RSU employees and students are welcome to donate blood in the Rehearsal Room of the RSU Great Hall, while the students from RSU scientific interest groups will provide the opportunity to measure blood pressure, test blood glucose levels, check vision and hearing and undergo other health checks.

For the second year running RSU has joined the initiative No Elevators Day. RSU employees and students are invited to take the stairs instead of elevators. The initiative highlights a simple way for people to add physical activity to their day despite a lack of time and other excuses.

This will be the seventh RSU Health Day, and the number of blood donors at RSU has increased each year.

International students who have received a residence permit and have Latvian ID number are also welcome to donate blood.

Qualifying conditions

To donate blood, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Be between 18 and 65 years old;
• Weigh at least 50kg;
• Sober for at least for 24 hours;
• Have had a good rest and don’t feel under the weather;
• Have consumed plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic drinks) and eaten healthy meals;
• At least 64 days since your last donation have passed.

Disqualifying conditions

You cannot donate blood for a certain period in any of the following cases:

• You feel tired or ill;
• If you have visited any endemic countries (see map with details in Latvian);
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• After childbirth or abortion;
• After surgery, or dental procedures;
• After contact with other person’s blood or injury with a needle;
• After a tick bite, after the treatment of Lyme disease, or encephalitis;
• After having an endoscopy, needle therapy, a tattoo or piercing;
• After contact with a person with viral hepatitis;
• After sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive partner;
• If you are taking medication (except contraceptives);
• After getting several types of vaccines (precise info available by phone +37180000003);
• During any acute disease;
• During allergy exacerbation period (rash, allergic rhinitis etc.);
• After the treatment of tularemia, brucellosis, malaria, TB, toxoplasmosis, Q fever, osteomyelitis, syphilis;
• In case of a repeated cloudy plasma.

Benefits to the donor

• A sense of satisfaction. One donation can save three lives.
• The blood-making system in your body is stimulated.
• Blood donors are less likely to suffer from acute and chronic diseases.
• Opportunity to measure your heart rate, blood pressure, haemoglobin level, detect antibodies to hepatitis C virus etc. You may obtain your blood screening results within five working days by prior notification of the donor registrar.
• One paid day of annual leave (obtain a blood donation certificate for the submission to your employer).
• When you donate blood three or more times in one year (within 365 days) you will be entitled to a Donor's privilege card, which gives you the opportunity to get various discounts.

According to the World Health Organisation, active blood donors live longer by approximately five years, as their blood-forming system becomes more active and donation boosts their immune system.