Boosting blood reserves on the Costa Blanca as the country battles COVID19

Urgent call for blood donors in Seville

BLOOD RESERVES: A donor session will go ahead on March 28 in Alfaz del Pi.

AS coronavirus puts pressure on blood supplies across the country, Alicante Transfusion Centre has joined forces with Alfaz del Pi’s health department to stage an emergency donor session to boost its banks.

“This is an act of maximum solidarity with which we can save lives,” said a council spokesman, calling on members of the pubic to help cover the demand from hospitals and maintain the blood reserves, which have been affected by the pandemic.

The Health Department stressed that the donation areas are “safe spaces and that donors can come to them with peace of mind”. The materials used in the process are 100 per cent sterile and the health personnel are “perfectly equipped”.

While all other municipal activities in the town have been suspended amid the coronavirus crisis, health officials agreed the sessions were a justified exception.

Donors must be 18 to 65, weigh more than 50 kilos and be in good health. There are exclusion criteria which relate to travel, tattoos and medication.

With regards to anyone who presents or has presented symptoms of respiratory infection or fever in the last 15 days, they must self isolate and not consider donating blood at the moment.

It is worth noting that anyone who has lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996 will not be able to donate blood in Spain due to the risk of transmitting mad cow disease. However, each region may have different rules about donation and it’s best to check with your nearest blood bank.

The blood donor sessions take place on Saturday, March 28, 9.30am to 1.30pm and 4.30pm to 8.30pm, at the Cultural Centre in Alfaz del Pi.

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Written by

Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

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