Opportunity announced for giving blood in Tallinn on 19 December
The North Estonia Medical Centre’s (NEMC) blood donation facility welcomes donors to a one-day pre-Christmas blood drive on Saturday, 19 December. We will be open at the Blood Centre (Ädala 2) and the DoonoriFoorum (the 4th floor of the Foorum shopping centre on Narva mnt 5) from 10am to 3pm. We will be open longer on Friday, 18 December – the Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum will be open from 11am to 7pm on that day.
“For many years now, we’ve been open on the last Saturday before Christmas, and our experience shows that donors are happy to seize this opportunity. The Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum will be decked out for the season and have a special ambience, Santa Claus and elves will put in an appearance, and a Christmas drawing will be held, where over 30 Estonian companies, museums and theatres will help to make the season bright. All donors who give blood in December will be entered in the prize drawing for a Tallinn-Stockholm-Tallinn cruise for four passengers, courtesy of Tallink. We invite everyone to take part!” said Dr. Riin Kullaste, the director of the Blood Centre.
Elron, Estonia’s national passenger train service operator, is also giving recognition to people who help make Estonia a better place, offering donors half-price fares in December. “These heroes of the Christmas season deserve our gratitude, as they have given the gift of life to many,” said Elron’s marketing and communication director Mai Vahtrik. “This time we’re recognizing donors by giving them 50% off train travel throughout Estonia from 7 to 20 December.”
Donors will enjoy half price on any route during this period. They just need to present their donor certificate and an ID to the conductor. The discount ticket can only be purchased aboard Elron trains and discounts cannot be accumulated. But Elron Hero of the Month general carriage tickets are also good in 1st class, provided there are seats available.
To be eligible for giving blood, donors should be healthy, rested, have recently eaten, weigh at least 50 kg and be between the ages of 18 and 60. They must either be an Estonian citizen or have lived in Estonia over a year on the basis of a residence permit. The interval between blood donations must be at least 60 days for men and 90 days for women. At least an hour should be budgeted for a blood donation.
Each donation helps at least three patients. Donor blood is needed for difficult operations and complicated cases of childbirth, and in treating patients suffering from cancer, liver disease, haemorrhages, severe injury, anaemia, leukaemia, burns and many other diseases and conditions. Donor blood also makes it possible to carry out many planned operations that would not otherwise be possible due to blood loss. Around 20,000 patients a year receive blood transfusions at Estonian hospitals.
The NEMC’s Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum have the following hours during the holiday period:
- 18 December – the Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum will be open from 11am to 7pm
- 19 December – the Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum will be open from 10am to 3pm
- 23 December – the Blood Centre will be open from 8am to 4pm, and DoonoriFoorum from 9am to 2pm
- 24-27 December and 31 December and 1 January – the Blood Centre and DoonoriFoorum will be closed.
- We will be open during our ordinary hours on other days.
The Blood Centre wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
More information can also be found on the Blood Centre’s website www.verekeskus.ee and the FB fan page “Doonorid ja Sõbrad”.