Region (svs/pm) – It takes 10 minutes to donate blood and with it we can all save up to three lives. In Baden-Württemberg alone, up to 2,700 units of blood are needed per day, up to 15,000 nationwide. According to the German Red Cross, 80% of all Germans need the blood of others at least once in their lives. In order to be able to meet the needs of hospitals and doctors’ practices for urgently needed blood preparations in the coming weeks and next winter, the German Red Cross urgently invites the population to donate blood. Today you can donate blood, among others in the district of Karlsruhe, but also in the Southern Palatinate.
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Important weeks begin
“Important weeks ahead of patient care are starting right now,” said Stephan David Küpper, press spokesman for blood donation service DRK West. “We know difficult times when it comes to blood donations, because many external factors influence blood donations in autumn and winter,” continued Küpper. Due to cold snaps, the flu season and again Corona, many potential blood donors are absent. Küpper emphasizes: “Since less blood has been donated than necessary for several weeks, we absolutely have to take countermeasures so as not to run into a bottleneck in the supply again.”
Ready to donate blood again after a cold
After a normal cold, you can donate blood again as soon as the symptoms are gone. To be on the safe side, a one-week buffer after it subsides makes sense. After taking antibiotics or a feverish illness, a four-week break should be scheduled before the next blood donation. Anyone who has contracted Corona and experienced a mild course of the disease (e.g. runny nose or cold symptoms) must wait a week after the symptoms have subsided before they can donate again. After severe coronary artery disease (e.g. fever), you must wait up to 4 weeks after the symptoms have disappeared before you can donate blood again.
Appeal for blood donation
Küpper emphasizes: “Since less blood was donated than was needed for several weeks, we are now making an urgent appeal to avoid a bottleneck in the supply.” To replenish the blood bank and secure supplies, DRK Blood Donation Service West needs up to 3,500 blood donations every day! Hence the urgent call to show humanity in the form of donating blood in the fall and in the lead-up to Christmas.
How can I help?
Information on the possibility of donating blood, questions about donating blood in the time of Corona and the possibility of making a personal appointment to donate blood can be found on the First page. Companies can also support the DRK by asking employees to donate blood. Here the DRK asks to use the available resources and appointments.
Blood Donation Dates in December:
14.12. Bruchsal-Obergrombach gym
14.12. Herxheimparty room
15.12. Landau-Mörlheim, community center of the village
20.12. Edenkoben, Kurpfalzsaal
And every Monday at the Fürst-Stirum Klinikum Bruchsal
Blood donation by appointment
The DRK asks all citizens who want to donate blood to donate in advance on line to book a personal appointment. Appointment bookings are part of the Corona protection concept. All dates and any changes, current measures and information on the topic of blood donation in times of Corona are available on 0800 11 949 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.