Hero of blood donation: Niebüller Peter Clausen saves lives!

Hero of blood donation: Niebüller Peter Clausen saves lives!

In Niebüll, where community is very important, there was recently a reason to celebrate: Peter Clausen made his 150th blood donation on October 6th. Inspired by his father, he started doing this in the 1970s, and his daughter Lara Neumann followed him; she has already made 37 blood donations to the DRK. Clausen is proud of his accomplishments and plans to continue donating as long as his health allows. “Donating once can help up to 450 patients,” emphasizes Kim Stühmer, public relations officer at the DRK Blood Donation Service North-East, and combines this with a clear message: It is important to raise awareness among younger generations about blood donation. Of course, after every donation, social interaction and food are not neglected, which Clausen particularly values. But blood is not only donated locally, the DRK blood donation service hotline is also available to answer questions: 0800 11 949 11. If you would like to find out about the next blood donation dates in Schleswig-Holstein, you can find all the necessary information on the DRK blood donation service website here.

But why is blood donation so important? The situation is currently tense. Baby boomers, who have donated regularly for decades, are now reaching an age where many of them can no longer donate due to health restrictions. Younger generations show interest, but often donate irregularly. According to a report by WDR, it appears that many younger people are willing to volunteer but do not want to make a long-term commitment. They often ask themselves the question about the personal benefit from donating blood. A positive aspect is that donors receive a free health check while donating, as the donated blood is tested for various diseases.

A call for blood donations

The current situation makes it clear that every donation counts. It can actually save up to three lives! This is important not only for patients, but also for donors themselves, as the law has been relaxed since 2023 to allow more people to donate blood. Sexual orientation and gender identity no longer play a role, and donations are possible from the age of 18 with no upper age limit. Men are allowed to donate up to six times per year and women up to four times per year. If you are unsure whether you can donate, you should not hesitate to use the online check to find out more.

In order to further analyze the motivation for blood donation, studies were recently carried out in Fulda. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Irina Kohler, business students used A/B tests to test different content and measure its popularity. This initiative is intended to help develop recommendations for action for the DRK's future work. Dr. Andreas Opitz, Vice President of the DRK in Fulda, is enthusiastic about the cooperation and commitment of the students in the non-profit sector here.

Blood donation is a community effort that not only saves the lives of others, but also gives donors a sense of belonging and fulfillment. So let's stand up for ourselves and let us be inspired by Peter Clausen and his daughter: together we can make a difference!