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That's a good question. Why don't I give blood when the Red Cross has a van awaiting donors sitting just outside Wal-Mart when I'm entering or exiting? That is a very good question.

First of all, I'm an average woman in most ways. Except that I live in a rural area where the Red Cross has to set up a site for blood donation. Although I don't consider myself a volunteer in any specific area, I do believe I would happily donate blood if.

That van sitting at Wal-Mart with the big Red Cross on its side is going to force me to wait, which tells me that I'm impatient. Do I need to change? I think so because I had no idea that blood was in short supply since I don't frequent the hospitals or doctor's offices around me. This tells me that, perhaps, the Red Cross might consider advertising to the general public about their needs. Just maybe, if I had realized beforehand that there was a short supply, I would have lost my selfish impatience in the line at Wal-Mart and walked over to the van when I finished my shopping.

Since I'm average, I'm going to say that most folks don't realize there is a sincere need for their blood and that, quite possibly, they might be just as impatient as I am when they're entering or exiting a site where the Red Cross has set up their program.

These two reasons, which are both repairable, include a lack of knowledge and impatience. I believe advertising and patience would help the Red Cross tremendously.

Fix the problem:

An easy way to fix this problem would be to advertise heavily in local papers and on television when the Red Cross intends to be in or around a specific site. Especially if someone is like I am and lives in a rural area that doesn't often see that big Red Cross on the side of a van, they might need to be reminded just how much the Red Cross needs their donation.

Tell me in no uncertain terms just how important it is that I donate. Make it clear. Give me something that I can't avoid. Tell me, in a commercial or advertisement, specifically, how a blood donation made the difference in someone's life, especially the life someone I can sympathize or empathize with. REMIND ME, if at all possible, that sticking a needle in my arm WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Let me know that there is a NEED, too. Don't just sit up that van in a parking lot. Have someone out there risking humiliation to request blood. A true need deserves true measures for having the need met.

These are only thoughts, but I sincerely hope they are thoughts that will help someone when the need arises.

Learn more about this author, Regina Hill.
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