World Blood Donor Day at Magen David Adom
How many blood units were donated this year? What is whole blood? Which city topped the donation chart?
This weekend (Saturday), Israel and countries around the globe will mark World Blood Donor Day. According to data from Magen David Adom's Blood Services, since the previous World Blood Donor Day until now, 271,036 units of blood have been donated — 43,739 of them from first-time donors
World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14 to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation. It also marks the birthday of Dr. Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian physician and biologist who discovered blood types in 1900 — a breakthrough that enables safe blood transfusions today.
According to MDA's Blood Services, over the past year, between June 14, 2023, and June 11, 2024, 271,036 blood units were donated in Israel, helping save the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients, the injured, and women in childbirth. Of these donations, 65.2% came from men (176,905) and 34.8% from women (94,131). 16.1% of donors (43,739 people) were first-time blood donors.
Due to the “Iron Swords” War, there has been increased use of whole blood units — especially Type O whole blood that contains all blood components and specialized antibodies. These units are critical in emergencies and have saved thousands of lives. 12,750 such units were supplied to hospitals and the IDF over the past year.
Top 10 Blood-Donating Cities in Israel (Based on the donors’ city of residence)
Jerusalem topped the list with 16,108 donations (5.94% of total): 10,660 men, 5,448 women. Tel Aviv – 11,296 donations (4.17%): 7,003 men, 4,293 women. In third place - Haifa – 10,711 donations (3.95%): 6,576 men, 4,135 women. Petach Tikva residents gave 7,067 donations: 4,811 men, 2,256 women. Modiin-Maccabim-Reut – 5,616 donations: 3,652 men, 1,964 women. In sixth place, Rishon LeZion, with 5,421 donations: 3,412 men, 2,009 women. Be’er Sheva in seventh place with 5,359 donations: 3,560 men, 1,799 women. Ramat Gan residents gave 4,493 donations: 2,832 men, 1,661 women. Rehovot – 4,444 donations: 2,854 men, 1,590 women. And in tenth place, Netanya, with 4,373 donations: 2,918 men, 1,455 women.
MDA Blood Services urges the public to donate blood year-round — and especially on World Blood Donor Day. Donation site information can be found on www.mdais.org/dam or by calling 03-5300400. Please check ahead for changes in times or locations. Schedule your appointment and complete the donor questionnaire sent to your phone before arriving.
Lior Altman, Director of MDA's National Blood Donation Program:
"Thanks to the dedication of Israeli citizens — civilians and soldiers — we can meet the demand for blood for patients, the injured, and women in labor. We thank every donor who took time to save lives. Blood can be donated every three months, and we invite the public to continue this vital life-saving mission."
Dr. Rafael Strugo, Deputy Director General of MDA Blood Services:
"This weekend, we mark World Blood Donor Day in honor of Dr. Landsteiner’s discovery 125 years ago. This discovery is still in use today, and thanks to this discovery we are able to provide safe blood transfusions to the sick, injured and women in labor. To meet Israel’s healthcare needs and provide life-saving blood transfusions, MDA's Blood Services must collect at least 1,200 blood units daily. Our new state-of-the-art laboratories at MDA's Marcus National Blood Center in Ramla — the world’s first underground, fortified blood bank that is protected against conventional and non-conventional threats. The labs contain advanced and leading technology and allow the processing of up to half a million blood units each year. MDA's Blood Services thank all the donors for their life-saving donations."
MDA Director-General Eli Bin:
"In many cases, saving a life begins with a donor’s blood flowing from their arm, through MDA's Blood Services, to the patient, in order to provide critical medical treatment. Thanks to hundreds of thousands of donors each year, we make this life-saving mission possible, assisting the sick, injured and women in labor across the country. We thank the people of Israel who, time and again, donate out of the highest value of giving — and help save lives that benefit the residents of the State of Israel."
