Austrian Red Cross urges summer blood donations as supplies fall

The Austrian Red Cross has warned that the combination of high summer temperatures and holiday travel traditionally leads to a drop in blood donations, putting the country's blood‑bank reserves at risk. Blood can not be synthetically produced, each unit remains usable for only 42 days, and Austria requires a new unit roughly every 90 seconds.

The organisation calls on healthy adults aged 18‑70, weighing at least 50 kg, to donate and advises donors to stay well‑hydrated, eat a carbohydrate‑rich meal beforehand, avoid strenuous activity and direct sun exposure, and observe the recommended rest period after giving blood.

To facilitate collection, a series of donation sessions have been scheduled across Burgenland, starting on 10 July in Rohrbach and Güttenbach and continuing through August in towns such as Neustift, Neuberg, Olbendorf, Wiesen, Jennersdorf, Stoob, Wiesfleck, Lutzmannsburg, Deutschkreutz, Markt Neuhodis, Stadtschlaining, Güssing, Jabing, Unterfrauenhaid, Neuhaus am Klausenbach, Neckenmarkt and Markt Allhau. Weekly donation slots are also available at the Red Cross office in Oberwart.