There has been a significant drop in corporate sponsored blood drives this year, reducing donations by as much as 20% in some of the economically hardest hit states such as Florida and Michigan. Lay-offs and employees working longer hours than ever to keep their jobs have left a serious dent in the donor population. Traditionally, an organized blood donor clinic has served as favorably viewed break from the work station, giving employees a strong sense of community and charitable spirit. Employees are currently a little too challenged to take the time.
Charitable givings from corporations have taken a sharp decline this past year, as well. The drop in blood drives can be seen as part of this economic reflex. Prescheduled annual drives are being cancelled and a number of blood banks are doubling their collection of red blood cells from individual donors to help offset this occurrence. There is also an increased effort to locate rare negative type O blood which is usable by any recipient.
To compound matters, the swine flu made an earlier than expected sweep into various populations around the country. A number of schools, which traditionally serve as an important resource for our blood supply, have had high absenteeism or closings due to H1N1. Blood supply officials find this a potentially discomfiting development.
When giving blood, donors are asked to please call their blood center if they experience any illness in the 48 hours following donation. An increasing amount of these of calls have been keeping agencies busy, the callers reporting flu symptoms. By law, the affected donor's blood must be discarded. Although viruses like those of a cold or flu do not transmit through blood, a virulent strain like H1N1 can possibly be present in a donor's blood before the illness' symptoms are evident. Testing is currently underway to determine whether or not H1N1 is a viremia strain that can be transmitted.
Given the poor turnout and donor clinic cancellations this season, getting your workplace to consider hosting a drive is a worthy mission. Blood drives not only help save unknown lives, (one donation can save up to three people); they are effective community builders, giving citizens a chance to meet one another and give of themselves. The actual hosting is not an arduous proposition; the American Red Cross makes it easy for you, providing simple guidelines for streamlining the event. Visit their prospective hosts' web page at givelife2.org.
About the Author:
Ms. Long has been a glove industry strategist for over thirty years. As Director of Web-Based Support for an online discounter of Disposable Gloves, she maintains an web resource for disposable glove consumers. Visit herlibrary, Coping with Latex Gloves.
