"Absolutely red line": DRK warns urgently - critical shortage of blood supplies

Created: 01/06/2023 12:31 p.m

By: Marc Dimitriu

Blood supplies are becoming scarce in Germany.

© Fleig / Eibner press photo via imago

The strong wave of illnesses in Germany is also having an impact on donating blood.

Blood supplies are currently in short supply.

The DRK is now calling for donations.

Ratingen – In addition to the overcrowded hospitals that Germany has been struggling with for months, the next health crisis is now upon us.

Because the German Red Cross (DRK) is now warning of a critical shortage of blood supplies.

In the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, there are only as few blood products in stock as the hospitals use for their patients in a day.

This was announced by the DRK Blood Donation Service West on Thursday in Ratingen.

This means that an “absolutely red line” has been reached.

Actually, canned food should be available for five days.

Because an unusually large number of people are sick at the moment, far fewer blood donors than usual come to the appointments.

A vicious circle.

Blood reserves in Germany very scarce - DRK calls for donations and appeals to companies

At the turn of the year, the situation apparently worsened again.

"Infectious diseases, respiratory diseases and the flu epidemic hit even more drastically in the already small group of regular blood donors," said spokesman Stephan David Küpper.

In order to ensure the supply of the hospitals, the DRK blood donation service West needs up to 3500 blood donations every day.

"Anyone who is healthy should donate blood now," he appealed urgently.

Because of the urgently needed blood supplies, the Blood Donation Service West is now also calling on companies to motivate employees who work from home to donate as well.

There are many companies that have been keenly supporting the DRK for decades and are offering appointments.

“But due to Corona, we can no longer reach as many people there as we did before the pandemic.

That has a direct effect on the result," said spokesman Küpper of the dpa in Saarbrücken.

Shortage of blood supplies: Companies should call on employees to donate

According to him, around 1,000 blood donations are needed every day in Hesse, and 900 in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Since November, however, up to 20 percent less has been donated than is required.

"You can stand it for a few days, but at some point there will be a supply gap," warned Küpper.

Because the blood donation service mainly offers appointments on weekdays, he hopes that companies and authorities will encourage their employees to take advantage of the offers: "We also keep the times short so that several hours of working time are not lost," said the spokesman.

With just an hour's effort, anyone can make a major contribution to this vital supply system.

(md with dpa)