BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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BLOOD TRENDS
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A look at how the donor pool has changed in recent years. |
Even as local corporations step up their efforts to support Hoxworth Blood Center, a national survey reveals that less than half of those polled have donated blood in their lifetimes -- and worse -- nearly 70 percent have no plans to give in the coming year.
The statistics help explain why so many blood banks nationwide -- including Hoxworth -- have been forced to issue emergency blood donation appeals in recent months.
"As the baby-boomer generation ages, it is clear the number of donors will drop, unless younger generations have a change of heart," said Jim MacPherson, executive director of America's Blood Centers, the blood bank network that commissioned the survey. The leading reasons for not giving: 32 percent say they are too busy, while another 32 percent say they are physically unable. As a result, one-third of the ABC blood banks issued emergency appeals before the July 4 weekend.
In Cincinnati -- where Hoxworth declared two emergency appeals within six months -- interest in giving blood is returning. After Robert Morgan, chief executive at Cincinnati Financial Corp., publicly challenged local corporations to double their turnout for blood drives, his own company exceeded the goal by donating 498 units in July -- up from 139 units in January.
At least 20 other large employers have pledged to double their blood donations through drives scheduled throughout this year. Meanwhile, a dozen employers of various sizes have agreed to host their first-ever blood drives, said Hoxworth spokeswoman Marsha Terry.
Reversing the public apathy about blood donation is important, because otherwise hospitals will be forced to take the seldom-needed step of delaying elective surgeries during blood shortages.
"What's troubling is that the baby-boomers soon will be needing the blood. They will need more knee and hip replacement surgeries and the number of organ transplant surgeries also will increase," Mr. MacPherson said.
Yet the survey indicates that people aged 50 to 64 (which includes the oldest part of the baby boom generation) are slowing their donation rates. Meanwhile, donation rates among people aged 18 to 29 remain low.
While apathy among younger age groups is nothing new, the survey notes a new complication -- the growing popularity of body piercing and tattooing. Generally, people who get pierced or tattooed must wait at least a year before giving blood -- to make sure they don't pass on hepatitis or AIDS.
"We know people think it's cool to get a tattoo or body-pierce, but giving blood is cooler," Mr. MacPherson said. "Donating blood is the ultimate volunteer act. Each donated unit of blood might save as many as four lives."
Increased focus on corporate blood drives is just one method blood banks are trying to rekindle donations.
Some blood banks are focusing heavily on youth recruitment. Others are trying to open more donation centers in fast-growing suburbs.
Among the ideas that have helped in other cities:
In Dayton a summer blood drive called the "Battle of the Badges" fosters competition between local police, fire and paramedic units. As a result, summertime blood supplies have increased 34 percent.
In Washington, D.C., a blood bank and an alternative radio station co-sponsored a spring-semester "Blood Tour" that sparked a competition among 11 area universities and colleges. Each school collected more than 200 units.
In Davenport, Iowa, a youth education program uses "Penelope Platelet" and other puppets to teach elementary school students about the importance of blood donation. As a result, more parents are giving blood.
For information on how to donate blood, call Hoxworth at 451-0910.
