World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on 14 June, to commemorate the birth of Austrian biologist, physician and immunologist Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the major blood groups and developed the ABO system of blood typing in 1900, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1930.
One blood bag a minute
If you are not already a blood donor, this may be the time to begin. In Sweden, we consume an average of one blood bag every minute of every day, all year round. Approximately 90,000 Swedes receive a blood transfusion every year.
We need more blood donors, not least among young men. Approximately 60% of all blood donated in Sweden comes from the over-45s. At the same time, young women are significantly more likely to donate than young men. However, many young women have a low blood count and so cannot give blood.
As an employee of Uppsala University, you are entitled to be paid when you donate blood during working hours if it is not possible to book a time outside working hours. You can learn more about the terms and conditions in the Staff Portal under Your employment>Other types of leave>Medical appointments etc. during working hours.
Learn more about giving blood and register as a blood donor.