By Alan Boinus
The blood supply is in crisis. According to the American Red Cross, we are at the worst national blood shortage in a decade.
In a desperate attempt to attract blood donors, the Red Cross has rolled out assorted marketing and promotional schemes akin to that of McDonald’s. They have partnered with the NFL in a contest for blood donors to win Super Bowl tickets and even partnered with the movie “The Matrix Resurrections” promising donors a chance to win a private screening for them and 50 friends. Only one problem with this—the Red Cross isn’t selling Happy Meals.
It seems rather odd that the Red Cross has had to resort to such desperate measures. One would think that blood donors are among the healthiest people in society and would likely take precautions, such as getting vaccinated and testing for COVID-19. Thus, there should be a plentiful blood supply. I, for one, have been boosted and rarely go anywhere these days without a mask. In my more than 30 years of donating blood, I never once thought that getting tickets to the Super Bowl or a preview to a movie would make a difference in whether I would donate blood or not. So why aren’t blood donors donating like they normally do? Could Omicron have something to do with it?
Before my appointment, I reached out to the Red Cross to find out whether things are different now in light of Omicron, considering even the fully boosted are not fully protected against the spread of the virus. The whole notion of super-contagious COVID is not something I am comfortable with. After many futile attempts, I finally heard back from the media department of the Red Cross:
• It is not required that blood donors be vaccinated in order to give blood.
• The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation. As part of that process, donors receive a mini physical as part of the health history portion of the blood donation.
• It is important that donors have a refreshment and snack following their donation for the health and safety of the donor. Donors may remove their mask to eat and drink in the canteen area, which is socially distanced from the rest of the blood drive.
The Red Cross also said that, since COVID is a respiratory illness, there is no concern about it being bloodborne to affect the blood supply.
There is no question that the Red Cross provides for the safety of the blood supply; yet, there is nothing in their response that supports their contention that they provide similar attention to the safety of their donors. For instance, the Red Cross cannot be unaware that Omicron spreads like measles among asymptomatic people in indoor settings and that being socially distanced from the blood drive is not protecting maskless donors munching away at the same table with other maskless donors.
A nurse at Marque Urgent Care in Newport Beach told me that there are people every day who feel fine, but test positive for COVID, and they have to make accommodations for them while protecting their other patients. This facility actually does a rapid test nose swab of patients while in their cars prior to being admitted to the waiting room. It seems that the Red Cross could do the same thing, which leads me to only one conclusion—the Red Cross simply prefers to remain in ignorance of who has COVID or not. Their concern is getting usable blood, even if people are asymptomatic with COVID. Why else would the Red Cross let people come in without testing them?
It is clear the Red Cross has lost touch with their donor base. My advice to the Red Cross: Save your Super Bowl tickets; blood donors need to feel safe donating blood just like blood recipients need to feel safe receiving blood. The irony is that the Red Cross should not be about saving lives while risking the health and lives of its donors in the process.
Alan owns a marketing company and is currently developing mobile apps involving tech, entertainment and COVID information. He resides in Laguna Beach, California.
