Around 120 soldiers and civilian staff from the military academy took the time to donate blood on Thursday. In doing so, they are helping the Red Cross to save lives.
Daniel W. is a young soldier who is aiming for a career in the armed forces. He donated for the first time today: “I like giving my blood to people who need it. Maybe I’ll find myself in a situation where I need blood.” He had tolerated the blood collection well during his positional examination, so he wasn’t worried this time either. Red Cross employees organized the donation day at the military academy. Elisabeth Karla led the campaign and was delighted with the soldiers’ motivation: “We are happy about every donation that is made here, out of love for people. Each of today’s participants is a potential future donor for the Red Cross.”
Unfortunately, too little blood is donated in Austria, even though hospitals need more and more blood reserves. One is needed every 80 seconds. In an emergency, there is no substitute for these reserves. However, they only have a shelf life of 42 days. This is why the Austrian Armed Forces regularly support blood donation campaigns throughout Austria. The prerequisite for donating blood is that the donor has eaten breakfast and consumed enough fluids. After the blood group has been determined and a short health check by the doctor, the actual donation process takes place. The Red Cross staff look after the soldiers and civilian staff during the entire process and pay particular attention to the physical well-being of the donors. At the end, sweets and sugared drinks are distributed to keep the circulation going.
