A quick jab, then the worst is done: editor Franziska Konrad entrusts her right arm to Dr. Oliver Erdödi – and has him put the tube on her to draw blood. © Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
Blood donations in Geretsried: For editor Franziska Konrad, this meant a premiere and a great challenge at the same time. Nevertheless, she overcame her fears - and was quite proud afterwards.
Geretsried – With my eyes closed, I'm lying on a grey couch in the auditorium of the Isardamm primary school. My right arm is ready. And my heart is pounding at breakneck speed. I'm scared. In a few moments, I will donate blood for the first time.
Blood donations in Geretsried: "A premiere and a great challenge" for the editor
Jump back in time. Half an hour before, I'm much more relaxed. Together with my colleague Christine Tichy, I enter the foyer of the school. A blood donation campaign by the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) is taking place here. For me, this is a premiere and a great challenge: If I see blood, I feel very strange every time, and my body automatically switches to defense mode. Today I want to finally overcome this fear.
The white blood bags are still empty: one of them will soon be filled with the donated blood of our editor. © Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
At the entrance, I show my ID to a BRK employee. She compares her list of registered donors. Then she waves me through. Step one is done. Next, I have to fill out a long questionnaire. That, too, is done quickly. I have not traveled to a risk area in the past few months, nor do I suffer from pre-existing conditions or allergies. In the meantime, I have lost sight of Mrs Tichy.
I am now facing the first bloody challenge: In order to check my hemoglobin level, the BRK needs a few drops of blood from me. Background: If the value is too low, the body cannot compensate well for the blood loss after donation. A queasy feeling spreads through my stomach. "Oh dear, how is that supposed to be with the right blood donation, if I'm already doing this," it goes through my head.
Fortunately, the BRK employee sitting at the table in front of me doesn't hear my thoughts. She routinely pokes my right index finger with a needle. The evaluation afterwards shows: At 13.5, my index is just above the minimum value for women of 12.5.
Before donating blood: Doctor explains what blood donors need to pay attention to
Inevitably, blood donation is getting closer. In the room next door – usually a classroom – a young doctor is waiting for me. He takes a look at my completed questionnaire. "Aha, a first-time donor. I hope you've had enough to drink?" He gets a nod from me. At the same moment, a beeper goes off on the table in front of him. "Very good. Otherwise, that's exactly what will happen to you – and you'll feel sick," says the doctor, dashing out the door.
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This action doesn't exactly make me any more relaxed. A good five minutes later, the doctor returns. He explains to me what I have to pay attention to right away: Don't get up too quickly after the donation, be sure to eat something afterwards and rest for half an hour. With the encouraging words "a good first blood donation", the doctor signs my papers afterwards. Now there is no turning back.
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Back in the foyer. On the right side, some donors have already made themselves comfortable on the loungers. Tubes hang from their arms and pump the blood into so-called blood bags. In front of the area, which is demarcated with white partitions, there is a sign: "Please refrain from eating sweets and chewing gum for your own safety during blood donation." Irritated, I raise my brow. "What's behind it?", I ask a BRK employee scurrying by. "So that you don't choke," the woman explains and marches on briskly. Okay, that makes sense, of course.
Sweets and chewing gum prohibited during blood donation
I choose a free place. Two chairs further on, I see my colleague again – including a tube in my arms. She grins from ear to ear. She doesn't seem to mind the whole thing at all. Unlike me. My nervousness rises and rises. I lie down. Dr. Oliver Erdödi comes up to me: "Are you ready?" I nod bravely and stretch out my bare arm to him. "Just don't look at the syringe and puncture," I command myself in my mind.
I try hard to think of something else. Thank goodness my current TV series "Gilmore Girls" comes to mind. Suddenly, I feel a short pricking – is that it? I look at Erdödi in astonishment: "That wasn't bad at all." He nods contentedly. "That's how most people feel."
Blood donations: Progress can be tracked with "personal livestream"
The tube on my arm now leads into a blood bag, which slowly fills up. Half a liter is the goal. To my left at eye level is my "personal livestream". There I can track exactly how long I have been donating and how much blood has flowed. Again and again it pulls a bit on the arm. Shortly thereafter, the doctor comes by again. "Don't look so serious," Erdödi tells me. He's right. I give the thumbs up and grin. He nods contentedly. After 13 minutes, the haunting is over.
My donor arm is now adorned with a white bandage. I do feel a bit weak. Apart from that, I'm incredibly proud of myself. On the fact that I have finally overcome my great fear. A little later, I slowly walk over to the sitting area. On the way there, I grab a salami roll and water from the boxes set up.
Mrs Tichy is already sitting at one of the tables and is holding a seat for me. Together we enjoy the snack. At the same time, I search for the next blood donation appointment on my mobile phone. We want to walk together again.
The next blood donation appointments
There is a regular opportunity to donate blood in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. The next dates are:
– On Tuesday, May 30, from 15:30 p.m. to 20 p.m. at the Kurhaus in Bad Tölz.
– On Thursday, June 1, from 16:30 p.m. to 20 p.m. at the elementary and middle school in Benediktbeuern.
– On Tuesday, June 20, from 15:30 p.m. to 20 p.m. at the Kurhaus in Bad Tölz.
– On Thursday, June 29, from 16 p.m. to 20 p.m. at the Isardamm Elementary School in Geretsried.
Appointments for blood donation must be reserved in advance on the Internet at www.blutspendedienst.com. KOF
In retrospect, I don't understand why I was afraid of donating blood for years. The whole thing wasn't bad at all. Throughout the procedure, I felt that I was in good hands. Apart from that, with a small prick and some blood, I might be able to save the life of an injured or sick person. KOF
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