And you, have you given blood lately?

In time for World Blood Donor Day, on 14th June, the EC has published a «Eurobarometer» study showing how Europeans feel about giving blood. Here in Portugal, locals give very little blood. Only 22 per cent of the population is donors – compared to the European average, among all 27-member states, of 37 per cent.

Indeed, this number has increased a little since the last study – realised in 2001, when the European average stood at 31 per cent. Put another way, according to «Eurobarometer», less than four in every ten Europeans has given blood recently.

The most altruistic countries are Austria (66 per cent give blood), France (52 per cent) and Greece and Cyprus (both with 51 per cent). In contrast Portugal comes in last with 22 per cent, Italy with 23 per cent, Poland with 25 per cent, Malta with 29 per cent, and Sweden with 30 per cent.

But Sweden is the country with the highest percentage of potential organ donors (83 per cent) and Latvia registers the least – with just 25 per cent responding affirmatively.

When it comes to organ donation, in Portugal just as in the EU generally, more men are donors (29 and 44 per cent, respectively), than women (15 and 31 per cent).

And the percentage of Portuguese willing to become organ donors after death (60 per cent) is higher than the European average (55 per cent).

Distrust in the system is the principal reason given by Portuguese for not being willing to become donors (28 per cent, as opposed to an EU average of 21 per cent) – followed by fear in meddling with bodies (20 per cent in Portugal, 25 per cent in EU in general), and religious beliefs (nine per cent in Portugal, seven per cent in EU).

Inquiries were made in Portugal by Euroteste - which conducted 1.031 interviews between 2nd and 10th October. In all, throughout Europe, a total of 26.788 interviews were conducted.

But if you’re interested in changing statistics, you should know that anyone can give blood as long as he or she is healthy, has a healthy lifestyles weighs 50 kg or more, and is aged between 18 and 65 years.

One unit of blood represents approximately 450 ml. Every individual has a total blood circulation of between five and six litres – depending on height and weight. Any blood donated is rapidly replenished by one’s own system, and there is no danger of contracting any illnesses as a result of blood donation as all instruments used are sterile and disposable.

All people interested in becoming donors need to do is go to their nearest hospital, or take part in blood collection campaigns which take place regularly throughout the Algarve.