June 14 is an annual day of action to remind people of the importance of donating blood and to raise awareness of the need for blood and blood products. The aim is to motivate more people to donate. The BZgA provides information material free of charge for all campaigns by regional blood donation services on World Blood Donor Day.
The motto for World Blood Donor Day 2022 is "Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives." Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives.) The theme is "Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives" to raise awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation in saving lives and strengthening solidarity within communities.
For many people, donating blood or plasma is associated with questions: Can I donate? How does a donation work? How often am I allowed to donate? The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) provides information on this as part of its campaign "Donate blood. Einfach machen." campaign and shows how blood or plasma donation can be integrated into everyday life.
Blood reserves and blood products are still indispensable after serious accidents, during major operations or for the treatment of certain diseases. In Germany, people between the ages of 18 and 68 can donate blood and plasma. Beyond this age, however, donation is also still possible according to individual medical decision.
Around this year's World Blood Donor Day, the BZgA is on a campaign tour in various cities across Germany. The BZgA information booth will provide answers to all questions about blood and plasma donation. An interactive game is used to draw attention to the topic and motivate people to donate regularly. The BZgA campaign "Einfach machen. The Tour" will be present in Munich on June 10 and 11, in Hanover from June 17 to 18, in Leipzig on June 24 and 25, in Essen on July 1 and 2, and in Bremen on July 9. Further information on the BZgA tour and dates is available at:
Source: From the BZgA press release of 08 June 2022, https://www.bzga.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022-06-08-14-juni-2022-weltblutspendetag-bzga-ruft-zur-blutspende-auf/
Why should I donate blood and/or plasma? Because it is important!
Approx. 15,000 blood donations. This is the number of blood donations that would be needed every day to ensure the supply of blood and blood products to all persons requiring treatment. It is needed, among other things, for operations, care of accident victims, but also for the production of drugs, for example in cancer therapy, the availability of blood is essential.
However, blood is a scarce commodity... There are simply too few donors and the number of regular donors is declining, because at some point they can no longer continue to donate blood due to their age.
The Corona pandemic also further exacerbated the supply situation. The motivation to donate also decreased among repeat donors in the course of the pandemic, and many outside appointments to donate blood could not be held because premises such as schools or the like were closed.
Unfortunately, blood and blood products are only Limited shelf life, platelets, for example, must be transferred within four days. That is why it is so important that Regular replenishment is there to ensure the vital supply of blood and blood products. Because anyone can unexpectedly find themselves in need of a donation. It's good to be able to help when that happens! Be part of it, go regularly to the blood or plasma donation and help to save lives!
Source: From the article "Background: Why blood and plasma donation is so important! https://www.blutspenden.de/einfach-machen-die-tour/
Background: World Blood Donor Day
The Austrian Karl Landsteiner is considered the discoverer of blood groups and thus founded modern transfusion medicine. Since 2004, World Blood Donor Day has been celebrated in his honor on his birthday. Landsteiner was born in a Viennese suburb on June 14, 1868. In 1901, after intensive observations, he discovered that blood and blood plasma do not clump together randomly, but according to certain rules. Consequently, he divided it into three blood groups: A, B and C - the latter being today's blood group 0. A little later, his colleagues in the Viennese medical profession added blood group AB to the results they had already obtained. Karl Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his groundbreaking research. Ten years later, he also discovered the rhesus factors and thus reduced the incompatibilities of a blood administration to a minimum.
Source: From the press release of the University of Leipzig, June 13, 2022, https://www.uniklinikum-leipzig.de/presse/seiten/pressemitteilung_7497.aspx/
