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Blood donations have fallen to catastrophic levels. Experts say young people need to step up. (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave to c/health

95 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Changes to the requirements for donating blood coupled with the pandemic have led to a drop-off in the number of teens and young adults donating blood.

It was a white T-shirt bearing the likeness of Snoopy wearing shades and leaning effortlessly against the iconic American Red Cross logo that prompted a surge in blood donations in the spring of 2023.

“Be cool. Give blood,” the shirt urged. The message — on young people, anyway — was effective. More than 70,000 people under age 35 responded to the call, rolling up their sleeves and giving blood in exchange for the coveted tees.

The need for blood is urgent. Over the holidays, the Red Cross had 7,000 fewer units of blood available than were needed by hospitals, said Dr. Eric Gehrie, the executive medical director of the American Red Cross. The organization speculated it would need about 8,000 additional donations every week in January to ensure that hospitals are fully supplied, he added.

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[–] doingless 39 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Pay me. Well. This is like restaurants paying $9 complaining that nobody wants to work. If I go to the ER and get an aspirin it's like $3k. But they want my blood for free. How much would it cost if I needed a pint or two of blood in the ER?

[+] Hikermick -21 points 11 months ago (2 children)

They often do offer gift cards. If you were serious about what you said you'd know that

[–] doingless 27 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Maybe in some areas. I've donated many times and never received anything. I haven't donated in the last three years though. I'm officially in the pay me camp now. I can't afford healthcare.

[–] Daveyborn 3 points 11 months ago

Area and time dependent yes, I'd get them occasionally before red cross spam calling me chased me off.

[–] BradleyUffner 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I've donated for decades in multiple states and the closest thing to payment I've ever gotten was a $5 off coupon for Bass Pro Shop.