Red Cross warns fewer and fewer people donate blood

Less and less people donate blood

Unfortunately, the Red Cross has to report again and again that too few people in Germany donate blood. In the future, there could be supply gaps. A recent report shows that only 20 percent of first-time donors from 2011 still donated blood three years later.

Only a few first donors are still donating
The blood donation service of the Bavarian Red Cross has published its annual report for 2014. This shows that in the past year a total of 479,811 people donated blood in the Free State. Only 20 percent of the first donors from 2011 donated blood for sick and injured patients three years later. 35,141, ie 7.3 percent of them, found the way to a blood donation date for the first time. On average, 7.37 percent of people in Bavaria donated blood, with some strong regional differences.

Willingness to donate depends on the phase of life
It is said that the willingness and frequency of donations depends very much on the life phase of the donors. For example, younger people who often move away from home after their education and start their own households are less likely to donate than older people; more than half of the young first-time donors resume their blood donation commitment in the very first year. According to the population forecast of the State Statistical Office of Bavaria, twelve percent fewer blood donations are expected by 2031. Thus, new donors will continue to be needed to ensure the supply of blood products to patients in Bavaria in the coming years. In the Free State alone, around 2,000 blood products are needed every day. A blood donation can help up to three critically ill or injured people.

Donating blood can save lives
Blood donors must be at least 18 years old and healthy. For first-time donors is also that they must not be older than 65 years. If health permits, people can even donate until their 72nd birthday. Before taking the blood, blood pressure and heart rate of the donor are measured by a doctor. If not known, the blood type will be determined. Within one year, healthy men may donate blood up to six times, and women up to four times. There must be at least eight weeks between each donation. With registration, examination, blood collection and subsequent snack, the donor should plan a total of about one hour. An hour in which one can save a life. (Ad)

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Picture: Andrea Damm