In order to prevent shortage of blood during this end of the year, the Social Security Service in Costa Rica (CCSS) calls on donors to approach the Blood Bank in Zapote.

According to their estimations, they need at least 423 donors to handle the demand. The Blood Bank will be operating normally December 26, 27 and 28 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

One donor can save as many as 4 lives; so far this year a total of 32, 577 people have donated blood, an average of 95 people a day; donations are needed for different patients, those suffering from blood diseases, the ones that require certain type of surgeries, victims of accidents, etc.

The blood extracted corresponds to only 400-500 ML of blood, which represents only a 10% of the total blood that is carried through a person’s system, this quantity is recovered in a matter of 24 hours with the consumption of liquids.

To be a candidate, donors have to be at least 18 years-old and no more than 65 years, present valid Costa Rican ID or Residency Card, weigh more than 50 kilograms, and have good overall health. Before donating it is important that volunteers eat a light breakfast (no fats), it only takes 40 minutes to go through the whole process.

There are over 14 blood banks in the country distributed in the seven provinces, San José has 5 of them, the main one is located on the southern side of the Catholic Church.