Red Cross urgently needs blood donations

Red Cross asks urgently for blood donations

03/17/2015

In various parts of Germany, the blood reserves are scarce. Reasons for this are, among other things, that the winter holidays are not so long ago and the flu continues. The German Red Cross calls therefore urgently for blood donation.

Stable supply of blood stored in danger
According to a report by the news agency dpa, the German Red Cross in Saxony currently sees the stable supply of stored blood at risk. Accordingly, the DRK blood donation North-East reported that although there are still sufficient supplies there, but this could change quickly. Spokeswoman Kerstin Schweiger said: „We are in a critical phase.“ On the one hand, the winter holidays are not long back and, on the other hand, the flu outbreak is still on. In addition, Easter is just around the corner. „With Good Friday and Easter Monday, we have two business days to break, which we want to catch with special blood donation appointments“, explained Schweiger.

Around three percent of the population donate blood
The DRC blood transfusion service in Saxony needs about 700 blood banks daily, so 350 liters. About three percent of the population donate, according to the spokeswoman in the state - as well as nationwide - blood. However, the medical and legal requirements would meet up to 33 percent. Last Monday, the University of Leipzig had reported a lack of blood products of blood type A Rhesus positive. This blood type is most common in the German population.

Flu wave makes itself felt
In Baden-Württemberg, too, the flu epidemic at the DRC is clearly noticeable. There, the number of blood donations goes back, according to a press release questionable. Therefore, the DRC blood donation service calls all healthy citizens for blood donation, so that the treatment of critically ill and seriously injured patients can be secured in the clinics. The stocks of blood and blood products are currently melting rapidly. In particular, the stocks of blood preserves of blood group 0 Rhesus are negatively affected.

Blood type blood
Normally only blood of the same blood type is transferred. However, the blood group 0 Rhesus negative can be transmitted to all recipients and is therefore particularly important for emergency situations when there is no time to fully examine the patient and blood must be made available quickly. The DRC blood donation service therefore asks all healthy fellow citizens who have this rare blood type to donate blood.

Save lives with a donation
A donation can save lives. Basically every healthy person is allowed to donate blood between the ages of 18 and 70 years. However, first donors may not be older than 64 years. Before taking the blood, which lasts only a few minutes, a medical examination is carried out, during which blood pressure and pulse are measured, among other things. The donor should schedule approximately one hour with registration, examination, blood collection and subsequent snack. An hour in which one can save a life. (Ad)