Frankfurt. According to the German Red Cross (DRK), blood supplies are gradually becoming scarce in Hesse. “We have about 10 to 15 percent fewer donations than we need to ensure a secure supply,” said Martin Oesterer from the DRK blood donation service. Demand from hospitals is currently higher than the supply of blood supplies, particularly for blood types A negative and 0 negative.
“It’s the case every summer that donors are on vacation,” said Oesterer. Anyone who has been on vacation in a malaria risk area like Thailand is also not allowed to donate for six months afterwards. In addition, this summer there was the European Football Championship and the Summer Olympics: for example, some soccer games took place at times when many people would normally come to the donation centers, said Oesterer.
Thomas Steiner, spokesman for the University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg, was calm. “Things are always a bit thin during the holidays,” he said. The supply situation is comparable to that in the summer months of previous years. “We always adapt to this,” said the spokesman. The Darmstadt Hospital also said that they are “still very well equipped.”
Those who want to donate blood do not have to wait for the cooler autumn: donating blood in summer temperatures is not necessarily dangerous, although this myth persists, says Oesterer. Drink plenty of water before the appointment, eat enough and take it easy afterwards – then you can donate blood without any worries. There has also been no upper age limit for a few months now. (dpa)
