Blood donations in summer: 7 myths you should know!

Blood donations in summer: 7 myths you should know!

In Austria, blood donations are a vital act, but is surrounded by numerous myths and misunderstandings. The need for drainage is enormous; About every 90 seconds, a hospital needs a unit of blood, which makes up almost 1,000 canned goods a day, as today.at reports. This makes the education all the more important, especially in the summer months, when many people pursue their vacation plans and the willingness falls to the donation. Only about 4 % of Upper Austrians regularly donate blood, which represents an alarming trend.

The medical director of the Blue Rental Linz, Susanne Süßner, has invalidated seven central myths about blood donations that always arise. This clarification is crucial to reduce prejudices and motivate more people to donate. For example, it is often believed that tattooed is not allowed to donate what is wrong. As long as the tattoo was stung in a medical environment, a donation is possible; If the tattoos stabbed independently, a waiting time of four months.

The most common myths about blood donation

• blood donation is unhealthy: wrong! If there is sufficient food and liquid intake, donations are harmless. Actually, every donation is also a kind of health check because the blood is examined for infectious agents.
• After a donation, you don't have enough blood: This is also an empty myth. In the event of a full blood donation, only about 500 milliliters are removed, which the body will recover again.
• blood can be made artificially: Unfortunately this is not possible. So far, science has not found a way to make blood or blood components synthetically.
• After a cold, one should not donate for months: In fact, the waiting time varies between 7 days and 4 weeks, depending on the severity of the infection.
• Only men can donate blood: This is an outdated belief. Women are also allowed to donate, but their frequency of donation is less due to iron deficiency during menstruation. Men can donate up to four times a year, women up to three times.
• blood donation hurts: The pain is minimal and can hardly be compared to a mosquito bite.

In view of the fact that blood is only kept for 42 days and around 15,000 donations are required in the summer months, while only about 7,000 canned goods are currently in stock, the call for donations is more urgent than ever. Every blood donor has the opportunity to make an enormous difference. So also Gottfried Hirz, President of the Red Cross Upper Austria, who emphasizes the importance of commitment.

Finally, it can be stated that education about the blood donation process is as important as the donation itself. This is the only way we can win more people and ultimately save lives. It is in our hand to make this essential contribution, and without myths and prejudices behind it.