I'm a simple emigrant and I don't know my blood type

Today, June 14, is World Blood Donor Day. This date was chosen in honor of the birthday of Austrian physician, immunologist and chemist Karl Landsteiner. It was he who gave the world safe blood transfusion. At first, doctors did not understand why a blood transfusion could kill some people instantly and save others. In 1900, Landsteiner discovered that human blood is divided into three different groups; a fourth group was added later by colleagues. For this discovery he received the Nobel Prize, and the AB0 system is still used today. Later, together with Alexander Wiener, they discovered the Rh factor, which finally made blood transfusion nearly 100% safe. Giving blood in Germany is not difficult. If you are 18 or older, your weight is over 50 kg, and you are not ill with anything, you meet the basic requirements. Depending on the situation, you may be refused and invited later if you recently got a tattoo, piercing, or permanent makeup, have had an illness or taken antibiotics, treated your teeth, or traveled to certain countries. Alcohol or marijuana use is not so much dangerous for the patient as for the donor. Therefore, depending on the amount and frequency of use, you will be asked to wait from 24 hours to a month. Otherwise there is an undeniable risk of fainting right in the chair. To sign up for giving blood, you need to: 1. Book a slot at blutspende.de, blutspendedienst-west.de or in university clinics. 2. In the morning eat something good but not too fatty and drink as much water as possible. 3. Fill out a health questionnaire, measure your temperature and give a little blood for a quick hemoglobin test. If you have insufficient iron – most likely you will be sent home immediately. Then you need to be examined by a doctor and check your blood pressure and pulse. 4. Next, medical staff will take the blood itself, usually about 500 ml per donation and a couple more vials to perform a full blood count. You will not receive its results if everything is fine. Only in case of potential danger in the results will they send you a confidential letter with a recommendation on what to do. 5. After that you will need to lie down; there they will offer you food and to drink more fluids. The actual collection lasts about 10 minutes, but the whole procedure may take about an hour. In a couple of weeks you will receive a donor passport with your blood type and Rh factor; you also get a free thorough blood check and sometimes money. But the Red Cross, which organizes most donations in the country, basically does not pay for blood donation, but gives small gifts. Have you ever donated blood? 🩸Happy holidays to all involved! #useful #Ordnung #holidays