Special date on April 19: Red Cross calls for blood donations over Easter

With a special blood donation event on Holy Saturday (April 19), the German Red Cross (DRK) aims to ensure the supply of blood units over Easter in Berlin and Brandenburg. Because blood has a short shelf life, as the DRK Blood Donation Service North-East announced.

Blood products, some of which have a shelf life of only a few days, must be continuously available for medical emergencies. Therefore, sufficient donations must also be made over the holidays.

Around 600 blood donations are needed daily to ensure the care of patients in Berlin and Brandenburg, said a spokeswoman for the German Red Cross (DRK). However, many regular donors are away over Easter, so it's a good time to donate for the first time, the spokeswoman said.

People in Berlin can donate blood on Saturday at the DRK Blood Donation Center in Lichterfelde (Steglitz-Zehlendorf district). In Brandenburg, donations can be made in Cottbus, Neuruppin (Ostprignitz-Ruppin district), Beelitz (Potsdam-Mittelmark district), Königs Wusterhausen (Dahme-Spreewald district), and Herzberg (Elbe-Elster district). At the institute in Cottbus, donations are available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and at the other locations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The DRK asks that you book a time slot in advance.

It's important that donations continue in the days following the Easter weekend, the spokeswoman said. Only then will the depots be sufficiently stocked throughout the entire Easter holidays.

According to the German Red Cross (DRK), healthy people aged 18 and over can donate blood. Suitability for blood donation is assessed during a preliminary medical examination on the day of the appointment. Men may donate blood up to six times per year, and women up to four times.

Allergy sufferers are also allowed to donate. The basic requirement is that they are symptom-free and do not take cortisone-containing medications or receive hyposensitization injections.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:250419-930-451212/1