– It is too wrong that you should be separated just because of a date of birth, says Per Stordrange (68). He has received the given badge of honour, a gold pin. The proof that you have given blood more than 100 times. But when he turned 65, it suddenly stopped. He had grown too old. – In any case, it feels good to know that I have done my part to help others, but I would like to continue giving, says the 68-year-old. – I must have received at least five of these nice bags, says Per Stordrange after donating blood for over 40 years. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news No “best before” date It is called red gold and cannot be bought or manufactured artificially. We depend on you and me to give so that others can receive vital help. But in order to donate blood, there is a list of requirements you must meet. The most important; you must be healthy and between 18 and 65 years of age. One of those who meets all the requirements is Astri Sviund (23). For the 25th time, she has turned up at the hospital to share her precious drops. – It feels good to be able to donate something that you know others need. If you have health and the surplus to give, then age should not be an obstacle as long as you are healthy, she says. Astrid Sviund has just received a bronze pin after donating blood for the 25th time. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news The quality of our blood has no best before date according to several experts news has spoken to. But donating blood is a strain on the body. The age limit is therefore set to take care of the giver. – Donating blood must be a profit-making project. It is not only the blood that must be of good quality, but the blood donor’s health is at least as important to us, says bioengineer Henriette Lykke Michelsen at the blood bank in Kristiansand. Older and healthier Less than 2 percent of Norway’s population are blood donors. Of the approximately 90,000 active blood donors we have in Norway, approx. 15,000 each year to donate blood. Among other things, due to age, moving or other reasons. These must be replaced in order for Norway to have enough blood donors available. – It is not the case that someone lies dying on the operating table because we do not have enough blood. But we don’t have enough donors, so we have too little preparedness. We need more blood donors, says Michelsen. In addition, the population is getting older. In 2060, just under 25 percent of Norway’s population will be 70 years or older, according to Statistics Norway. – The age limit is therefore starting to become out of date and can easily be shifted, Michelsen believes. – Compared to the rest of the world, very few percent of Norway’s population donate blood, says bioengineer Henriette Lykke Michelsen. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news 1 out of 2 will need a blood transfusion Half of us will need a blood transfusion at least once in our lives. – Then my question is; who will give it? If you are a family of four, two of them – perhaps your children or your sibling – will need blood during their lifetime. Should you just expect the neighbor to do it or do you want to take responsibility yourself and give, asks Henriette Lykke Michelsen at the blood bank in Kristiansand. Per Stordrange sits on the council for the elderly in Agder and the matter was taken up by the council in the county council earlier this year. The challenge has now been forwarded to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, which says the rules have been set due to an EU regulation. – That an annual assessment must be carried out for donors over 65 who will continue to give blood follows from the EU’s regulations which we are obliged to follow through the EEA agreement, writes senior advisor Ingeborg Hagerup-Jenssen in the Norwegian Directorate of Health in an email to news. One pint of blood can save three lives. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news The 65-year age limit applies throughout the country, but there are some hospitals where it is possible to give blood even after this. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, there is no record of how the 65-year-old limit is practiced at the 28 national blood banks. – More and more people are getting healthier as they get older. Then I thought it was bad if we had to keep the old borders, says Per Stordrange.
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The age limit of 65 to donate blood is outdated according to experts – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
