Red Cross launches campaign to boost blood donations in Styria

The Red Cross in Styria has launched a campaign called “Do it for” to increase blood donations, ORF reported. About 4,000 blood units are needed in Styria every month, while only three to four percent of people regularly donate blood.

Blood donations are essential to medical care. Karl Nestler from eastern Styria was involved in a serious train accident at the age of 16 and lost both legs. Blood units saved his life. Now 67, Nestler stresses the importance of donations for people in emergencies.

With the message that every blood donation has two faces, that of the donor and, above all, that of the survivor, the blood donation service is seeking new donors. Willingness to donate has also fallen significantly in Styria.

Nina Just of the Styrian Red Cross said ensuring the blood supply was a constant challenge. “The blood supply must be secured 365 days a year, but we must not forget that only three to four percent of Austria’s population regularly donates blood, even though anyone may depend on it in an emergency,” she said.

The campaign aims to highlight the need for blood donations and make donors more visible. It will run across Styria on posters, digital screens and social media.

Red Cross president Michael Gruber said the campaign would also focus on the recipients of blood donations. “We want to show that this blood, which is donated anonymously, really helps,” he said.