Suche
Mein Konto
Dresden veteran: Kay Wack is the region's blood donation hero!
Kay Wack, Dresden's most loyal blood donor, has made over 200 donations since 1984. He appeals for support for urgently needed blood supplies.
Dresden veteran: Kay Wack is the region's blood donation hero!
What's happening in Dresden? An impressive example of the commitment to the topic of blood donation is Kay Wack. The 60-year-old recently made his 228th blood donation at the DRK North-East blood donation service in Dresden. Wack began his journey as a blood donor in 1984 after a circulatory collapse during his first donation in Berlin. Since then, he has made a remarkable 200 blood donations, giving away over 100 liters of blood. This is truly an achievement to be proud of! As sächsische.de reports, the willingness to donate has declined sharply in Germany, especially in the summer months, which underlines the importance of fundraising campaigns like Wack's.
But where does this decline come from? According to a report by ZDF, the need for blood supplies has increased during the holiday season as the number of accidents caused by travel increases. At the same time, younger people in particular are donating less blood, which sends alarm signals. Only around 15,000 blood donations are needed daily to maintain supplies. But the willingness to donate has fallen significantly, and maintaining sufficient blood reserves becomes a challenge, especially in the hot summer months.
The situation is serious
Experts warn of precarious medical care conditions. The DRK reports that blood reserves in Germany are almost exhausted. In several federal states, including North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, this has already led to planned operations having to be postponed. The noticeable aging of blood donors also creates concerns, as many young people refrain from donating for various reasons, such as previous illnesses or simply not being sufficiently informed.
The numbers are clear here: The 6% decline in first-time donors between 2023 and 2024 could reinforce the need to raise awareness of the problem. The DRK is therefore mobilizing all citizens to use available blood donation appointments. Even two blood donations per year could make a crucial difference. For example, in 2024, the largest blood donation campaign in Germany was held at the Tripsdrill amusement park, where around 3,750 donors were expected.
A call to action
The current situation is critical, but not completely hopeless. Motivating campaigns and an increased willingness to donate are required to keep patient care stable. Kay Wack is a shining example of how you can achieve a lot with an active contribution. In addition to the emotional aspects of being a lifesaver, it is also important to raise awareness of the practicalities of carrying out a blood donation - the donation takes between 5 and 12 minutes and is carried out immediately after a health check. The preparations are uncomplicated, and to stay fit after the donation, there is always information about how to protect yourself and a small meal.
In summary, we can only encourage everyone to make themselves available as blood donors. The blood cannot be manufactured artificially - if the reserves were to slip completely, the consequences could be catastrophic. It is up to all of us to take on this important issue and show responsibility.