The Bavarian hospitals are currently struggling with a shortage of blood products. In the Free State alone, around 2000 blood products are required every day. According to the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK), the situation is currently tense. That is why the BRK and the responsible blood donation services called on the population at the beginning of the month to make use of the blood donation appointments offered. Christian Kohl from the Blood Donation Service of the Red Cross (BSD) announced that the situation has stabilized since then. “If it continues like this, an emergency can be averted,” says Kohl.
Nevertheless, the reserves are still tight. Blood donations can only be kept for 42 days and so far there are no artificially produced alternatives. “It is important that donations continue to be made – the cow is not off the ice yet,” said the BSD spokesman. The blood reserves are indispensable to compensate for days when not enough donors come. In addition, you have to be prepared for spontaneous emergency operations or accidents with high blood loss. Therefore, the all-clear cannot yet be given. The situation had to be reassessed from day to day.
This is also underlined by the appeal from Georg Götz, managing director of the BSD: “Thanks to our reserves, we are currently not talking about an acute emergency. In order to be able to maintain this extremely important buffer, we are looking for the active support of the citizens, especially in the coming weeks instructed in Bavaria. “
According to Kohl, the current shortage of blood reserves is due, among other things, to the corona pandemic. In many clinics, operations that were suspended in the spring have to be rescheduled. In addition, fewer people usually donate their blood during the summer and holiday seasons. “The lake and beer garden often have a higher priority,” says Kohl.
In contrast, there was no noticeable decline in willingness to donate compared to previous years. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement here too. Only around five percent of the eligible population in Bavaria go to blood donation. “Everyone knows the topic, but it takes intensive calls to attract new donors,” says Kohl. This is of crucial importance for maintaining the health system.
Any healthy person between the ages of 18 and 72 can donate blood. According to the BRK, a blood donation can save up to three lives. Men can give their blood a total of six times within a year, women four times. There must be at least 56 days between two blood donations. Returning travelers who have stayed in regions with an increased risk of infection for certain diseases must first take a break. All dates and information are either on the Internet at www.blutspendedienst.com or available from the blood donation service’s free hotline: 0800-11 949 11.