The heat and the holidays are an obstacle to getting the blood donations needed in the Basque Country
High temperatures and vacation times make it difficult to maintain the amount of blood needed for transfusions in summer.
This summer's heat has made it difficult to obtain the 350-400 daily blood donations needed in the Basque Country, a figure deemed necessary to meet the needs of the Transfusion Network. The situation is particularly difficult in August, as holidays and changes in habits tend to reduce the number of blood donations.
Laura Biritxinaga, head of the Clinical Management Unit of the Basque Blood and Human Tissue Transfusion Centre, and Aiala Elorza Sarasola, head of promotion of the Álava Blood Donors Association, warn that in summer there are "quite a few days" that do not reach the required number.
Blood is needed every day.
Blood donations are essential for red blood cell concentrates and platelets used in surgical operations, accidents and treatments for cancer patients, among others.
The situation tends to get worse in the summer, but this year high temperatures have made blood donations even more difficult.
The donated blood is divided into three components: red blood cells, which can be kept cold for 42 days; platelets, which last seven days; and plasma, which can be stored frozen for about two years.
Three fixed donation points and walking units
There are three fixed blood donation points in theBasque Country: Manuel Lekuona Street in Donostia-San Sebastián, the Olaguibel Ambulatory in Vitoria-Gasteizand the Usansolo Transfusion Centre.
In addition to the fixed areas, the blood donation bus also travels through towns , neighbourhoods and cities of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, and travelling units are moved within a few days to facilitate blood donation to the population.
To donate blood, you have to be between 18 and 65 , weigh more than 50 kilos, and have good health.
You might like
The first melanoma vaccine passed phase 3 in a large-scale clinical trial
The pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck have reported the success of this personalized vaccine with messenger RNA along with immunotherapy treatment.
The anti-aggression device will be activated in Bilbao on Saturday for Big Week
The Bilbao City Council and Bilboko Konpartsak have jointly renewed the specific protocol for male aggression.
Grenada has been immersed in a series of earthquakes since August 14
Grenada has spent another sleepless night, counting replicas, following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the province yesterday. Experts have confirmed that both the province and the metropolitan area have been stuck in a seismic complex since 14 August: a succession of earthquakes of similar power on the surface that can last for weeks or months.
The hundreds of migrant women who arrived in Ceuta remain in a particularly appalling situation
The hundreds of women who arrived in Ceuta from Morocco remain in a particularly appalling situation. Jada are in a serious situation, but the words, behaviour and actions of the rest of the male migrants increase the lack of protection. UNICEF is experiencing the crisis closely: they report that there are not enough police and that there are officers who cannot help them.
Europe is in severe drought
The lack of rain and successive heat waves reduce the flow of rivers and affect agriculture, transportation and water supply.
A minute of silence was observed in Espinosa de los Monteros in memory of the child from Bizkaia who died in a hit-and-run
The City of Espinosa de los Monteros (Burgos) observed a minute's silence on Monday in memory of the 10-year-old boy who died as a result of serious injuries sustained on Saturday night when he was hit by a tractor.
Half a thousand residents of seven villages evicted from the Riglos fire can now return home
Despite the favourable development of the fire and the progress of perimeter stabilization in the sector on the left flank, in the areas of Santa Cruz de la Seros and San Juan de la Peña "there are still many unburned hot spots in wooded areas", where the Infoar Brigades and the Military Emergency Unit (EMU) continue to work.
The remains found in the Yesa swamp belong to a man from Pamplona, according to the Civil Guard, and are being investigated as homicide
The investigation has been taken over by the Zaragoza Civil Guard in collaboration with the Foral Police and the Pamplona Municipal Police. The remains appeared on one of the banks of the swamp on 4 August, when the water level began to fall as a result of the drought.
35% of drivers have positive drug checks on CSC roads
In the 2,809 tests conducted by the Ertzaintza in the first five months of the year, 982 drivers tested positive for drug use, a decrease of 0.7 points from the same period last year.
The Alhambra suffers slight damage, especially in the Alcazaba, but not structural
After being closed since Tuesday afternoon, the monumental complex has been reopened this Wednesday with all its usual route except the Alcazaba Pass. In addition, to ensure the safety of visitors, the routes through the Nazarene Palaces and the Generalife have been adapted.