More than 1,500 blood donations in a few hours. This is the balance provided by the Community of Madrid after the public response to the call made this Wednesday due to the train accident in Urda, Toledo. Madrid residents have gone to hospitals, mobile units, and the Valdebernardo Transfusion Center to collaborate. The influx has led health officials to ask those who still wish to donate to wait until Thursday, October 29, or the following days.
The manager of the Transfusion Center, Luisa María Barea, has thanked the "massive" response from donors and explained that the contributions allow them to meet healthcare needs and reinforce reserves. "So far, we have collected a good number of donations, which ensures that we can supply the blood that will be needed and also leave our reserves in a quite healthy state," she said in statements sent to the media. Her request is that new donations be spread out over the coming days.
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has conveyed the same message through her social media. "The response of Madrid residents to the blood donation request is being impressive," she wrote. Ayuso thanked the collaboration and asked to wait until tomorrow and the following days, when donating "will continue to be just as necessary."
La respuesta de los madrileños a la petición de donación de sangre está siendo impresionante.
— Isabel Díaz Ayuso (@IdiazAyuso) October 28, 2026
Tanto, que pedimos a quien quiera hacerlo, espere ya a mañana y a los siguiente días, cuando seguirá siendo igual de necesario.
Gracias a todos.
The initial appeal from the Transfusion Center had specifically highlighted blood groups O positive, O negative, A positive, A negative, and B negative, in anticipation of a possible increase in healthcare needs. The response has reached the 32 fixed donation points, the Valdebernardo center, and mobile units, including those of the Red Cross.
At the Gregorio Marañón Hospital, by 3:00 PM, 120 donations had been achieved, compared to the approximately 15 usual at that time, according to data provided by the hospital to Europa Press. The day coincided with a donation marathon that the center had already announced for October 28 and 29. At the 12 de Octubre Hospital, over 86 donations had been surpassed, and the queue extended halfway down the lobby of the new hospital. La Paz also registered a greater influx of people willing to collaborate.
Among those who responded to the call are citizens who were donating for the first time. This is the case of Marcos, who was waiting next to the mobile unit on Paseo de la Castellana after learning about the request from his wife and Instagram. "I came to help in whatever way I can," he explained to Europa Press. Near him, Lucas and Enrique, two young men who had looked for a donation point and had been in line for about twenty minutes, were waiting. "It doesn't take that long," they said, convinced that it is worth waiting to help those who need it.
Blood will still be needed in the coming days
From the Red Cross, Adrián Óscar López explained to Europa Press that the influx increased "a lot" after the appeal. He thanked the tranquility that this response provides and reminded that the need for blood continues outside of emergencies. "Blood is useful for many types of treatments and transplants," he noted, asking for this solidarity impulse to continue.
Donation allows for the sustenance of interventions and treatments performed daily in hospitals. The Transfusion Center is responsible for processing, analyzing, and distributing blood components according to healthcare needs. Therefore, after the contributions collected this Wednesday, health officials ask to maintain collaboration during the coming days.
Those who wish to join starting this Thursday can consult the locations and hours of hospitals, fixed points, and mobile units on the official blood donation page of the Community of Madrid. The information allows locating the nearest point and checking its schedule before traveling.
