by Cinda Smaagaard

Created on: July 24, 2011   Last Updated: July 25, 2011

Voluntary blood donations are dropping just as the need is greatest in light of worldwide natural disasters and health-care costs rising.  Many are asking why people are less inclined today to give this most life-saving and precious personal gift of life to others?

1.  Personal health issues

Age, the environment, one's own health-care issues may be contributing to the decline of giving.  Blood donations require a preliminary screening and blood draw to not only type the blood, but to ensure that the blood is healthy.  Many people with compromised immune systems or aging health-care issues, either cannot or should not give since giving would compromise their own health due to fainting or nausea or the health of another due to giving of bad blood.

2.  Ignorance or stigma

People sometimes equate the giving of blood with the poor who sell their blood for money.  They may not understand that without such donations of blood and plasma, many lives will be lost.  Blood cannot be lab-produced and can only come from other people who donate.  Blood carries with it certain meaning for many such as "blood-relative" or is seen so often in violent movies it has become obnoxious or adversely thrilling depending upon one's perspective.  Blood replenishes itself, but many believe if they give it out, then they will have less. 

3.  Religious or cultural reasons

Some faiths do not believe in the giving or sharing of blood, thus, they oftentimes will prepare ahead of their own surgeries by stockpiling their own blood supply if possible.  They believe that blood contains a kind of life force or essence of being and soul.  Christians believe that Christ's blood was shed for us as a remission of sins based upon Old Testament requirements regarding atonement by the killing of spotless lambs as a kind of sacrifice.

4.  Blood-mobiles and corporate sponsors are down

Years ago companies were always lining up to do their part regarding this charitable work.  They would give their employees time off for the rest of the day - with pay - and the blood-mobile helpers would offer cookies and juice and a kind of honor badge to wear around the office telling others about one's altruism.

5.  Fear

If you are a shy or anxious person those hospital-like tables with drip-bags hanging are a frightening sight!  Plasma donors get the added bonus of actually seeing their blood being drawn

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>