors on its website: 011 344 0479.
Mobile drives, according to the Institute’s schedule:
- Monday, October 19: Pozarevac, Red Cross Hall, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Smederevo, Sports Hall, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sopot, Cultural Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20: Valjevo, Red Cross, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; New Belgrade, bus near Airport City, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Stari Grad, First Economics School, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 21: Barajevo, House of Culture, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Kucevo, Red Cross, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Mladenovac, Gymnasium from 8 to 11 a.m. and Technical School from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Pozarevac, Gymnasium, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sabac, Cultural Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Check one thing before you go. A note above the schedule on the Institute’s website says one of the drives is closed, for employees only. The published schedule does not show which location it applies to, so it makes sense to call the donor number in advance.
