Hoyerswerda. With the beginning of the pandemic, there was a return in blood donations. The services that are active in the region, the German Red Cross (DRK) and the Haema Blood and Plasma Donation Service, do everything they can to dispel fears and inspire those who are able to donate.
In the spring of last year, the DRK was able to mobilize with a media call: “In some cases, the first-time donor rate was up to 17 percent (normally around nine percent),” reported the North-East blood donation service. In Hoyerswerda in particular, there was no change in this area, as press spokeswoman Kerstin Schweiger reports. Ronny Rehm, recruiter at Haema AG, on the other hand, generally regrets that only around three to five percent of those able to donate take advantage of the opportunity. “With seven percent we would be on the right track.” He also adds that efforts have to be made across Germany to achieve this. The number of first-time donors is stable, it is said.
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At the Wood Center Theile in Elsterwerda there are huge discounts at the start of the season from March 22nd to 27th.
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From the beginning, the way to donate blood was excluded from the exit restrictions as a valid reason. At times, only the fixed locations of the two providers were open. But the mobile appointments were soon added again. Robert Koch Institute, Paul Ehrlich Institute and the Federal Center for Health Education appealed to the population to donate blood and plasma to ensure patient care.
“It’s not just about accident victims”
Three different blood products with different shelf lives are obtained from a blood donation. Furthermore, it can be said that up to three seriously ill or injured people can be helped with one donation, according to the DRK. Almost a fifth is needed in the oncology area. Ronny Rehm points out that the manufacture of medicines is another and growing customer. “It’s not always about accident victims.”
While the DRK is a regular guest at the Konrad Zuse vocational school center and the Johanneum Christian School, Haema AG has found a permanent facility in the street at Lessinghaus 5 for about ten years. The rooms could each be adapted with appropriate hygiene concepts. “We didn’t have to make any rescheduling,” says Kerstin Schweiger. Haema AG currently limits the number of donors in the rooms to twelve. Five to six employees and a doctor are on site at the same time. Currently, 50 donations can be made every Thursday, says Ronny Rehm. He also rates Hoyerswerda as a stable donation location. The DRK records around 1,200 inspections here per year.
For both services, the safety of employees and donors has the highest priority – as well as the seamless supply of blood products to patients. “A comprehensive concept helps to ensure that donors do not have an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection,” says a press release from Haema AG. The usual precautions, such as wearing medical masks, hand hygiene and temperature measurement, all contribute to the safety of everyone. A transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through blood is not to be assumed. Therefore, the donations are not examined for it. As everywhere, the following applies: No contact with infected people or suspected cases! And only symptom-free people should donate.
With the pandemic, both services have switched to fixed appointments. On the one hand, the DRK assesses the situation in such a way that the willingness to donate remains constant and the supply is stable, but on the other hand it also warns that the need is constantly high. Recovered operations are included here. From Dr. med. José Rivero, Head of the Haema Blood and Plasma Donation Service, says: “More blood is used every day than new donors add.” Ronny Rehm describes that around 15,000 blood products are required every day in Germany, which means that they also have to be produced. This is why continuous blood donation is so important. Women are allowed to donate three times a year and men four times. Ronny Rehm notes that most donors only do this twice a year. He calls this “wasted resources”. It is still important that education is carried out. “It needs to raise awareness among the population,” says Ronny Rehm. To this end, we work together with schools, among other things.
In a “blood donation barometer” of the DRK on a website you can always read how the supplies are filled depending on the blood group. Blood group 0 rhesus negative is particularly popular. Because it is rare in the population, but can be received by many. “Anyone can get into the situation that they need blood preparations,” says Ronny Rehm.
Plasma donation for Covid patients
The willingness to donate is currently also important in other ways. Because anyone who has survived an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is suitable to help seriously ill Covid-19 patients with a plasma donation. This is possible in the Haema donation center in Dresden. Because the antibodies contained in the blood plasma are part of the body’s own defense system. “This plasma is important in the fight against the virus,” said Haema AG. This form of passive immunization supports the immune system. Those willing to donate must be free of symptoms for at least four weeks and, as with any blood or plasma donation, be at least 18 years old and weigh 50 kilograms. Theoretically, plasma can be donated twice a week – Ronny Rehm recommends one time because it is pleasant for the body. He also mentions a growing need for plasma. Immunodeficiency diseases occur more frequently and with them the production of drugs, whereby the blood plasma is required.
Next donation dates …
… in Hoyerswerda:
DRK: Thursday, April 1st, 1.30pm-6.30pm in the BSZ (K.-Kollwitz-Straße) / Wednesday, April 28th, 3pm-6.30pm in the Johanneum (Fischerstraße 5)
Haema: every Thursday, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the street at Lessinghaus 5 (book an appointment online in advance)
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