The summer of tourism and work, even seasonal ones, coincides every year with a blood emergency. In Gallura, just as the population grows, with accidents and requests for transfusions, donations are dropping dramatically. Simone Sotgiu, president of the La Maddalena municipal association, raised the alarm, despite nearly 50 blood bags collected on the island in April alone: "Now the most difficult period begins," he says.
Contrary to what you might think, donations decline during the holiday months, especially in tourist areas. "Many donors are busy working in tourism, restaurants, and services, often working long shifts, even at night, which makes it difficult to get to the bloodmobile." This phenomenon affects the entire Gallura region, both the coast and the inland towns, which become depopulated during the summer as many residents move to tourist areas for work. "Requests increase, but donations drop by as much as 20-30%," Sotgiu emphasizes. In La Maddalena, out of approximately 500 donors, it's difficult to find even 30 available during this period."
And the need for blood increases especially in the summer. Furthermore, in Sardinia, the incidence of thalassemia, a disease that requires constant transfusions, remains high. The Region collects approximately 70,000 blood bags a year but purchases another 30,000 from other regions, such as Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont, at high costs.
