Too little blood donations Gröhe calls for donations

Federal Health Minister and BZgA call for blood donation

06/13/2014

The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) called for blood donations on the occasion of the 11th World Blood Day on Saturday. The seasonal decline in the number of blood donations is causing increasing concern among experts. Alone „For medical care after serious traffic accidents or major operations, 15,000 blood donations are required nationwide every day“, explained the director of the BZgA, Prof. Dr. med. Elisabeth Pott.

„Anyone donating blood helps people in emergency situations“, emphasized the Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU). More than two million people would regularly volunteer in Germany as volunteers. „I thank everyone who will donate blood again this year and help ensure the supply of blood“, so gröhe on. According to the BZgA communication donate in Germany „Before the summer holidays usually less people blood than in the autumn or winter.“ However, the daily needs in the clinics for life-saving operations, the treatment of critically ill people or the emergency care remain consistently high - regardless of the season. To avoid bottlenecks, as many donors as possible are therefore important in every season.

Regular blood donations are especially important
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMG) and the BZgA, together with numerous blood donation facilities, draw attention to the importance of donating blood for medical care on the occasion of the 11th World Blood Donor Day on 14 June. The BZgA director stressed that „80 percent of all people in Germany rely on blood or medication made from blood components at least once in their lifetime.“ Because the shelf life of the stored blood is limited to only about five weeks, it is particularly important that people donate blood regularly. Any healthy adult between the ages of 18 and 68 years can donate, with women being allowed to donate blood four times a year and men six times a year. (Fp)