BOOMERS, GEN X NOT ENOUGH FOR NATIONAL BLOOD NEEDS
For most of us, it takes a tragedy to be reminded of the need for blood donation. Natural disasters and acts of violence often are followed by images of long lines at blood centers. • But it’s the blood already on the shelves that makes a difference in a crisis. Blood can take up to 48 hours to be processed and tested before it can be used. That’s why the best way to save lives in an emergency is to donate in advance. • Even though it’s no longer January, National Blood Donor Month, we can still all take part in this collective, lifesaving resolution: to donate blood.
Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Hospitals cannot manufacture blood; only generous volunteers can donate this lifesaving resource.
One in 7 patients entering a hospital requires blood. These include trauma victims, those battling anemia, cancer or sickle cell disease and patients undergoing organ or bone marrow transplants.
The bottom line is that we need more blood donors – and especially young blood donors.
Individuals who begin giving blood when they’re in their teens or early 20s establish a lifelong lifesaving habit. But in recent years, our nation’s blood supply has lost a significant portion of donors under the age of 30.
In the last decade, blood centers have lost about 30% of donors in that age range, and high school and college-aged donors are down nearly 50% since the pandemic.
Traditionally, colleges, high schools and offices have been used as blood drive sites, which was a convenient way to get students and young adults to participate. However, many of those sites became unavailable during the pandemic, and too few of them have resumed hosting blood drives in the years since.
Also, the Food and Drug Administration tightened its standards for blood donations in 2015, increasing the required weights and levels of hemoglobin for donors. These regulations are well intended, aimed at protecting donors from experiencing iron deficiencies, but they disproportionately impacted younger donors.
Whatever the cause of the decline, it is crucial for the health care community to reengage younger donors. While donors of all ages are vital, any operation that relies on Baby Boomers and Generation X needs a better long-term strategy.
One hour of your time can save three lives. There is not another volunteer opportunity that makes that big an impact.
We need all donors. Tell a friend – or, better yet, tell your kids.
Individuals who begin giving blood when they’re in their teens or early 20s establish a lifelong lifesaving habit. 30% Decline in donors under the age of 30