I've worked in a large teaching hospital, over 10K employees, for almost 25 years. We have our own blood bank and used to get 2 hours of comp time, given as a certificate to use whenever we wish. We also get a t-shirt, mug, or some small gift. Very few people donated so around 10 years ago they raised it to 3 hours off. I do it when I can (certain areas I work occasionally, I get a 1 hour lunch). Whether I use my 3 hours off certificate toward a Disney trip, a day at the beach, or just leave work early and mop the kitchen, it's no one else's business.
They are desperate for people to give. It's one thing they just can't produce in a lab. (Heck, even babies can be made in a lab!)
They've added meal tickets to our cafeteria, drawings to win i-pads, Phillies tickets, etc. Yes, it's compensation in a way but it's looked at more as in incentive. Without it, there would not be enough blood to take care of patients or our hospital would be paying a
lot more to buy it from the Red Cross which can only sell what they can. Still it's shocking how many coworkers, including those very educated in medical fields, say they don't have time or they need their blood for themselves.
How selfish.
Our bodies easily recover from donating if you're healthy. You would be amazed how often people need blood. It's not just for surgeries. It's everywhere from the intensive care nursery (I'm not talking crack babies) to car accident victims to cancer patients. This could be any one of us here or our loved ones. My parents & grandmother have had to receive blood on more than one occasion due to severe anemia so I'm grateful to those who donated and saved their lives.
I see no problem with accepting some token in exchange. It's no different than the USO offering a free American flag as a thanks for donating (which sadly was made in China.) Don't get me started on the thousand return address labels that come in the mail once you give to a charity!
It only becomes unethical when donors
lie about their history so that they can donate anyway.
I asked our blood bank once if blood ever just expires while sitting "on the shelf" waiting for someone to need it. She said NEVER! They never, ever have enough.
Please consider donating in your area whether it's whole blood, double red cells, or plasma. If you feel that it's unethical to accept a small token of thanks, that you are somehow being "compensated," then just say no thanks to the gift.
It's the ultimate community service.
I donate because I could be the person who needs it one day.. I think of others and I will always donate. Its no trouble and not time consuming as they are pretty good at working around my hours. I have also organized several "blood parties"
