By: Jose Galvan
One of the shirts given after donating blood by the American Red Cross.
Back in January, the American Red Cross declared that there is a nationwide emergency shortage of blood.
For more context on the direness, the Red Cross supplies around 40% of the United States' blood needs. As said on the American Red Cross website, they're experiencing "the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years", as well as citing that the donor rate has dropped by around 40% in the past two decades. This can only spell disaster in the coming times, but for a lot of people, they don't entirely know why. The importance of blood isn't entirely understood by donors either.
Eden Hollers. a student at Georgia Southern and blood donor, spoke about how the real importance isn't so openly conveyed.
"I'm not saying it isn't told by any means, but to be honest, I didn't know much past the snoopy shirt I'd get. We're always told it's important and to donate if we can, but I can't say I actually knew what it would help, beyond giving people more blood?"
In truth, donating blood is overwhelming helpful for a lot of the medical world. Blood transfusions are a big necessity for cancer patients, who would need more platelets of blood after their chemotherapy, or things like Plasma donation that help other cancer patients or burn victims. The Red Cross's Website, redcrossblood.org , is an important resource to truly put in perspective how important blood donation is, as well as who needs it, and for what.
As the shortage continues, the need for blood only increases. Locally, this may pop in different ways. Recently, around the Georgia Southern Statesboro Campus, Blood drives have been popping up more and more, showing up weekly at one point. Incentives become more common, whether having a trending shirt like the American Red Cross did with Snoopy from Peanuts, or gift cards/monetary rewards, like done by The Blood Connection on campus. While not saying that incentives are bad by any means, as long as it gets people in that chair under the needle, the importance of blood donation should go beyond rewards and incentives.
David Harris, another donor and student at Georgia Southern, discussed the importance that blood donation has had on them personally.
"Realistically, you don't focus on [blood donation]. You see the signs or drives and think 'Yeah I should donate, but I don't have time' or other excuses that allow you to move without batting an eye, but without blood donations, someone really close to me might've been in some real trouble. It's not rewarding in the moment, I get it, but it helps so much." Harris says.
As mentioned by Harris, it may not seem rewarding in the moment, but could be the difference between life and death for so many people. As well, these aren't problems that go away with one donation or transfusion. People with Sickle Cell disease might need transfusions throughout their lives, while cancer patients could even need blood daily, while going through their therapy treatments. There will constantly be a need for blood, as there will always be sick people.
Nicky Christian, a volunteer and donor, talked about the accessibility and ease of donations nowadays.
"I know age isn't an issue here on campus, so as long as you meet that weight and are just generally okay, you're good to donate. I understand all those other factors that might snip, but I feel like people are too scared to even try, for no explicable reason in my opinion. What's the worst that could happen, you can't donate? No harm, no foul, no shame, half the people just want the gift card, and that's okay! We just need more donors."
This follows into a big point, accessibility. Donating blood has only gotten easier, especially for students on the Southern campus. There's at least 1 or 2 drives a month, with incentives more than likely being a staple. The organizations usually provide snacks to help the aftercare process, and the culture following donation, is very positive. Doing your civic and charitable duty can always be praised, and getting something extra never hurt anybody.
Between accessibility, incentive, importance, and necessity, there needs to be a bigger push amongst people to donate blood. Of course, personal health trumps all, so don't feel bad if you actually can't donate blood, but there's so many people who genuinely can. The only logical explanation for not having had the drive to donate, is that people don't understand the direness of the shortage, and the importance of their donations. What this story is pushing, is that you need to donate blood. Go to your local drive, hospital, Red Cross, sign up online, take the jab and feel better. Maybe collect a couple bucks or apparel on the way out, but ultimately, just get in that chair and have compassion for your fellow human, and raise (or really, donate) a pint.