( The safe supply of seriously ill patients with blood preparations can only be achieved if many people take responsibility by donating blood. Now the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping – it may be difficult to pull yourself together and go to donate blood. But that’s no shortage The West Blood Donation Center of the German Red Cross in Breitscheid says that when life-saving blood supplies are created, blood donations are indispensable.
A healthy person is almost always able to help seriously ill patients and save lives by donating blood. Anyone who feels completely comfortable at the moment probably doesn’t like to imagine that things could be completely different. But health cannot be taken for granted. The DRK blood donation service points out that it is doing everything it can to provide enough blood supplies for all patients. This cannot work without blood donors.
In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, up to 2,500 blood donors are needed every day to be able to supply hundreds of hospitals with blood products. Chronic illnesses and cancer patients in particular urgently need a continuous supply of blood preparations. Many need thrombocytes (blood platelets) from your blood donation, but they only last for four days. The hospitals are therefore unable to stock up.
If you are unsure whether you are allowed to donate blood because you are taking certain medications, for example, you can inquire in advance free of charge by calling the DRK blood donation service hotline on 0800 1194911. At www.blutspende.jetzt you can find an uncomplicated online check, which can also be used to test whether blood donation is possible.
The Red Cross asks that you donate blood now and reserve an appointment before donating blood. Who under www.blutspende.jetzt or if you book a blood donation time on the DRK blood donation service hotline on 0800 11 949 11, you can donate blood without waiting.
Anyone who wants to donate blood must be at least 18 years old and feel healthy. There is no longer an upper age limit for blood donors.
Please be sure to bring your ID card or driver’s license with you to your blood donation appointment. The actual blood donation takes around five to ten minutes. Then you lie down and relax for another ten minutes. At the end there is a delicious snack.
The next blood donation appointment in Ratingen is on Thursday, October 31st, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Haus am Turm at Angerstraße 11. Blood donation appointments are also available from Monday to Friday at the DRK blood donation station, Linneper Weg 1 offered from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
After each blood donation, the DRK blood donation service laboratory determines the blood group. Since different patients need blood transfusions of all blood groups, people of all blood groups are of course also welcome to donate blood. In Germany, most people have blood groups A Rhesus positive (37 percent) and 0 Rhesus positive (35 percent).
