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.”

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    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
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      1 year ago

      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
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        1 year 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.