We Need Your Blood!

Vísir reports that the Blood Bank is urging people to donate blood before they go on summer vacation. No particular blood type is needed more than any others; this is a general drive to prepare for the busy summer months.

“The situation right now is fine, we could put it that way,” Blood Bank department manager Jórunn Ósk Frímannsdóttir Jensen told reporters. “But we need to have much more [blood] to keep it that way. We’re not going on vacation. That’s just not an option.”

If you want to donate blood, but are not an Icelandic citizen, there are some things to have in mind.

According to Blood Bank guidelines, all potential donors must be able to speak and understand either Icelandic or English, in order to avoid any misunderstandings about donation requirements. Furthermore, you also need an Icelandic identification number (kennitala), to plan to live in Iceland for at least a year, be in good shape, and be from 18 to 60 years old.

Prospective donors who hail from Australia, USA, Europe, Canada or New Zealand can donate blood after 3 months’ residence in Iceland. Donors from all other countries have to have been in Iceland for at least six months.