Friday the 13th An unlucky date, as many believe. But last Friday, the 13th, there was no question of misfortune, at least at the Grafen von Sempt middle school in Markt Schwaben. Because that’s where the first appointment in the district of Ebersberg for blood donation in the new year took place. 242 donors had registered for the period from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. According to plan, the blood donation date was actually only designed for 180 donors, but was increased again at short notice due to the high willingness to donate, also in the staff, as Patrick Witfeld, team leader at the BRK, explains.
The will to donate blood is not always so great. Bottlenecks in the supply of blood reserves and blood products are a ubiquitous problem. Around 2,000 blood donations are needed every day in Bavaria to cover the need for donor blood, and there are 15,000 across Germany, according to the BRK blood donation service. “The reserve of the hospitals should be enough for five days,” said Witfeld. “Of course there are variations from hospital to hospital, but currently they last about a day.” Preserves such as blood plasma, red blood cells and platelets are obtained from the blood. Red blood cells can only be stored for up to 42 days, platelets only for almost four days. According to Blood donation service of the DRK 19 percent of the canned goods are then given to people suffering from cancer, 16 percent each to people with heart diseases and people with stomach and intestinal diseases, and 12 percent to accident victims. Every third person in Germany is dependent on a blood donation at some point in their life, and yet only about five percent of those able to donate in Germany donate.
Victoria Wendt donates her blood for the third time at the middle school in Markt Schwaben.
(Photo: Christian Endt)
Victoria Wendt is one of these five percent. She works in controlling and is donating her blood for the third time today. The reason for this? “Honestly? I wanted to know my blood type,” she says, laughing. “But now I want to stick with it. It doesn’t take long and I can help someone. If I need anything, I’d be happy for any donation.” After registering, Victoria Wendt fills out a questionnaire on exclusion criteria, in which she has to tick, among other things, whether she has been abroad or recently had different sexual partners or is a sex worker. Questions that require a certain openness about one’s own private life to others.
The next step for Victoria Wendt is a so-called hemoglobin test. This provides information about the body’s iron value, which must not fall below the minimum limit of 12.5 grams per deciliter in women – 13.5 grams per deciliter in men. Because by donating blood, the organism loses between 213 and 236 milligrams of iron and recovers less quickly if the hemoglobin value is too low. Wendt’s iron levels are good.
In a medical consultation, possible diseases are discussed – some do not make a blood donation possible
It continues at station three with a medical examination by Dieter Gebel. He is a retired doctor and was the Medical Director of the German Armed Forces for a long time. Now he goes through the questionnaire again with Victoria Wendt, measures her blood pressure and the temperature on her forehead and decides whether she can be approved for a donation, even if she is currently taking medication. But: “It’s not generally about whether someone takes medication and can therefore donate or not,” explains Gebel. Rather, one must question why someone takes them. For example, someone who is taking a psychotropic drug because of mild depression can still donate – but not in the case of more serious illnesses. It’s the same with aspirin: is the donor just taking it for a headache or a heart attack? Blood can no longer be donated after a heart attack. Even those who are considered cured of cancer or who need insulin because of diabetes cannot be allowed to donate.
In principle, however, anyone with a permanent residence in Germany between the ages of 18 and 72, who weighs at least 50 kilos and feels healthy can donate blood – even in times of Corona. A sophisticated hygiene concept is applied on site to ensure the safety of donors and staff. For example, wearing a medical mask is mandatory, online appointment reservations reduce waiting times and thus an increased number of people. Refugees are also allowed to donate if they can prove their permanent residence in Germany with an official photo ID and have sufficient German language skills. Because this is necessary in order to be able to deal with all questions that arise during the medical consultation, which takes place confidentially in private.
Victoria Wendt’s blood donation took just six minutes and 52 seconds
After the medical examination, the actual blood donation takes place. “500 milliliters of whole blood are donated, i.e. the blood that comes directly from the vein,” explains Patrick Witfeld from the BRK. “The donation usually only takes five to eight minutes.” This is one of the reasons why Victoria Wendt decided to continue donating after the first blood donation. “I thought it would take a lot longer the first time.” Today she donates on the left arm. After six minutes and 52 seconds, the blood bag is already full, now Victoria Wendt only has to lie down for five minutes. “Theoretically, I already feel ready to get up. But when do you have five minutes just to do nothing?”
After the donation, it is recommended to rest on site for about 20 minutes. There’s free food and a screened-off area with a camp bed in case you lose your circulation. Victoria Wendt meets an old friend at the food counter. Karl-Heinz Brandl is in the medical service and has already donated 45 times. “The first heart attack was the end of it,” he says. Brandl started donating blood in 1976. “I was a conscript in the Bundeswehr and at that time we were given half a day off to donate blood,” he laughs. “The whole company of course went together with 180 men to donate blood.” Back home, he started donating blood regularly.
Regular donors receive a free health check
At the end, each donor can take a small gift with them, such as wine or jam. Regular donors like Victoria Wendt also receive a free “health check”. Before donating blood, further blood samples were taken for this purpose, which are examined in the laboratory for liver and kidney values, for example.
At the end of the campaign, 222 people were allowed to donate on this first blood donation day of the year. In total, they donated 111 liters of blood and have become heroes for many recipients.