Blood Donation Bus – a new way to help

How onboard donation works

1. Book an appointment.
2. Come to the bus when your appointment begins. Enter the bus via the back door.
3. A nurse will interview you, and you can donate blood the same way as at any other donation point. If you have not donated blood before, the nurse will take blood samples and describe how the donation process works but will not take a blood donation from you. (Please note that in the events at workplaces blood can be donated for the first time starting from September 2024).
4. After you have donated blood, you can stay on the bus for a coffee and snack or take something to eat and drink away with you.

The Blood Donation Bus tours the Helsinki metropolitan area. The main stops are near shopping centres with dedicated car parks. Many of the places are also easy to access by public transport and have parking spaces nearby for donors. However, this cannot be guaranteed at every blood donation point.

The Blood Donation Bus is not an accessible vehicle

Unfortunately, the Blood Donation Bus is not an accessible vehicle. The entrance to the bus is via a narrow set of steps, and the interior is compact. As it is not an accessible space, wheelchair users cannot give blood on the bus.

The separate interview area for blood donors only has enough space for the donor and the nurse. Donors who need a sign language interpreter, an assistant for the visually impaired, a guide dog or any other assistant cannot give blood on the bus. These donors are welcome to give blood at our other blood donation points.

The space is limited, so blood donors cannot be accompanied by friends, family members or children while giving blood on the bus. If you would like to give blood on the bus with a friend, please make appointments for both people.

Frequently asked questions about the Blood Donation Bus

Why will the bus only operate in the Helsinki metropolitan area?

This is Finland’s first large-scale trial of blood donation on a bus. We are starting with a pilot project in the Helsinki metropolitan area because the number of daily donations on the bus is quite small. The Blood Donation Bus will work in addition to the mobile Blood Service donation events in Southern Finland.

Why can’t first-time donors give blood on the Blood Donation Bus?

The Blood Donation Bus is a new operating environment, and the new operations are being trialled with people who have given blood before. (Note! Starting from the end of September, we are expanding the Blood Donation Bus trial so that blood can be donated for the first time at workplace events).

Donating blood the first time typically takes longer than subsequent donations, so first-time donation is not an option in the initial phase of the pilot project.

How can privacy and data protection be assured in such a small space?

Separate interview spaces have been built on the bus to enable private conversations with nurses. There will also be background noise from speakers on the bus.

Does the Blood Donation Bus have a toilet?

The Blood Donation Bus does not have a public toilet. We will try to plan blood donations on the bus in places where toilets are available nearby (such as near a shopping centre).

Can I suggest a stop for the Blood Donation Bus?

We will test various donation sites in the trial phase and develop the bus timetable accordingly. We welcome suggestions for new donation sites.

Blood donation on the bus is particularly suitable for workplaces and educational institutions that have a large enough parking area with a flat surface to accommodate the Blood Donation Bus, which is 15 metres long.

Please use the feedback form to suggest suitable sites.