Making Blood Donations Easy
Every two weeks in the winter term, students and members of staff have the opportunity to give blood in the central campus area.
"By offering blood donation opportunities in the central campus area, we want to make it easier for young people to give blood," said Dr. Gabriele Hutschenreuter, head of the Institute of Transfusion Medicine at RWTH Aachen University Hospital. "We need about 25,000 to 30,000 units of blood per year. Without this supply, we cannot perform operations or administer chemotherapies."
Those who want to give blood can just come along without making an appointment beforehand. After filling out a questionnaire, an initial blood test to make sure that the donor is healhy, and a short physical exam, donors are ready to give 450 ml of blood.
As Dr. Hutschenreuter explains, "There are many benefits to giving blood. First of all, you can save lives. Furthermore, you get a free health check. And on top of that, donating a unit of blood stimulates bone marrow, which is very beneficial for a healthy person."
Donation Sites on Campus Make it Easier to Give Blood
Professor Doris Klee, RWTH Vice-Rector for Human Resources Management and Development, is convinced that many young people will decide to give blood, now that the University Hospital has established blood donation sites on campus.
But members of staff are also encouraged to give blood. As RWTH Chancellor Manfred Nettekoven emphasized, "It does not take long to donate a unit of blood, so our members of staff are allowed to donate blood during working hours."
Most people can give blood. In general, anyone who is in good health and weighs 50 kilograms or more is eligible to donate. Women are eligible to donate every three months, men every two months.
Blood Drives at Couvenhalle
Students and citizens have the opportunity to give blood on the following dates (Couvenhalle, Kármánstr. 17-19):
- Friday, October 30, 2015, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, November 13, 2015, 9:00am - 3:30pm
- Friday, November 20, 2015, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, December 11, 2015, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, December 18, 2015, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, January 15, 2016, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, January 29, 2016, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, February 12, 2016, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, February 26, 2016, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, March 11, 2016, 11:30am - 7:30pm
- Friday, March 24, 2016, 9:00am - 3:30pm
On all other Fridays you are invited to donate blood at University Hospital Aachen.