Donate blood and save lives

Blood donations are needed for cancer treatment, for accidents in which a lot of blood has been lost, and when there are birth complications. Hospitals rely on donations because blood cannot be artificially produced. Unfortunately, only 2.5% of the Swiss population regularly donates blood, and because donations cannot be stored for a long time, the reserves can be very scarce depending on the blood group. A whole blood donation (450 ml) takes less than an hour and can save someone's life.

Who can donate?

Generally all healthy people between the ages of 18 and 75 with a body weight of over 50 kilograms can donate blood. You need to complete a questionnaire before each donation, with questions regarding current medication and past travel destinations or medical treatments. Whether or not you're eligible to donate is based on your questionnaire and a conversation with donation staff. If you're interested in donating blood, here is an initial donation check from the Swiss Red Cross. Your blood pressure, pulse and the amount of red blood cells in your blood are measured at the appointment to ensure that you are suitable for a donation.

What should you think about before and after the donation?

Prior to the donation, it's important that you feel fit and healthy and have had enough to drink. You should also have plenty to drink after the donation because it can take up to 24 hours for your body to compensate for the loss of fluids. Right after your donation, make sure you have enough time to remain lying where you are for a few minutes and allow the blood donation staff to take care of you. Light physical activity may be fine depending on how your body feels, but you should avoid anything too strenuous.

How often can you donate blood?

Depending on body size and weight, a person has around five to six litres of blood. The body can easily handle making a donation of 450 millilitres. Even so, you should allow a break of three to four months between donations so that enough blood cells can be replenished in your bone marrow.

A blood donation can make a huge difference. All the information you need on blood donations and donation criteria as well as available dates can be found here.