PressSplit
Jessica Elhaus (left) was honored by Silvia Linnhoff for her 100th blood donation. © DRK Werdohl
Participation in blood donation appointments has fallen to an all-time low. This would not happen if there were more people like Jessica Elhaus from Werdohl. She has now been awarded for donating blood particularly frequently.
Werdohl – The German Red Cross was able to hold a special blood donor award in Werdohl on Tuesday: Jessica Elhaus was honored by the DRK blood donation officer Silvia Linnhoff for her 100th blood donation. In addition to the obligatory certificate and pin, there were also small anniversary gifts.
A total of 74 men and women came to donate blood in the large parish hall of St. Michael’s parish on Tuesday. Two of them were first-time donors, the German Red Cross announced. The German Red Cross had already given out special blood donor awards in Werdohl at the beginning of this year.
Blood donations are particularly important at the moment because the situation is critical: far too few people have donated blood during the summer holidays. The hospitals’ requirements for blood supplies must therefore be significantly reduced.
Participation at historic low
“In order to ensure the care of seriously ill patients in the coming weeks, we now need significantly more blood donations,” warns press spokesman Stephan David Küpper from the DRK Blood Donation Service West. The outlook for the future does not bode well either: the utilization of the blood donation appointments offered by the DRK Blood Donation Service West has fallen to an all-time low. “In the coming weeks, less than 50 percent of the available Appointment slots in the appointment reservation system In good times, this rate is more than 80 percent,” Küpper continues.
The annual summer slump was already apparent in May. Holidays and long weekends caused blood donations to plummet. The European Football Championship and the summer holidays made the situation even worse. The “long-distance travel factor” also led to a further decline: anyone who has vacationed in a malaria-infested area, for example, is not allowed to donate blood for six months.
The measures initiated by the blood donation service, such as special campaigns and increased appeals, only brought short-term relief. Blood reserves are now exhausted. The supply of rhesus-negative blood products is only sufficient to cover demand for just over a day. Hospitals have had to drastically reduce their requests.
There is no age limit for blood donation
A widespread misconception keeps many potential donors away: “You can no longer donate blood after a certain age. This is not correct,” stresses the press spokesman for the blood donation service. Blood donations are possible regardless of age, even for first-time donors or after a long break. The DRK Blood Donation Service West appeals to the population to urgently attend blood donation appointments. In order to refill the blood reserves and ensure supplies, the DRK Blood Donation Service West needs up to 3,500 blood donations a day. Companies can also support the German Red Cross by calling on their employees to donate blood. The DRK Blood Donation Service West offers up to 50 blood donation appointments every day. Detailed information and the option to arrange a personal blood donation appointment can be found centrally at www.blutspende.jetzt or by phone (free of charge) on 08 00 / 1 19 49 11.
On the day of the donation, donors should drink plenty of fluids, have eaten something and bring an official photo ID (ID card/driver’s license). There is nothing to stop you from donating blood even when the outside temperature is high.
The next opportunity to donate blood is in Werdohl on Monday, August 12, between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.again in the large parish hall on Neustadtstrasse. In August, all donors will receive a breakfast board artistically designed by children as a thank you for their blood donation. There is no longer an age limit for participation. Anyone who is healthy and at least 18 years old can donate blood. You should always bring photo ID with you to donate blood.
