With many regular donors aging out of the donor pool, too few young people are stepping up to replace them. Campus blood drives are a great source of donations, but when school isn’t in session, this blood supply drops critically low.
Currently, South Sound Talk reports, more than half of all blood donations are made by people over 40 years old, and three-quarters of these are over 50. As the donor population ages, the need for blood intensifies.
Millennials must rise to the challenge. During World War II, donating blood was viewed by people as a civic responsibility. Now more than ever, young people are needed to make regular donations a part of their lives—and not only in times of crises. Some millennials claim to be too busy to donate, while many report they simply hadn’t thought about it. By raising awareness we can bridge the growing gap to meet the needs of our communities.