Bottleneck in blood: "Donate now!"

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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Pandemic plus vacation - the stocks of blood reserves have sunk to a low: Even the reserves for emergencies are threateningly scarce.

But right now, due to the flood disaster, in some regions of Germany even more blood preparations are needed than usual in order to be able to treat the many injured people. The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) therefore calls nationwide for blood and plasma donations.

Called all citizens to donate

"In view of the dramatic decline in blood and plasma donations, I ask all citizens who can donate to do so," appeals Prof. Martin Dietrich, acting director of the Federal Center for Health Education.

In this way, donors made a significant contribution to securing patient care throughout Germany. In addition, they would also specifically help those who were injured by the recent floods and who urgently need more blood donations.

“Necessary blood transfusions can only be ensured if enough people agree to donate. Therefore donate blood and plasma and above all: Donate now! ”, Said Dietrich.

Don't be afraid of corona infection

But since the beginning of the pandemic, many regular donors have been reluctant to go to the blood donation facilities for fear of infection. In fact, it is precisely there that comprehensive hygiene concepts offer protection against infection with Sars-CoV-2.

In Germany, people between the ages of 18 and 68 can register as donors, provided they do not show any symptoms of the disease. Older donors can also donate blood according to an individual medical decision.

People who have just been vaccinated can also donate

This also applies to those who have just been vaccinated. Many blood donation services allow a blood or plasma donation as early as 24 hours after the vaccination against Sars-CoV-2. Donating blood or plasma does not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccination.

Women may donate whole blood or plasma four times and men six times within a twelve month period. There should be at least eight weeks between two donations, but preferably twelve weeks.

It could be everyone

A large part of the population needs a blood supply at least once in their life - but only two to three percent donate regularly. Blood donations not only help accident victims, but also serve to care for many sick people. According to the German Red Cross, most of the blood flows into the veins of cancer patients.

They are followed by patients with diseases of the heart, stomach and intestinal diseases, and finally also victims of sports and traffic accidents. Serious casualties with internal injuries sometimes need more than ten blood units.

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