Patients still need help from blood donors over Easter
It is important that enough donors lend a helping hand on the days leading up to and immediately after Easter. The Blood Service centres are closed on Good Friday March 29th but open on Easter Monday, April 1st.
Blood products are needed in hospitals every day of the year, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a public holiday.
Blood can be normally be donated on weekdays, and that is sufficient to provide the blood products needed to treat patients.
“The platelets used to treat cancer patients, for example, can only be used for a few days after donation, which is why it is important that donors give blood around the Easter holidays as well,” says Johanna Castrén, Director of Blood Donation at the Blood Service.
In addition to cancer patients, blood products are given to surgical patients, premature babies and victims of accidents, for example.
During the long Easter holidays, donors can give blood on weekdays and on Easter Monday, April 1st.
Both new and returning blood donors are welcome to donate blood. You can book an appointment to donate blood at veripalvelu.fi/ajanvaraus.
You can start to give blood if you are between the ages of 18 and 59. You can easily check whether you are eligible to donate blood at www.sovinkoluovuttajaksi.fi.
On Monday April 1st, donors can give blood at ten Blood Service centres:
Espoo 11–18
Vantaa 11–18
Sanomatalo 11–18
Jyväskylä 11–18
Kuopio 11–18
Tampere 11–18
Lahti 11–17
Turku 10–17
Oulu 10–17
Seinäjoki 10–17
In addition, a blood donation event will be held at the Kirkkopuisto parish centre in Riihimäki on April 1st from 12 noon until 5.00pm.
The centres’ contact information, opening hours and blood donation events can be found on the Blood Service website.
