33,000 blood donors missing – campaign aims to get more young people to sign up

The blood donor organization is using TikTok and other digital channels to get more young donors.

There are 180,000 blood donors who regularly donate blood to ensure blood for the sick or seriously injured.

But an additional 33,000 are needed to ensure stable supplies, according to the organization Bloddonorerne Danmark.

Young people are generally underrepresented among donors, and last year there was a slight decrease in the number of young people between 17 and 25 who signed up as donors compared to the previous year.

This is now causing the blood donors’ organization to use new means to get in touch with the young target group.

“We have contact with young blood donors who are active on TikTok, who have agreed to come behind the scenes at Rigshospitalet and see with their own eyes how blood is processed, from the time it is withdrawn until it ends up with a patient,” says Director Lisbet Schønau.

The hope is that TikTokers can spread the word so that more young people sign up as donors.

“TikTok is just one element, but we are also expanding into other digital channels, and we have launched a new podcast about the history of blood.”

“These are all examples of us taking more steps to be more present in young people’s minds,” says Lisbet Schønau.

Very motivated, but …

A questionnaire survey conducted for Blood Donors Denmark shows that 16 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds respond that they are very motivated to donate blood.

But still, many people have trouble taking it seriously.

Some of the barriers may be fear of needles and prejudices about how the tapping is done.

For 24 percent, the barrier is that they are afraid of needles, while 26 percent respond that they are nervous about feeling uncomfortable after the injection.

“It is possible that you may feel sick after a tap, but it happens to very few people.”

“Most people leave the blood bank feeling really good because they have helped someone they don’t know, and have a good feeling of having contributed in that way,” says Lisbet Schønau.

You must be 17 years old to donate blood, and you can donate blood until you turn 75.

You can donate blood, plasma, or both.

Plasma is the fluid in which the cells in the blood float, and is used to produce vital medicine. For example, for people with a weakened immune system who cannot fight infections on their own.

ritzau