- Partially critical situation in blood reserves in the southwest
Blood supplies in the southwest are running low for certain blood types, according to a barometer from the German Red Cross (DRK) for Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. It's even described as "critical" for blood group 0-.
"Basically, there are shortages of blood donations in the summer," says Sophia Suckel of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology (DGTI). Many people are on vacation or have health issues due to the heat. At the same time, the demand for blood products increases in the summer due to more leisure activities, the society says.
If blood supplies are insufficient, the care of some patients cannot be guaranteed. Blood cannot be artificially replaced. For example, about 19 percent of all blood donations are needed for cancer patients, according to the DRK.
Blood donation is possible even in hot weather, according to the DGTI. However, there are certain rules. Donors should be physically healthy and feel well on the day of donation. They should also drink enough, take it easy physically, and follow the recommended rest time after donation. A supply of carbohydrates is also important. A good snack before blood donation could be salted nuts.
In such situations of insufficient blood supplies, some emergency procedures might need to be postponed or handled with caution. Despite the hot weather, it's crucial to donate blood to ensure sufficient supplies for patients, especially those with cancer who rely on about 19% of all donations.
