For Franziska Geis, donating blood is a matter of course. “I’ve been doing this for over 40 years,” says the 66-year-old from Dresden. It is necessary to donate because it helps other people, she explains. Similar to Franziska Geis, it is above all the generation of the baby boomers, i.e. the particularly high birth rate born between 1955 and 1969, who for a long time also ensured that there were always enough blood supplies available in Saxony. But that is about to change.
There is a shortage of blood donors
Because first-time donors are only allowed to donate up to the age of 65 and multiple donors only up to the age of 72, this generation is no longer available bit by bit. At the same time, the young generation has not really caught fire to let the red lifeblood be tapped. After doctors and teachers, there could soon be a lack of blood donors in Saxony.
DRK specifically wants to appeal to the younger generation
That’s why they’re already shrilling at the DRK alarm bells: “We realized that we only have a few years to go. We must therefore try to encourage young people to donate more,” says Prof. Torsten Tonn, medical director of the DRK blood donation service North-East. There are currently many working group meetings in his house, also together with agencies, to consider how to approach younger donors.
We realized that we only have a few years to go. We must therefore try to encourage more young people to donate.
DRK: Do not donate blood as a financial incentive
with Money they should definitely not be lured. Torsten Tonn is certain of that. “We often hear the voices: Give money and they will all come. But that’s not the case.” It is very important to many people that it is a non-material donation to do something for their fellow human beings. “Similar to organ donation, there should also be no financial incentive to induce someone to donate blood,” explains Tonn.
Haema pays an expense allowance
The blood donation provider Haema, which is active in Saxony in Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz, among other places, also says on request: “Blood and plasma donation in Germany is voluntary and free of charge.” However, according to Section 10 of the Transfusion Act, the donation services would have the option of paying an expense allowance, for example for travel expenses. And that’s exactly what Haema does.
According to the website, the company pays blood donors compensation of 25 euros per plasma donation. A spokeswoman left open on request whether it would have to be more, in particular to increase the number of young donors. It is up to the legislator to discuss the expense allowance, she said.
