With its number of blood donors, Slovenia ranks within the European average; however, it is of utmost importance that Slovenia is self-sufficient in its blood supply requirements. This means that we can cover the needs for blood in our health care system ourselves.

Slovenia boasts a very well developed program of blood donation, a long and successful tradition with a well-organised blood donation system; a sufficient number of blood donors and a high willingness of people to donate blood as well as modern methods of communication with blood donors.

Every 5 minutes, someone in Slovenia needs blood, either for a planned operation or for saving a life after an accident. This means that on average we need 350 blood donors every working day. With their voluntary blood donation, they contribute to the preservation of health of fellow human beings and of course help to prevent death.

The Slovenian Red Cross is responsible for recruiting and ensuring an adequate number of blood donors and is also the national blood donation campaign organiser, while the Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia (ZTM) is responsible for the collection, processing, testing and supply of safe and compatible blood and blood products to patients.

Despite the divergent blood transfusion services in Slovenia we have been able to overcome the organisational decentralisation and combine the supplies of all three transfusion institutions (ZTM in Ljubljana, Centre of Transfusion Medicine Maribor and Centre of Transfusion Medicine Celje ), which means that we deal with blood responsibly and rationally. With the publication of actual current requirements and supplies of blood on the web pages www.ztm.si and www.daruj-kri.si, the organisation of blood donors in Slovenia has moved to an even higher level. Blood donors now actively cooperate and help to maintain blood supply levels by deciding to give blood based on prevailing needs. Ensuring appropriate and optimal blood supply levels and adapting to the current needs for blood and maintenance of supplies is a complex task, which requires constant monitoring and endeavour by all those responsible for the blood supply.

The mobile application "Daruj kri" ("Donate blood"), which reminds blood donors when they can again give blood, shows up-to-date blood requirements and the locations and operating times of blood donation campaigns, is a further upgrade of the partnership with blood donors. All data can also be found on the Facebook page "Daruj kri", which successfully links all supporters of blood donation and enables communication between existing and future blood donors and the professional and general public.

That Slovenia displays innovative and modern approaches to communication with its blood donors was recognised at the 1st European Congress DOMAINE (Donor Health & Management) held in The Hague (3 – 5 September 2014), where the Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia received the Congress award for their presentation of achievements in the area of blood donation campaigns.

Irena Kogoj, SINFO