Overcome for a quick prick and a little time – donating blood doesn’t cost anything more. And yet there are often not enough donors for the amount of donor blood that is needed. At the moment the donations are stable, but according to the DRK this can change at any time. It was only in the summer that a serious decline led to an emergency.
“That is our problem, to keep motivating blood donors to come,” says Sabine Böhme, area representative for the DRK blood donation service in Saarland. “For example, we have a bridge day on Friday. That means that many people travel at short notice. Such days are the ones on which you cannot count on the full number of donors.”
Examinations before donation
Anyone who wants to donate will be examined closely. Hemoglobin values, body temperature and blood pressure are measured and symptoms of the disease are queried. In principle, a broad spectrum of the population is allowed to donate: “Anyone who is at least 18 years old, weighs 50 kilograms and feels healthy can donate blood,” says Böhme. Being older is no longer an obstacle these days. “If you’re 70 and are thinking about donating blood for the first time, you’re welcome to come.”
In 2023, the transfusion law was also changed to make it easier for homosexual men to donate blood. There were still major restrictions for them before.
Some requirements when donating blood
People who would endanger themselves or the recipient are not allowed to donate. This applies, for example, to pregnant women or to people with serious, chronic illnesses such as insulin-dependent diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases or certain coagulation disorders.
But also people who have had a malaria infection, are drug addicts or have many changing sexual partners. In some cases, people are excluded from donating blood for a certain period of time: when taking medication, after dental treatment or after a fever.
To find out, donors fill out a questionnaire in advance. Before donating, there is also a conversation with a doctor who then decides whether the person is eligible to donate or not. The medical history is also discussed.
Too few younger people donate blood
According to DRK estimates, only a good three percent of the population donates blood. The problem is that donors are getting older and older – there is a lack of offspring. There are always campaigns that are intended to draw attention to the topic.
The next DRK blood donation appointment in Saarland is this Friday evening in Habkirchen in the village community center.
The current report on SR television on October 2nd, 2024 also reported on this topic.