World Blood Donation Day on June 14th should remind us every year that doing good can be very easy. We don’t need large sums of money or an influential job for this, it just takes a little time – and your blood donation.
Doing good can literally be in your blood. For example, if a blood supply is urgently needed due to an accident or illness. Every blood donation has that Potential to save lives and none of us knows when we will find ourselves needing a blood transfusion. Nevertheless, the number of blood donations tends to decline in times of crisis. The World Blood Donation Day June 14th is an annual reminder of the importance of doing good and donating blood.
Whether in a crisis or at normal times – our health system relies on voluntary blood donation. The nice thing about it is that you are doing yourself something good by donating your blood. Since only blood from healthy people without infectious diseases can be used for transfusions, the donation is checked by laboratory staff after it has been removed. Those who donate blood regularly also keeps an eye on his own health and finds out early on any problems that arise without having to queue for a long time at the doctor.
Do good and donate blood
According to legends, the first “blood donors” in 1492 were three children whose blood the then seriously ill Pope drank in order to be “rejuvenated”. Whether this story is true is controversial today. The first “real” successful human-to-human blood transfusion took place in England in 1823;
These transfusions were dangerous and usually had a fatal outcome. At that time, far too little was known about human blood.
First the Discovery of blood groups by the doctor Karl Landsteiner, whose birthday is June 14th, in 1901 made blood transfusions safer. He developed the familiar AB0 system and in 1937, together with a colleague, discovered the so-called Rh factor (positive or negative). Landsteiner received the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his achievements.
Today we know about 30 different Blood type systemsinto which people are divided. However, the two systems from Landsteiner and the Kell system are still relevant. If these factors do not match, the recipient’s immune system rejects the blood. At the Most common in Germany are blood groups A and 0 with a share of over 40 percent each. Only about 11 percent of Germans have blood group B, and only 5 percent of the rarest blood group AB. It is very similar with the rhesus factor, around 85 percent are rhesus positive, the rest negative.
Donating blood for health
All healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 68 years are allowed to have part of their blood “drawn off” on a regular basis. Men are allowed to do this more often than women, as the latter also lose blood during menstruation. The reason is not the loss of fluids, this is quickly made up by drinking. However, the body needs around eight weeks to replenish its iron stores. Of course they are rare blood groups are more sought after by the blood donation servicesbecause harder to get. But since the majority of the population belongs to blood groups A and 0, of course it is too The need for canned food is significantly higher here.
However, there is an exception for people who are authorized to donate blood. In addition to drug addicts, male and female sex workers and prisoners, men who had sex with other men were also affected by the ban on donating blood until 2017. The ban goes back to the HIV crisis in the 1980s and the so-called blood scandal in 1993. At that time it became known that there had been infections with contaminated blood preparations. Later the so-called emerged from it Transfusion Act. Since 2017, men who have sexual intercourse with other men have been allowed to donate blood, but currently only if they had previously abstained for a year.
Approximately 10 mins it takes until half a liter of blood has flowed from the body into a bag, after which you should rest for about half an hour. While we are taking a break, ours will be “Juice of life” already examined by the laboratory, classified into blood groups, tested for diseases and, at least for a time, preserved, provided everything is in order.
Read also: The most important doctors: inside history
Why blood donations are always needed
About 15,000 blood products are stored in Germany every day needed, but only 3 percent of Germans donate blood regularly, i.e. at least once a year. Some go sporadically, others never. Holiday season, the flu season or extreme heat mean that regular donors postpone their visit to the Red Cross or cancel their visit.
The situation was in the summer of 2020 particularly dramatic. Corona had made people cautious, the great heat did the rest. Sometimes the refrigerators, which normally held supplies for three to four days, were almost empty, reported the DRK.
Currently (June 2021) the supply situation is stable, but the the hot days of summer are still to come and possible easing in summer could lead to more travel and thus fewer volunteers. The various organizations are therefore looking for ways to do this Make blood donations more attractive, for example by means of a App that acts as a digital donor ID is working. There are all important information such as blood group or the time of the next possible donation. In addition, the app also shows when the canned food has been used and your help has arrived.
Reasons why you should do good and donate your blood
Still not sure if you should donate blood? If you are healthy and of the right age, we have good reasons for you to try it at least once:
Helping others
Blood productswhether whole blood, plasma or other components are needed in many situations. And not just in emergencies, serious accidents or illnesses. Nice normal routine operations often need a blood transfusion, as do people with cancer, after immunotherapy or severe infectious disease. You can save the lives of up to three people with your blood, isn’t that reason enough?
Maintain the system
Any of us can get into the situation of needing blood supplies, sometimes faster than we’d like. Our medical supplies is only guaranteed if enough blood is available for all necessary operations and therapies. Since we all need our health system, we should do our part too.
Free health check
In the case of a donation, the blood drawn is used checked for various diseases. In addition to HIV, this also includes hepatitis B and C or antibodies against syphilis. In addition, the blood pressure, hemoglobin value, iron value and body temperature are measured during the blood donation, so possible diseases and deficiencies in this area are identified recognized early.
Blood donor card
Last but not least, there is also one Blood donor cardwhich contains all the important information about your blood type. In an emergency, when it comes to seconds, this can be a decisive advantage. Your blood does not have to be tested first, you can be given the right canned food and in extreme cases not someone else’s, but your life!
Donating blood can save lives
A blood donation is much more than just letting about half a liter of blood run into a bag. With little effort you can do this each of us become a lifesaverwithout any negative consequences for your own health. On the contrary, if you donate blood regularly, you can identify any problems or deficiencies at an early stage and take countermeasures. Ourselves and others. So doing good is truly in our blood.
Learn more about the #weltverbesserer
More #weltverbessern:
- Doing Good: 18 Ideas How You Can Make Others Happy
- Be Empathetic: Why Compassion Is So Important
- Purpose company: Why it is so important now to ask about the meaning
You might also be interested in these articles
-
Vettel races at 300 km / h on racetracks – but speaks out for environmental protection and speed limit
-
Sharenting: Posting photos of children online is more dangerous than most people think
-
After accusations of racism: Bahlsen changes the name of the type of cookie
-
This cute Pixar short film shows what is going wrong in our working world
-
Sexism & Feminism: You Should Know These 7 Movies & Series
-
7 hours of continuous broadcast: Joko and Klaas write television history – with the everyday life of caregivers
-
Transracial: Influencer: in Oli London identifies as Korean – and undergoes cosmetic surgery for it
-
Changing Lives: 6 films and series about people who have changed their lives
-
Cohesion: it’s better together!