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Red Cross declares nationwide emergency due to critically low blood supply (www.cbsnews.com)

submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world

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The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage, saying patients are at risk of not getting lifesaving transfusions.

…

Donors are needed now more than ever as the Red Cross faces a national emergency shortage, with the number of donors at a 20-year low. Medical director Dr. Eric Gehrie says the Red Cross has experienced a loss of 300,000 donors since the COVID-19 pandemic alone.

"It means that hospitals will order a certain number of units of blood, and those orders are not being filled fully," he said. "So hospital blood banks are low on blood."

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[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 25 points 10 months ago (4 children)

They should start paying for it, like with plasma.

[–] Coldgoron@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Or at least give a discount to those that donate who may need blood themself one day.

[–] antlion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 10 months ago

At least $30/pint, but I suppose it should depend on blood type. And it should come with a voucher so if you ever need it you can buy it back for $50/pint instead of the insane amount they try to charge.

[–] Liz@midwest.social 4 points 10 months ago

They've tried that. You end up with lower quality blood. You have to throw more out. I have no idea on the overall effect on total kept blood volume though.

Really they should just ask people during doctor's appointments and send them over to the blood pens.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world -3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I get frequent offers for gift cards and coupons and stuff for donating. You don't want to create a cash incentive because then people will lie to donate more often.

[–] Scubus@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You don't want to give a cash incentive for work, because then people will lie to work more often.

Bruh, it's their body. If you have an issue with them using it as they see fit, then it follows that you have a problem with hard labor jobs as well.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Yeah, donating too much blood is not at all the same as working extra hours. The former will quickly lead to death.

Plus, you don't want people lying about their eligibility to donate blood. They can't test every liter for all serologies and infections. You give them a cash incentive, the people showing up really need the money.