The German Red Cross (DRK) blood donation service responsible for Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Bremen has warned that its blood reserves have fallen below a critical threshold. A spokesperson said stocks were now under 10,000 units. At that level, hospitals can only be supplied to a limited extent, though emergency care remains secured. Planned operations may be postponed, the DRK said.
The service is concerned that the situation could worsen in the coming weeks. November and December mark the start of the cold season, and donors must wait at least one week after an infection before giving blood, or four weeks after a febrile illness. To refill reserves, around 3,000 donations are needed every day across the supply area.
The shortage has been building since the summer. During a June heatwave with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, many people did not come to donate, a spokesperson said, adding that this was not normal for the season.
Certain blood groups are particularly scarce: O positive, O negative and B negative. In some cases, supplies were sufficient for only two days. O negative blood is especially important because it can be used in emergencies regardless of the recipient's blood group.
According to the DRK, each donation is separated into red blood cells, platelets and blood plasma, allowing one donation to help up to three people. The components have different shelf lives; platelets, for example, can be stored for only four days and are needed for treatments including chemotherapy.
People aged 18 and over are eligible to donate. The DRK recommends booking an appointment in advance and eating and drinking enough beforehand.
Sources: Der Spiegel.