German Red Cross urges blood donations amid heatwave in North Rhine‑Westphalia

During the late‑June heatwave that saw temperatures reach up to 40 °C, the German Red Cross (DRK) reported a noticeable drop in blood donations in the North Rhine‑Westphalia towns of Bergkamen and Oer‑Erkenschwick. To replenish the dwindling blood supplies needed for surgeries, cancer treatments, accidents and other serious conditions, the DRK scheduled new donation sessions.

In Bergkamen, donors are invited on Friday 24 July from 16:00 to 20:00 at the VHS meeting point on Lessingstraße 2. In Oer‑Erkenschwick, the next opportunity is Friday 31 July from 15:00 to 19:30 at the DRK house on Agnesstraße 5. The organisation emphasizes that donating blood in hot weather is safe, provided donors are healthy and follow simple measures: stay well‑hydrated, avoid donating on an empty stomach, and refrain from strenuous activity immediately after the donation.

The DRK’s appeal aims to ensure a steady supply of blood components, which cannot be manufactured artificially and have limited shelf life, especially during the summer months when inventories are often under pressure.