Blood donations needed - otherwise there is a risk of shortages over the holidays

The German Red Cross Blood Donor Service has called on people in Saxony, Berlin and Brandenburg to donate blood in view of the Christmas season. The supply of vital blood products will once again face a major challenge in the coming weeks, according to a statement. It will be increasingly difficult to meet the demand for blood donations in Germany, especially during the Advent season and beyond the turn of the year, when there are numerous public holidays and bridging days.

During the Christmas period, people travel or are busy preparing for the festive season, it was reported. Experience has shown that this can lead to increased shortages for individual blood groups. However, patients, including people with serious illnesses or after accidents, still urgently need regular blood transfusions to ensure their survival.

In Saxony, the DRK Blood Donor Service North-East offers special dates on Boxing Day, December 28 and January 4 to ensure the supply of hospitals over the holidays and the turn of the year.

About 20 percent of blood reserves are needed for cancer patients alone. According to the German Red Cross, the platelets that are important for this group of patients only have a shelf life of five days. Conventional blood reserves, on the other hand, have a shelf life of around six weeks.