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Successful 17th donation: Yvonne Schade from Sontra started donating blood after the birth of her children. During this donation, she is being cared for by puncture technician Justine Geschke from the German Red Cross. © Eden Sophie Rimbach
Participation in the blood donation: Over 80 people donated on Friday (September 13th) at the Adam-von-Trott School in Sontra.
Sontra – In the entrance area of the Adam-von-Trott School, blood donors register with Manuela Gerlach from the Sontra DRK local association. It is now 7 p.m., the last hour of the blood donation appointment has begun. A total of 87 people have registered today for the period from 4:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Despite the long line, there is no rush among those waiting. Instead, the atmosphere is characterized by relaxed conversations and the odd joke.
Donation appointments for donors, employees of the German Red Cross (DRK) and volunteers of the respective DRK local association have become easier to plan thanks to the appointment reservation. This is what Angela Aschenbrenner from the DRK, who now leads the team of six employees and two doctors, says. Before the reservation introduced during the corona pandemic, it would happen that an hour without a donor was immediately followed by a large crowd of people. Now the waiting times are correspondingly short. Anyone who has filled out their questionnaire after registering does not have to wait long before their body temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin level are measured. One station further on, a doctor discusses the questionnaire with the donor to clarify whether the person in question is allowed to donate blood.
Tips for donors
Anyone who wants to donate blood should consider the following:
– on the day of donation it is best to drink at least one and a half litres
– eat enough before donating
– Bring photo ID (and blood donor card if you already have one)
– Be able to report doctor’s visits, procedures (including tattooing, etc.), stays abroad and illnesses from the past weeks and months
– allow some time for regeneration after the donation (red/esr)
Further information and dates at: drk-blutspende.de
One of them is Yvonne Schade, for whom today is her 17th donation. The woman from Sontra says that she found the courage to donate blood after the birth of her children, because it is easy to put up with several medical examinations during that time. “In any case, try it out first,” she advises those who are still undecided about donating blood. She was still unsure about her first three donations, but always communicated that. Yvonne Schade knows that blood donations are always needed. Everything works very well with the puncture and the general donation process. For her, one thing is certain: “You feel like you are in good hands.”
To ensure that the donation goes smoothly, good preparation is essential, says Angela Aschenbrenner. Donors should eat enough beforehand and drink at least one and a half liters. First-time donors are asked to choose a time slot that is not in the last half hour of the respective appointment. Nine volunteers from the local association are also helping to make their donation a positive experience at the appointment in Sontra. They take care of registration and after-donation support. Today they have been at the school since 3 p.m. and will clean up again in the evening. During the week they have bought food for the donors and prepared the snack bar and drinks in the last room.
Registration: Manuela Gerlach from the DRK local association Sontra with questionnaires. © Eden Sophie Rimbach
Helper Thomas Urban from Sontra knows that it makes them happy when a donation appointment goes well. “It’s actually been there since I was young,” he says of his involvement with the local association, adding with a smile: “It also runs a bit in the family.” He started donating blood early on as a helper and then became a donor himself. Today, the 61-year-old is donating blood for the 146th time. For Daniela Ryll, this is her eleventh blood donation. It’s a good thing, “because you have the blood available and can help someone.” She praises the organization of the appointments and the monitoring afterwards, as well as the reminders of the appointment via text message and email. And that means nothing stands in the way of booking the next appointment. (Eden Sophie Rimbach)
