The Blood Bank of La Rioja and the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) have called on the people of La Rioja to come and donate blood in the days before the festive days that will take place during the celebration of Holy Week.
The joint action aims to promote blood donation and give visibility to the importance of guaranteeing the transfusion needs of hospitalized patients during Holy Week, a period in which movements and consequently traffic accidents increase. The statistical data of the transfusion center indicate that, throughout Holy Week, more than 100 patients hospitalized in La Rioja will require the transfusion of around 200 hemocomponents.
According to data from the DGT, in 2023 there have been 30 traffic accidents in La Rioja on interurban roads with a total of 53 victims, 5 of them fatal. The DGT recalls that behind each figure linked to traffic accidents there is a personal drama for victims, relatives and relatives.
Likewise, the DGT states that every year more than 50,000 blood donations in Spain are destined for victims of traffic accidents. In addition, 40% of transfusions carried out in La Rioja are distributed to emergency situations, surgery and people who have suffered some type of trauma, such as those caused in traffic accidents.
The event, which took place in the mobile unit of the Blood Bank, was attended by the managing director of the Rioja Health Foundation, Sergio Martínez Astola, the technical director of the Blood Bank of La Rioja, Carlos Sola, the provincial head of Traffic, Beatriz Zúñiga, the commander of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard, Sergio Bueno, and the president of the Provincial Association of Autoschools, José Antonio Rodríguez.
Members of the Traffic Group have shown their solidarity with patients and have donated blood in the mobile unit of the transfusion center. The Traffic Group of the Civil Guard is the unit responsible for the surveillance, regulation, assistance and control of traffic and transport, as well as ensuring the safety of traffic on interurban roads.
Where to donate blood
The Blood Bank recalls that to donate blood you have to be older and under 65 years old, weigh more than 50 Kg and be in good health.
All those who wish to do so will be able to donate blood at the Blood Bank of La Rioja, located at the San Pedro University Hospital, from Monday to Friday from 8 to 20 hours and on Saturdays from 9 to 14 hours. The center will be closed on April 6, 7, 9 and 10.
In addition, people who cannot travel to the hospital center will be able to go to the mobile unit of the Blood Bank. In the days before Holy Week, the mobile unit will visit Arnedo, Pradejón, Santo Domingo de la Calzada and different points of Logroño. The hours and locations of the mobile unit can be consulted at the following link: www.bancosangrerioja.org
175.000 displacements in La Rioja during Easter
Holy Week is the period in which the most important mass exodus of vehicles takes place in a short space of time and in La Rioja 175,000 displacements are expected. Therefore, the DGT launches a special device that tries to achieve the greatest possible safety and fluidity and that is designed to serve two phases:
- From Friday, March 31 at 15:00 hours to Sunday, April 2 at 24:00 hours: Some 55,000 trips are planned in La Rioja.
- From Wednesday, April 5 at 15:00 hours to Monday, April 10 at 24:00 hours: About 120,000 trips are planned in La Rioja.
Rioja schools will disseminate donation information
The Provincial Association of Autoschools of La Rioja and the Blood Bank have reached a new agreement to offer information to future drivers on the need, process and destination of blood donations.
This campaign aims to raise awareness among students about the daily need for blood donations to be able to care for hospitalized patients.
The blood donors of La Rioja are the first link in the transfusion chain, since, thanks to them, patients can recover from traffic accidents, but also from surgical interventions, oncological treatments or complicated deliveries.