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With the right distraction, you can also smile: The excitement before the first blood donation was greater than necessary in the end. © Oehl, Laura
Large banners advertise blood donation dates in almost every town. For many, however, getting there is a challenge. Our editor Laura Oehl tells us about her first blood donation experience.
Hergershausen – I feel a little uneasy as I get into the car with my friends and we head to the Hergershausen community center. A few weeks ago, while eating together, we signed up for the German Red Cross blood donation appointment. I had been meaning to do this for a long time, but the last step was always missing. So why not go donate as a group?
Four of us set off on this Friday evening – two experienced blood donors, two “newbies”. “We’ve never had any problems with blood donations before,” we try to calm ourselves down in the front seats. That helps for a while, until the discussion on the back seat turns to the size of the cannula and the word “stovepipe” wafts through the car. “Can we please change the subject?” I ask. Up until then, I had really only been thinking about whether my circulation would hold up on this warm summer evening.
First clarify whether donations are permitted
We are given a friendly welcome by members of the local German Red Cross association in the community center in the Babenhausen district. We are offered something to drink before we register. “Coke is the best thing when donating blood,” we all agree. The individual stations in the community center are marked with signs. Because before we can donate, it must first be clarified whether we are even allowed to donate. So first we fill out the medical questionnaire. It asks about everything that could stand in the way of donating blood: stays abroad, illnesses, recent doctor’s visits, new tattoos and so on. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing that could stop me. But I am still nervous. Even after the quick prick in my finger to determine the hemoglobin level and the conversation with the doctor, that only subsides to a certain extent. My circulation has certainly played tricks on me often enough. “If there is anything, just let me know immediately. There are enough people here who can help you,” the doctor explains to me. And actually, my excitement is slowly turning into something positive.
When I return to the room, where the donors are all waiting relaxed on their beds until they are ready, two of my friends have already made it. “And?” I ask the second first-time donor in our group. “Everything’s fine,” she says as she sits on her bed and waits to be allowed to get up.
Blood donation campaign: “#missingtype – only when it’s missing does it become apparent”
According to the German Red Cross, around 15,000 blood donations are needed in Germany every day. The 500 milliliters of blood taken during a donation can be divided into up to three preparations – theoretically, one donation can help three people. The donated blood can be used immediately after accidents, in cancer therapy, during operations or for immune diseases. This means that anyone can find themselves in a situation where they need donor blood. In addition to helping others, blood donation also has advantages for the donors: in addition to the medical check beforehand, the blood is subsequently tested for various infectious diseases. This means that health problems can be identified at an early stage.
The number of donors often drops, especially during the holiday season. With the campaign “#missingtype – only when it’s missing does it become apparent”, the German Red Cross is currently promoting blood donations nationwide. There is prominent support for this, for example from former professional footballer Toni Kroos. Information on blood donations and appointments in your area can be found here. online.
Around 100 blood donors per appointment
Around 100 donors regularly come to the DRK appointments in Hergershausen. This evening there are 87. “That’s good for the holiday season,” says the second local association chairman, Bernd Reymendt. Because of the appointment on Friday evening, people often come not only from Hergershausen, but also from surrounding areas. The donated blood is then taken to the blood bank in Frankfurt. From there it can be used wherever it is needed.
This also applies to my blood, which I can now give after a short wait for a free bed. Luckily, the “stovepipe” does not cross my mind at this moment. I still don’t want to look, so I just chat with my companions while the needle goes into the crook of my right arm. “You didn’t even flinch,” says one of my friends. The thought that 500 milliliters of blood is now running out of me makes everything inside me tighten for a moment. But thanks to the distraction, it quickly passes. I am asked again and again if everything is OK. And yes, I am fine. After ten minutes it is over again. I hardly notice the needle being taken out either. Now we lie down for a few more minutes and then carefully get up. In the relaxation area – a few chairs at the edge of the hall, on which we sit for a few more minutes afterwards – there are chocolate chips and apple spritzer. Sugar can’t do any harm in this case.
A gift basket for former local mayor Horst Grimm (right): Bernd Reymendt from the DRK local association congratulates the Hergershäuser on his 100th donation. © Oehl
That’s how the old hands do it
While we wait, a special guest comes into the community center. Horst Grimm, former mayor of Hergershausen, is donating for the 100th time today. He has been coming to the donation appointments regularly for just over 25 years. It all started because his mother was often ill, Grimm explains. “She was often in hospital and that’s how I came up with the idea of donating blood.” Since then, he has done so in Hergershausen every time except twice. “Horst also often helps us with setting up and dismantling,” says Bernd Reymendt. “We really appreciate that.” Horst Grimm easily handles the blood donation that evening too. And a short time later, he is presented with a large gift basket as a thank you. “I’ll drive you home too,” says Reymendt to him. But a little later, Horst Grimm is back on his bike, the gift stowed in the basket behind him, and is on his way home. “So that’s what a routine blood donor looks like,” I think to myself. (Laura Oehl)
