Have you made an appointment? «Asks the employee of the blood bank at Giessen University Hospital (UKGM) in a friendly manner. “Yes,” I reply. He promptly hands me a questionnaire about Covid-19, which I have to fill out at the entrance. Then I am allowed to enter the waiting room, which is already well filled.
A woman with a bandage on her arm is sitting at a table and drinking a Coke. She’s already done it, I think. Mainly young people fill out the donor sheet distributed around the room. Again and again I hear a “rumble” from the drinks machine at which a dispenser is pulling a sugary refreshment.
I also sit down and fill out the form: Name, address. Job plus a total of 45 questions about my health – order is a must. After I have handed in the sheets when I register, I wait for the iron value to be measured and for my doctor’s consultation. Mr. Schmidt is called, two men stand up and look at each other, confused. I have to smile inside, a classic.
“Frau Engel,” someone calls from the next room. It’s my turn – the iron value determines whether I am even allowed to donate blood. “13.3” the young man proclaims. “That’s very good. Women need at least 12.5. “
And even after the consultation with the doctor, it is clear: I can donate. At the beginning of July, the UKGM posted on Instagram that after a massive bleeding as part of an operation, canned goods of blood group 0+ were scarce – I felt called to donate.
“Right or left?” Asks the student in the donation room. “I’m right-handed,” I reflexively reply. “Well, then the veins are stronger there,” he says. It’s getting serious, I take a seat on the couch and stretch out my right arm. After a brief blood pressure check, a nurse inserts the cannula and the blood flows evenly into the attached bag.
After about ten minutes I’m done and can rest a bit in the lounger. A Coke and a granola bar later I’m on my way home again. With 500 milliliters less blood in your veins – but a good feeling throughout your body that will last much longer than the blood donation took. (keh)
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