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.

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.

  • capitalEnglish
    10•6 months ago

    I should clarify.

    When speaking of free healthcare, I mean “free at the point of service”.

    I know damn well it’s not free as in beer but I can see how my putting those two concepts so close in my comment could give the wrong impression.

    • @eatthecakeEnglish
      -8•6 months ago

      I have free, at the point of service, healthcare, and blood donations are still unpaid. No buying body parts or something… It’s a gift and it must be entirely voluntary. Did you think people could sell their blood in civilised countries?

      • capitalEnglish
        7•6 months ago

        Your way is how it SHOULD be.

        I feel like you’re missing the fact that in the US the blood bank sells our freely given blood to hospitals.

        Those hospitals then charge us for the blood when we need it.

        We sell plasma. Why not blood?

        If hospitals wanna be a business, expect to pay for inputs.

        What other business expects their inputs for free?

        • @eatthecakeEnglish
          -6•6 months ago

          I feel like you’re missing the fact that people donate blood to help others. Being angry about the fucked up system you’re in is sensible, refusing to help others because of that system is just sad.

          • @doinglessEnglish
            4•6 months ago

            We need to be paid because we can’t afford healthcare. I haven’t been to the dentist in over 20 yrs.