The average age of blood donors in Latvia continues going up. This is why the State Blood Donors Centre (VADC) wants to attract younger people to donate blood.
VADC data shows that the average blood donor’s age in Latvia is growing. If in 2021 it was 35.7 years, in 2022 it was 37.43 years. In 2023 it finally reached 38 years. Also, the average age of first-time donors has gradually increased from 30.26 years in 2021 to 32.59 years in 2023.
Around 30 000 people donate blood a year. Two years ago, 52.8% of donors were women and 47.2% were men, while 21% of the total number of donors were young people between the ages of 18 and 25. On the other hand, 50% of the donors were between 18 and 35 years old.
Egita Pole, Director of VADC, says that an average of 140 doses of erythrocyte mass are dispensed to medical institutions every day in Latvia. So far, no scientific solution has been found to replace blood in healthcare.
“Anyone who is hospitalised or who needs surgery is directly dependent on blood donors’ responsiveness,” she says, stressing that it is especially important to get young people involved in blood donation.
According to the centre, attracting new people to donate blood tends to be a difficult task.
One of the main reasons why youngsters don’t donate blood is the lack of knowledge – both about the donation process and the importance of donating blood to save lives.
Similarly, for many young people, donating blood for the first time is hampered by fear of the process, needles, or concerns that their blood might not be suitable. For this reason, it often takes extra encouragement for them to take the first step. At the same time, some young people are unable to donate for health reasons, such as low haemoglobin, taking specific medications, or other reasons.
According to the Labour Law, the donor is entitled to a paid day off after donating blood on the next day and, with permission from the employer, another day off can be granted. The employer shall pay up to five such days per calendar year.
To donate blood, donors must have a valid ID that contains the following information – ID number, name, surname, and photo.