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

submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world

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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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[–] Daveyborn@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Used to donate, would get about 15 calls a day asking me to come donate the next day. Not sure if daily blood donations is sustainable.

[–] Bahnd@lemmy.world 15 points 9 months ago

Exactly this, my job has called in that donation bus a few times. I always go because its an excuse to not work for an hour and I get a cookie.

After the first report came in I got some very helpful blood info. After that it got frustrating, as donating blood is very much in support of the public good, but the org that handles it will turn around and sell it (as part of someones hospital bill), then spam you with emails and calls asking for more...

[–] awwwyissss@lemm.ee 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I stopped giving blood because of the constant harassing phone calls.

[–] Daveyborn@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'd tell them I just gave and they'd tell me "go to this other location they won't know"

[–] awwwyissss@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Red Cross?

[–] Daveyborn@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Yup, they came off like vampires after a while.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 months ago

I donated blood once because I needed to know my blood type and it was the cheapest way to find out. The Red Cross sent harassing phone calls for YEARS after that. It stopped after I told them I just returned from a three week trip to Mali.