Donating blood
By violeta_va
@violeta_va (4831)
Australia
March 20, 2008 11:14am CST
Blood is something we can all give without any major drama but people dont do it. I dont do it. I was just reading something from my "old country" Macedonia (as I now live in Australia). It sais that every time you give blood you are given 2 days off work and after so many times you are intitled to free health care. That is great initiative to get people do donate blood and there wont be any shortage of blood. Here in australia they give you a bottle of water and few biscuits and off you go.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@superpidge (78)
• Australia
22 Mar 08
I have never given blood.
I am a little ashamed to admit that, but I just really, really hate needles so don't really want to go through that by choice!
But if they were to give better incentives here I might.
Perhaps we could give blood on a work day, and then the government would reimburse what our earnings would be for that day.
Or a free childcare day for those with children not at school.
Or even a voucher for a meal at McDonalds, or similar franchise eating place.
Apparently here they don't have enough blood so I don't know why better incentives are offered! Surely the government can afford to spend a bit of the health budget on blood donation incentives.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
22 Mar 08
I am like you I only have to see a needle and have a major panic attack. I belive when it comes to health any government can afford to give a little more to the people.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
21 Mar 08
We are given glucose and a fruit....but we don't get 2 days off work...and no free health care...if that was the case, we'll have people lining up.
But there are lots of blood donation drives...and people do donate here in India. I've done it twice when I was in college.
I've even heard where people make money out of donating...though I think it's not legal.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
22 Mar 08
well donating organs for money is ilegal as well but people still do it and that is much biger of a deal than blood.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
21 Mar 08
I keep hearing about the cost of health care in America and its scary to think that one of the top countries in the world has that issue. Here in Australia we have a free public system that its not the best when it comes to waiting for operations but other than that we are happy (or at least I am)
@enchantedleppard (1541)
• United States
20 Mar 08
We are allowed to donate every 8 weeks, and where I work you get 4 hours off of work, plus other incentives for donating. It works out well and is very worth the time. I wish more people that are able to give would give. Its so important!
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
21 Mar 08
You are right about blood been so important and its something that can save people but at the same time its not that big of a deal as you hardly notice its gone right? I realised how important it was when my friends baby daughter was sick she needed plasma every day and I belive she needed 4 donations every day (as her body was not making any and it was going right thru her so she needed constant transfusion for months) when you think about it she needed 4 every day from january till april that is some 400 donations and than every second day for 2 months and then 2 times a week for 2 months and 1 a week and so on. So all in all she would have needed about 1000 donations. That is a lot and god knows how they got that many.
@sugarfloss (2139)
• Malaysia
20 Mar 08
hey violeta_va!I give blood every three months without fail.Yes,that's right,here in Asia,it's no biggie to give blood.Almost everyone I know,donates blood.We don't get off days like you mentioned in Macedonia.But as a token of appreciation,we do get special treatment in hospitals according to the times we donate blood.I have only donated 13 times.I have a lot more to go for first class treatment;)
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
21 Mar 08
The currents system in Australia re. blood sucks big time. There is shortage of blood but they dont do anything about it. I dont know anyone that donates blood to be honest or maybe they do but never said anything about it. it dosnt have to be as far as the things I mentioned but some sort of compensation will make more people give blood say vouchers for health products and services.
