Results: Blood donations have fallen to catastrophic levels

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. Do you donate blood?

From 2019 to 2021, a survey found, blood donations among 16- to 18-year-olds dropped by 60%. And donations among 19- to 24-year-olds dropped by nearly a third. High schools, colleges and offices occupied by 20-somethings were once places that blood banks could go to encourage young people to donate. Those common blood drive sites were sidelined as students and employees worked from home. But many schools and offices that held blood drives pre-Covid have not resumed the programs, according to the Red Cross. Due to the necessity of blood donations, do you think schools and large offices should be required to have a blood drive at least annually (not required that people donate, but required that they offer) ?

This month, the Red Cross is hoping to bring back the magic by offering anyone who gives blood a chance to win Super Bowl tickets. Would you donate in order to possibly win Super Bowl tickets?